Surprising   Sobering   Humorous   Independent   Unique

Surprising   Sobering   Humorous   Independent   Unique

Surprising   Sobering   Humorous   Independent   Unique Surprising   Sobering   Humorous   Independent   Unique

Silhouette of a tui and a hui surrounded by green leaves and kowhai flowers, with a blue background featuring a meeting house.

What is 'Have Our Say'?

The ‘Have Our Say’ project was designed by Te Ārai researchers to amplify older people’s voices, during the 2020-2022 Covid-19 lockdowns in Aotearoa. The project sought to understand how older people coped with the social isolation enforced by the Covid-19 lockdowns.

The nearly 800 letters we received from older New Zealanders defy ageist stereotypes that portray them as fragile, vulnerable and weak. Scroll down to find a selection of their stories. They offer powerful insights into their lockdown experiences in words and pictures.

An elderly man wearing a straw hat and a light blue polo shirt sitting on a wooden bench outside, with a small bird perched on his shoulder, and a white wall with pinecones on a nearby table in the background.
A backyard garden with various shrubs, flowering plants, and a small pink rose bush, surrounded by white plastic chairs and a house in the background.
A small wooden ukulele, a white cup of tea on a closed book, a laptop with a black keyboard, and a notebook with a pen on a light-colored bedsheet.
Silhouette of a heron walking along the shore during sunset with a reflection on the water.

If you are interested in reading the research papers assosciated with the ‘Have Our Say’ project, then please see: