A/HRC/45/14/Add.2 82. Available data concerns the health and well-being of older persons, beyond clinical data, including on function, fragility, mobility, communication ability, behaviour and physical restraint. 66 It provides a comprehensive picture of an older person’s behaviour, functional aspects of daily living and needs, moving towards the “glass human being”67 become a reality. The assessment software allows for information to be automatically aggregated to provide data at facility, regional and national levels, and enables families, advocates and payers to track a person’s progress.68 In many regions, however, the Home Care International Resident Assessment Instrument is not being used as intended. Some district health boards are adopting their own policies and interpretation of data, which leads to unequal access to care for older persons. 83. The comprehensive information collected about an older person’s physiological data, routine and behaviour, moving towards digital health, also allows for the detection of early signs of health problems and early intervention aimed at individualized prognostics. As a general principle, it is essential for older persons to understand fully what data is being collected and for what purposes to ensure they can make a meaningful and informed decision when giving their consent. V. Conclusions and recommendations A. Overall strategy and findings 84. New Zealand is undergoing an essential age-structural change, which requires urgent adequate action now to meet the ensuing challenges. The Independent Expert commends the commitment of New Zealand to ensuring the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons. She welcomes the adoption of the new comprehensive strategy entitled “Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034”, which is guided by the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi), the founding document of New Zealand. It includes links to existing dedicated policies on older persons such as the Healthy Ageing Strategy of 2016, the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2016, the New Zealand Carers’ Strategy 2008 and the Mahi Aroha – Carers’ Strategy Action Plan 2019–2023. 85. The new strategy resonates with human rights principles and is conducive to human rights-based implementation. The Independent Expert underscores that a holistic approach encompassing civil and political, as well as economic, social and cultural, rights is essential to ensure that older persons can fully enjoy their rights. She also notes that the implementation of the strategy requires a clear commitment. She calls upon the Government to allocate a specific budget for the implementation of this strategy and encourages it to formulate and determine the objectives and aims to be attained within a set period of time, as stated in the strategy. 86. The Independent Expert welcomes the existing dedicated institutional structures, such as the Minister of Seniors and the Office for Seniors. She stresses the importance of an independent, interdepartmental coordination mechanism to facilitate the implementation of a coherent policy plan, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach to ageing. This is important to ensure that an older persons-centred approach is mainstreamed into all activities. She notes, however, that the allocation of adequate resources to the Minister of Seniors and her office is required to allow for implementation of the contemplated measures. 87. Welcoming the major reform of the public service which is under way and which emphasizes that the fundamental character of the public service is acting with a spirit of service to the community, the Independent Expert recommends that the Public Service Legislation Bill be amended to require the public service to take into 66 67 68 Suzanne Dyer and others, Review of International Systems for Long-Term Care of Older People, p. 33. A/HRC/36/48, para. 50. New Zealand Aged Care Association, “Caring for our older Kiwis: the right place, at the right time”, p. 17 ff. 15