[1] Grey Power was formed in February 1986 by a group of Auckland-based superannuitants in protest against the New Zealand Government's proposal to apply a surcharge on pensions.
This policy caused the group to oppose suggestions by the Retirement Commissioner to increase the superannuation age[5] and led John Key, the leader of the National Party at the time, to promise to "resign as Prime Minister" if he lowered the amount while in office.
Before it was passed into law, Grey Power was concerned about the effect of the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 on parents and caregivers.
[11] Older New Zealanders succeeded in their fight against the pension surcharge, which led to a more general struggle encompassing the health, electricity costs, human rights, advertising, social services, local agencies and law enforcement, and justice.
[12] In January 2019, an 82 year old elderly woman suffering from dementia in her rest home was abused by Grant Hannis, a former journalism professor.
He received a "shockingly inadequate" sentence of eight months to home detention 100 hours of community service and was ordered to pay $3000 in emotional support reparation.