In 2005 the Health, Work, and Retirement (HWR) Longitudinal Study was established at Massey University in order to identify the later-midlife factors that lay the basis for community participation, independence, and health in later life. Information was collected via postal questionnaire on physical and mental health, psychosocial factors, work and retirement attitudes, and socioeconomic and demographic indicators of a sample of 6662 community-dwelling adults aged 55-70 years. This report provides an overview of these results, and highlights the impact that the transition from work to retirement has on the health and retirement adjustment of older people with respect to independence, well-being, and social participation.