diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/models/user.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/models/user.js
index 7f1694f08..c09e53feb 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/models/user.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/models/user.js
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ Discourse.User = Discourse.Model.extend({
     return Discourse.Site.currentProp('trustLevels').findProperty('id', parseInt(this.get('trust_level'), 10));
   }.property('trust_level'),
 
+  isElder: Em.computed.equal('trust_level', 4),
+  canManageTopic: Em.computed.or('staff', 'isElder'),
+
   isSuspended: Em.computed.equal('suspended', true),
 
   suspended: function() {
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/topic.js.handlebars b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/topic.js.handlebars
index 210706123..74019d6b0 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/topic.js.handlebars
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/topic.js.handlebars
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@
   {{render quoteButton}}
 {{/if}}
 
-{{#if currentUser.staff}}
+{{#if currentUser.canManageTopic}}
   {{render topicAdminMenu content}}
 {{/if}}
 
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/topic_admin_menu.js.handlebars b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/topic_admin_menu.js.handlebars
index 5c569f98b..e6e97348a 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/topic_admin_menu.js.handlebars
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/topic_admin_menu.js.handlebars
@@ -58,9 +58,11 @@
       </li>
       {{/if}}
 
+      {{#if currentUser.staff}}
       <li>
         <button class='btn btn-admin' {{action resetRead}}><i class='fa fa-times'></i> {{i18n topic.actions.reset_read}}</button>
       </li>
+      {{/if}}
     </ul>
   </div>
 {{else}}
diff --git a/lib/guardian.rb b/lib/guardian.rb
index dbe0526d8..e26a04baf 100644
--- a/lib/guardian.rb
+++ b/lib/guardian.rb
@@ -71,6 +71,26 @@ class Guardian
     end
   end
 
+  def can_create?(klass, parent=nil)
+    return false unless authenticated? && klass
+
+    # If no parent is provided, we look for a can_create_klass?
+    # custom method.
+    #
+    # If a parent is provided, we look for a method called
+    # can_create_klass_on_parent?
+    target = klass.name.underscore
+    if parent.present?
+      return false unless can_see?(parent)
+      target << "_on_#{parent.class.name.underscore}"
+    end
+    create_method = :"can_create_#{target}?"
+
+    return send(create_method, parent) if respond_to?(create_method)
+
+    true
+  end
+
   # Can the user edit the obj
   def can_edit?(obj)
     can_do?(:edit, obj)
@@ -82,7 +102,7 @@ class Guardian
   end
 
   def can_moderate?(obj)
-    obj && is_staff?
+    obj && authenticated? && (is_staff? || (obj.is_a?(Topic) && @user.has_trust_level?(:elder)))
   end
   alias :can_move_posts? :can_moderate?
   alias :can_see_flags? :can_moderate?
diff --git a/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb b/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb
index 50d240de2..3e08af064 100644
--- a/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb
+++ b/lib/guardian/topic_guardian.rb
@@ -1,25 +1,5 @@
 #mixin for all guardian methods dealing with topic permisions
 module TopicGuardian
-  # Can the user create a topic in the forum
-  def can_create?(klass, parent=nil)
-    return false unless authenticated? && klass
-
-    # If no parent is provided, we look for a can_i_create_klass?
-    # custom method.
-    #
-    # If a parent is provided, we look for a method called
-    # can_i_create_klass_on_parent?
-    target = klass.name.underscore
-    if parent.present?
-      return false unless can_see?(parent)
-      target << "_on_#{parent.class.name.underscore}"
-    end
-    create_method = :"can_create_#{target}?"
-
-    return send(create_method, parent) if respond_to?(create_method)
-
-    true
-  end
 
   def can_remove_allowed_users?(topic)
     is_staff?
@@ -41,7 +21,7 @@ module TopicGuardian
     # No users can create posts on deleted topics
     return false if topic.trashed?
 
-    is_staff? || (not(topic.closed? || topic.archived? || topic.trashed?) && can_create_post?(topic))
+    is_staff? || (authenticated? && user.has_trust_level?(:elder)) || (not(topic.closed? || topic.archived? || topic.trashed?) && can_create_post?(topic))
   end
 
   # Editing Method
diff --git a/spec/components/guardian_spec.rb b/spec/components/guardian_spec.rb
index 39267f947..936704940 100644
--- a/spec/components/guardian_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/components/guardian_spec.rb
@@ -409,6 +409,10 @@ describe Guardian do
         it "allows new posts from admins" do
           Guardian.new(admin).can_create?(Post, topic).should be_true
         end
+
+        it "allows new posts from elders" do
+          Guardian.new(elder).can_create?(Post, topic).should be_true
+        end
       end
 
       context 'archived topic' do
@@ -728,6 +732,10 @@ describe Guardian do
         Guardian.new(admin).can_moderate?(topic).should be_true
       end
 
+      it 'returns true when trust level 4' do
+        Guardian.new(elder).can_moderate?(topic).should be_true
+      end
+
     end
 
   end