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Older couple in the park
47+
Mature Singles

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Don't give up! There is someone out there just looking for you
Shirley & Malcolm, 2014

Older dating: your new beginning starts here

Mature couple on a date

Are you an older single who is looking for love in NZ? You are far from alone! At EliteSingles a growing number of our Kiwi members are aged 50+, meaning that if you are looking for a relationship with someone on your wavelength, you’ve come to the right place. Register today to find out more!

The rise of ‘senior’ dating in NZ

There are two things to know about the older dating scene in NZ. One, it is thriving and two: so-called ‘senior’ daters are not as doddering as that name might suggest! Indeed, while the term senior might bring with it mental pictures of blue rinses and carpet slippers, in practice mature daters are simply those who have been round the block once or twice. They might be bereaved, divorced or yet to settle down but they share a common goal of finding love and companionship.

In other words, if you are looking for love later in life, you are far from alone. EliteSingles’ Partner Psychologist and Relationships Coach, Sam Owen agrees that those dating after 50 shouldn’t ‘’feel despondent,’’ as ‘’being single in your 50s is increasingly common.’’ The statistics prove her point: according to the 2013 Census, approximately 33% of the NZ population is over 501 and many of these people are single. Indeed, Statistics New Zealand says that “one-person households will account for 29% of all households [by] 2031… with almost three-quarters of [this] growth occurring among those aged 55 years and over.’’2 If the projections are accurate, it would seem that the mature dating boom is just beginning – so what better time than now to get involved?

Older dating and the internet – the perfect fit?

Of course, it is one thing to know that there are others like you out there. Finding them is quite another! Although there are plenty of Kiwis flying solo after 50, determining who is and isn’t available can be an awkward process. After all, not everybody has other singles in their work or friendship circles and meeting someone socially can be tricky at best. Yet there is one place where you can reliably find more mature daters – on the web. Indeed, the fastest growing online dating group is the over 50s.3,4

It’s really not surprising that internet dating is so popular with those aged 50, 60 or even 70+. After all, online dating sites like EliteSingles offer an excellent opportunity to clearly lay out personality and relationship desires. This is ideal for those on the older dating scene as their previous romantic experiences will have taught them what they do and don’t want from a relationship. In other words, mature daters know what they need in a person in order to make a meaningful connection, while online dating offers a space in which to see these needs met. It’s a match made in heaven, and one you can become a part of today!

Sources:

1 Statistics New Zealand: Tatauranga Aotearoa. 2013 Census map: Age group and Sex.
2 Statistics New Zealand: Tatauranga Aotearoa. How will New Zealand’s ageing population affect the property market? Statistics collected 2010-2012.
3 Ellen McCarthy, writing for the Washington Post: More Seniors Jumping into the Online Dating Fray. 2009. Found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/16/AR2009071604623.html
4 Dick Stroud and Kim Walker, Marketing to the Ageing Consumer: the secrets to building an age-friendly business, Palgrave McMillan, 2013, p148.
5 The New Zealand Herald: How to embrace an ageing love life. November 2013. Found at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10866349

About the author: Sophie Watson

See more articles written by Sophie Watson