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A study has found almost a third of retirees frequently feel lonely or socially isolated.
The research, by Age Concern, found 59 percent of New Zealanders aged 65 and above had felt lonely recently, and 30 percent felt that way a lot or all of the time.
Chief executive Kevin Lamb said he feared New Zealand was facing a loneliness epidemic, and told Checkpoint it could have severe health impacts.
Loneliness is tied to more frequent hospitalisations, depression and mental decline, Lamb said.
"It's hugely detrimental to health and the impact this can have on older people can be horrendous."
Loneliness was a community-wide issue, Lamb said, and he urged the government to establish a minister for loneliness.
"This problem has been here for a long time and we haven't had a conversation about it.
"We are changing the way we live and are much more of a global society with families spread across the world. Changes in society are making older people more lonely."
Lamb believed the issue had not been give the traction that it needed.
The study had shown there living in a retirement village didn't help stave off loneliness older people might feel living in their own homes.
"The assumption is always made that you cant be lonely in a busy, populated place but it is not the case.
"You can be lonely anywhere and sometimes its even more acute if everyone around you seems to not be," Lamb said.
Along with introducing a minister for loneliness, Lamb suggested people needed to connect with the elderly in their community.
"We are letting down our older people - donut take my word for it talk to older people themselves."
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