Connection at the heart of Parliament’s last day

On the final sitting day of Parliament in 2025, MPs turned their attention to a question that goes beyond policy settings and into the heart of everyday life: what does a good quality of life really mean for ageing New Zealanders. It was raised as a Special Urgent Debate because older people are already experiencing the impacts, including loneliness, rising costs, and increasing barriers to services and connection.

Running through the debate, sometimes explicitly and sometimes just beneath the surface, was a clear message. Connection matters. And in today’s world, connection is increasingly digital.

Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer spoke powerfully about loneliness, describing the evidence as “really hard to read” and reflective of what she sees in her own community. She urged Parliament to treat transport, digital access and social participation as health determinants, and to fund community connectors, including transport, churches and marae, accordingly.

Ngarewa-Packer’s words cut to the core of digital equity. If older people cannot get online, cannot afford data or devices, or cannot access spaces that support learning and connection, their health and wellbeing are directly affected.

That theme was echoed by National MP Dr Carlos Cheung, who spoke about loneliness as one of the most serious issues raised by seniors in his community. He warned that loneliness can be as damaging as physical illness, affecting mental health, wellbeing and even life expectancy. He reminded the House that many older people live alone or feel disconnected, and that no one who has contributed so much to Aotearoa should feel forgotten or invisible. His call was for stronger community programmes, accessible services and age-friendly environments that support participation and belonging.

Labour MP Reuben Davidson made the link to digital inclusion explicit. He told Parliament, “Digital inclusion is not a privilege, it is a right.” He spoke about the potential of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to support older people through earlier health screening and more tailored services, but warned that this only works if older people are part of the design and decision-making.

Davidson also acknowledged the work already happening on the ground, naming organisations and networks that are actively supporting communities to engage digitally. He recognised the efforts of Katoa Connect, Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa, Moana Connect, Fibre Fale, us at DECA, and SeniorNet groups across the country. In doing so, he highlighted that digital inclusion is being driven by whānau, communities, iwi, churches, volunteers, librarians and kaupapa-driven organisations.

Those acknowledgements matter, but they were not exhaustive. Across Aotearoa, thousands of people are quietly doing the work that keeps older people connected, often without recognition. They help someone learn how to use a phone for the first time. They support kaumātua to join online whānau hui. They sit alongside someone who is nervous about scams or unsure how to book a GP appointment online. They advocate for affordable connectivity and accessible design. They understand that digital inclusion mahi upholds mana, strengthens autonomy and supports belonging.

As we move into 2026, we must hold decision-makers to account. We must continue to support the people and organisations already doing this mahi the communities they serve. We must design digital systems with older people, not for them. And we must treat connection, whether through transport, community spaces or the internet, as essential infrastructure for a good life.