High Tea to Celebrate International Day of the Older Person in Central Hawke’s Bay

A very special high tea was held at the Central Hawke’s Bay Municipal Theatre last week, with over 50 of the District’s senior residents coming together to enjoy scones, sandwiches and asparagus rolls in celebration of International Day of Older Persons.

The inaugural high tea was organised by the Central Hawke’s Bay Positive Ageing Network. Representatives from organisations involved in the network including the Pakeke Centre, Grey Power, RSA and Age Concern and their members  attended the event.

Marked annually on 1 October, International Day of Older Persons is a time for all, including families and organisations, to acknowledge and give thanks for the significant contribution older people make to communities throughout New Zealand.

Deputy Mayor Kelly Annand attended the afternoon and said, “Mentoring, volunteering, looking out for the neighbourhood, caring for children, sharing wisdom and experience and of course, being in paid work and leading businesses are some of the many ways senior New Zealanders aged 65 and over contribute.”

Central Hawke’s Bay’s older residents continue to be significantly impacted by COVID-19. The high tea marked the first outing for a number of the attendees, post the lock down implemented in March.

“Central Hawke’s Bay’s high tea represented a safe space for our older people to come together and enjoy a social afternoon of companionship, laughter and delicious finger foods.

“We are a loving, caring community in Central Hawke’s Bay and the Council’s Community Wellbeing Strategy is all about events just like this – making genuine moves to take care of people first.” 

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council delivers a Positive Ageing Action Plan as part of its Community Wellbeing Strategy, adopted in 2017. The Plan strives to achieve a society where people can age positively, where older people are highly valued and where they are recognised as an integral part of families and communities.

“Through the work of our Positive Ageing Strategy, Council and community know that we need to continue to work towards creating a more enabling and inclusive environment that is supportive to people of all ages, especially our older people, so that we can ensure participation, independence and social inclusion,” says Deputy Mayor Annand.

“Central Hawke’s Bay District Council is committed to ensuring that the older person has a voice.”

1.2 million of New Zealanders are expected to be aged over 65 years in the next 20 years, while the number of seniors worldwide is expected to double to over 2 billion in 2050.

5 October 2020

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