On the afternoon of July 3, High 5 Cafe and NEXT Park jointly hosted a special seminar titled “A Comprehensive Guide to Retirement Living, Health Management, Insurance and Legal Planning” at NEXT Park in Auckland.
The event brought together Chinese-speaking families, pre-retirees, young and middle-aged family decision-makers, and professionals from related industries to explore a range of important topics, including retirement planning, health management, financial protection and legal arrangements.
As population ageing accelerates and family structures continue to evolve, retirement planning is no longer a concern only for those approaching retirement. It is increasingly becoming an important consideration for younger and middle-aged families looking to plan ahead.
The seminar brought together professionals from the retirement living, health management, financial and insurance, and legal services sectors, who shared their perspectives on New Zealand’s retirement and aged-care system and discussed practical approaches to long-term planning. The event was hosted by Andy Liu, Deputy Secretary-General of NEXT Federation, Executive Secretary-General of the China–New Zealand Business and Innovation Corridor, and Director of High 5 Cafe.
Understanding Retirement Living Through the Choice of Aged-Care Facilities
During the seminar, speakers provided an in-depth overview of the operation of retirement and aged-care facilities in New Zealand, including care models, nursing services and support for older adults.
Participants learned that aged-care facilities in New Zealand offer much more than traditional rest home services. Depending on the facility and individual needs, services may include hospital-level care, respite care, post-operative rehabilitation, disability support and palliative care.
Some facilities also work closely with healthcare providers, rehabilitation services and community support networks, enabling older adults to access more comprehensive and integrated care.
The session also covered topics such as government subsidies for aged care, long-term care assessments and the differences between various retirement and care options, helping participants gain a clearer understanding of how New Zealand’s aged-care system operates.
Many participants noted that their previous understanding of aged-care facilities had largely been based on traditional perceptions. The seminar provided a broader perspective on the professional care, rehabilitation support and family relief functions that modern aged-care services can provide.
Health Management as a Foundation for Retirement Planning
In addition to choosing appropriate retirement living arrangements, health management was another major focus of the seminar.
Speakers highlighted that when planning for retirement, many families tend to focus primarily on retirement income and asset allocation, while the potential impact of health risks on quality of life in later years can sometimes be overlooked.
As people age, increasing healthcare needs, higher risks of serious illness and the accessibility and timeliness of medical services can all have a significant impact on both family finances and lifestyle arrangements.
Drawing on the characteristics of New Zealand’s healthcare system, the speakers discussed potential risks that retirees may face, including income interruption, medical waiting times, critical illness, longevity risk and inflation.
They also shared approaches to strengthening long-term financial and lifestyle security through appropriate combinations of healthcare protection, retirement savings and family asset planning.
Participants generally agreed that retirement planning is not simply about wealth management—it is also about risk management. Developing health awareness and an appropriate protection framework at an early stage can help individuals and families become better prepared for uncertainty in the future.
Preparing Financial and Legal Arrangements in Advance
The seminar also addressed a number of common legal and wealth-management considerations associated with retirement planning.
Speakers introduced topics including wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA), family asset management and intergenerational wealth transfer, highlighting the importance of preparing relevant legal documents and risk-management arrangements in advance.
As family assets grow and family structures evolve, proactive planning can help ensure that important decisions can be made effectively and that family interests are appropriately protected.
During the discussion session, participants shared their own family situations and engaged with the speakers on topics such as parents’ retirement and aged-care arrangements, intergenerational asset transfer, authority for healthcare decisions and family caregiving responsibilities.
Experts emphasized that retirement planning is a long-term and multi-dimensional process, involving living arrangements, health management, financial protection, legal authorisation and family coordination.
The earlier planning begins, the greater the range of choices available in the future—and the better positioned individuals and families are to achieve their long-term goals.
Building a Platform for Dialogue and Exploring the Future of Quality Retirement Living
During the interactive discussion, speakers and participants engaged in lively conversations around a number of practical questions, including:
- How should families choose between home-based care and aged-care facilities?
- How should healthcare protection be structured after retirement?
- How can families balance quality of retirement living with financial and caregiving responsibilities?
Many participants said the event helped them gain a new perspective on the importance of retirement planning and recognize that retirement should not be viewed as a decision made only after leaving the workforce, but rather as a long-term life plan that benefits from early preparation and continuous adjustment.
Looking ahead, NEXT Park × High 5 Cafe will continue to organize a series of themed events focusing on areas including technology and innovation, green energy, industrial development and cross-border collaboration.
Through the collaborative model of “Park + Incubation + Investment,” NEXT Park and High 5 Cafe will continue to connect high-quality resources, facilitate meaningful business and industry connections, and promote deeper integration between industry, assets and capital, while creating new opportunities for collaboration and growth.
For more information, please visit: www.nextpark.nz
About New Zealand China Commerce & Inno Hubs
New Zealand China Commerce & Inno Hubs is a bilateral innovation initiative launched in 2025, led by NEXT Park, together with NEXT Federation, China Silk Road Development Capital Management Co., Ltd., Belt and Road Service Connections, TUS Holdings (GBA), and other strategic partners.
Guided by the principles of “Co-building and Sharing, Mutual Empowerment, Integrated Supply Chains, and Coordinated Trade & Investment,” the initiative is positioned around “Two Countries, Multiple Parks, Seamless Connectivity.”
By establishing an innovation park network across key cities in New Zealand and China, the Hubs provides an integrated “Space + Incubation + Investment” platform, supporting technology commercialisation, international incubation, and cross-border investment collaboration.
Through resource connectivity and complementary strengths, the initiative aims to build a dynamic and mutually beneficial New Zealand–China innovation ecosystem.