Contemporary Age Narrative in Aotearoa New Zealand

In an officially bicultural country like Aotearoa New Zealand the approach to age and ageing has changed considerably throughout time, due to social, economic and cultural/ethnic reasons. The idea of a ‘safe place’ for older people and their role in the community is very different from the perspective of a New Zealander of European descent and that of a Māori person. The problem of an increasingly ageing population has led the government to devise protocols, showing a strategic direction for change and promoting a set of actions to improve the health and wellbeing of older people. My chapter will focus on these changes, reflected also in gerontology, and the role of literature in criticising or just describing the status quo concerning older people in this country. In particular, there will be references to the works of Māori and non-Māori writers, such as F. Sargeson, J. Frame, H. Tuwhare, Rora Paki, W. Ihimaera, P. Grace, and D. Brown.