Retirement and savings / NZ Super

Should the NZ Super age rise to 67?

NZ Super is paid from age 65. Parties differ on whether that age should rise.New Zealand Superannuation is paid to residents who qualify from age 65, whatever their income, and is funded from general taxes. Treasury's 2025 long-term fiscal statement puts its cost at 5.1% of GDP, rising to about 8% by 2065 as the population ages; keeping the cost steady by raising the age alone would need an age of 72 by 2065. The Retirement Commission's 2025 review did not support changing the age before a long-term plan is developed. For 2026, ACT would raise the age to 67 by 2035. National's policy page says the age would start rising gradually to 67 from 2044, but Christopher Luxon says National is not running on changes and wants cross-party agreement. Labour, NZ First and the Greens would keep 65. Opportunity would replace NZ Super with a Citizens' Income plus a top-up and has not stated an age. No 2026 Te Pāti Māori policy was found.

Uneven evidence. Some parties' plans have more published costings or analysis than others. Read what was found

As at 15 October 2026, ACT is the only party that has published a costing of its age plan, in its own fiscal plan. No independent costing of any party's age proposal was found: Treasury modelled the age needed to hold costs steady (72 by 2065), not a rise to 67. National has published no cost for its 2044 change, and no costing was found for Opportunity's superannuitant top-up. Parties keeping 65 have no new cost against current forecasts. Evidence sections differ in depth for these reasons, not as a judgement on the plans.

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Party order is random for each visitor. Tap a party's answer for its full breakdown and sources.Order

Bottom lines on this question

What a party has publicly said it must get, or won't accept, to form or support a government after the election. Only the party's own statements count, quoted with their source. Parties marked Bottom line below have one on that answer.

No bottom line on this question found: ACT, Green, Labour, National, NZ First, Opportunity, Te Pāti Māori (checked 17 Oct 2026)

NZ First: On keeping the NZ Super age at 65, Winston Peters said "It's not a bottom line, it's a top line" and "Don't tell me how to negotiate." (13 May 2026) 1News

Every party's bottom lines, on all issues

Each party is placed on the same scale, then grouped by the value it would set.

Age you would qualify for NZ Super

5 of 7 parties give a value

65 years3 parties

Green
Keep Super universal at 65; do not raise the age.The Green Party supports keeping NZ Super universal at 65. Its 2023 policy promised to "maintain universal superannuation for all New Zealanders 65 years and older", with $16 a week more after tax; no 2026 Super policy page was found. Its Grey Power survey answers list making sure Super covers everyday costs as a priority. Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick questions "the premise that superannuation is supposedly, in their argument, becoming more unaffordable", and says "We can afford to ensure that everybody retires with dignity, and that means that we have to fix the tax system." The party's 2026 tax plan proposes new taxes on high wealth and a higher rate for the largest companies and an income tax cut for most taxpayers. The biggest tradeoff: Super stays universal at 65, but its projected cost is unchanged, so its growth would be met from taxes, borrowing, other spending or payment changes.
Keeps 65 and keeps Super universal. No 2026 Green Super policy page was found; the position comes from party statements, its 2023 policy and news reporting.
Labour
Keep the Super age at 65, with no means test.Labour would keep the qualifying age for NZ Super at 65 and would not means test it. Chris Hipkins says Labour has been "very clear" Super will stay at 65, and finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says "it all comes down to affordable choices". No Labour Super policy page was found as at 15 October 2026; its KiwiSaver policy would extend compulsory employer contributions to people working past 65 from 1 July 2028. Edmonds has agreed to cross-party talks on retirement after the election and says any change to the age would need "the strong mandate to do it". The biggest tradeoff: people keep certainty about when Super starts, but its projected cost is unchanged, so its growth would be met from taxes, borrowing, other spending or payment changes.
Keeps 65 and no means test. No Labour Super policy page was found on its website as at 15 October 2026; its position comes from statements by Chris Hipkins and Barbara Edmonds.
NZ First
Keep the age at 65; limit Super to citizens from 2029.NZ First opposes raising the Super age. Shane Jones says "under no circumstances whatsoever" will a government NZ First serves in get its support to change it, and the party says it does not support changes to Super's entitlement or eligibility. Its one proposed change is to who qualifies: from 2029 only New Zealand citizens would get NZ Super, with a grace period "within the next three years". Non-citizen residents can now qualify. NZ First says Super paid to people who became residents aged 50 or older costs over $1 billion a year. It has not published a saving from the citizenship rule or said how non-citizens already on Super would be treated. The biggest tradeoff: people keep certainty about age 65, but outside the citizenship rule Super's projected cost is unchanged, so its growth would be met from taxes, borrowing, other spending or payment changes.
Keeps 65. Separately, from 2029 only New Zealand citizens would qualify for NZ Super, with a grace period, taking effect within three years.

67 years2 parties

ACT
Raise the Super age by three months a year, reaching 67 by 2035.ACT would raise the qualifying age for NZ Super by three months a year until it reaches 67 in 2035. People who have spent a substantial part of their career in physically demanding jobs could get "compassionate early access"; Local Matters reports this would mean at least 20 years of such work and Super from 65. KiwiSaver could still be withdrawn at 65, and people already on Super would not be affected. ACT's fiscal plan counts savings of $1.89 billion in 2031, less $270 million for early access and benefits. ACT would also keep contributions to the NZ Super Fund suspended. It has not said which birth years would be affected first. The biggest tradeoff: projected Super spending is lower than currently forecast from 2028, but people who cannot keep working and do not qualify for early access would wait up to two years longer.
Rises three months a year, reaching 67 by 2035; savings start in 2028 in ACT's fiscal plan. ACT has not said which birth years are affected first. People with long careers in physically demanding jobs could get early access (Local Matters reports from 65, after at least 20 years of such work).
National
Lift the age to 67 gradually from 2044; seeks cross-party agreement first.National's policy page says it would keep the NZ Super age at 65 until 2044, then lift it gradually to 67, and that the change would not affect anyone born before 1979. Super would stay linked to 66% of average after-tax incomes. National has not published a cost or a year for reaching 67. When it released its fiscal plan in October, Christopher Luxon said National is not running on changes this election and that a change "requires a political consensus, and we don't have that currently". Nicola Willis has agreed with Labour's Barbara Edmonds to cross-party talks on retirement, which she says should start within National's first 100 days. The biggest tradeoff: the long lead time gives people years to plan, but projected Super spending would not be lower than currently forecast until after 2044.
National's policy page says the age stays at 65 until 2044, then rises gradually to 67, and nobody born before 1979 is affected; it gives no year for reaching 67. Christopher Luxon says National is not running on changes this election and wants cross-party agreement first.

Not on this scale1 party

Opportunity
No set age; would replace Super with a Citizens' Income plus top-up.Opportunity has not said whether the qualifying age should change. Its Tax Reset would replace NZ Super with the Citizens' Income, a payment to residents aged 18 and over that the party sets at $19,400 a year, plus a top-up the party says brings superannuitants to current NZ Super rates ($10,000 a year for a single person, $5,250 in total for a couple). The party says "No-one who relies on NZ Superannuation will receive less than they currently do". The package is funded mainly by a land value tax, which superannuitants could defer until their property is sold. The new payment would reach "successive age cohorts, starting with young people". The biggest tradeoff: the party says superannuitants would receive no less than now, but it has not said when over-65s would move to the new payment or how the income reduction would apply to them.
Not on this scale. Opportunity would replace NZ Super with a Citizens' Income for adults plus a top-up for superannuitants, and its documents do not state a qualifying age for the top-up. Leader Qiulae Wong wants a citizens' assembly on Super.

No stated position found: Te Pāti Māori (checked 15 Oct 2026)

Each party's whole answer, under the same headings for every party.

ACT

Raise the Super age by three months a year, reaching 67 by 2035.ACT would raise the qualifying age for NZ Super by three months a year until it reaches 67 in 2035. People who have spent a substantial part of their career in physically demanding jobs could get "compassionate early access"; Local Matters reports this would mean at least 20 years of such work and Super from 65. KiwiSaver could still be withdrawn at 65, and people already on Super would not be affected. ACT's fiscal plan counts savings of $1.89 billion in 2031, less $270 million for early access and benefits. ACT would also keep contributions to the NZ Super Fund suspended. It has not said which birth years would be affected first. The biggest tradeoff: projected Super spending is lower than currently forecast from 2028, but people who cannot keep working and do not qualify for early access would wait up to two years longer.

Age you would qualify for NZ Super: 67 yearsRises three months a year, reaching 67 by 2035; savings start in 2028 in ACT's fiscal plan. ACT has not said which birth years are affected first. People with long careers in physically demanding jobs could get early access (Local Matters reports from 65, after at least 20 years of such work).

Green

Opposes

Keep Super universal at 65; do not raise the age.The Green Party supports keeping NZ Super universal at 65. Its 2023 policy promised to "maintain universal superannuation for all New Zealanders 65 years and older", with $16 a week more after tax; no 2026 Super policy page was found. Its Grey Power survey answers list making sure Super covers everyday costs as a priority. Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick questions "the premise that superannuation is supposedly, in their argument, becoming more unaffordable", and says "We can afford to ensure that everybody retires with dignity, and that means that we have to fix the tax system." The party's 2026 tax plan proposes new taxes on high wealth and a higher rate for the largest companies and an income tax cut for most taxpayers. The biggest tradeoff: Super stays universal at 65, but its projected cost is unchanged, so its growth would be met from taxes, borrowing, other spending or payment changes.

Age you would qualify for NZ Super: 65 yearsKeeps 65 and keeps Super universal. No 2026 Green Super policy page was found; the position comes from party statements, its 2023 policy and news reporting.

Labour

Opposes

Keep the Super age at 65, with no means test.Labour would keep the qualifying age for NZ Super at 65 and would not means test it. Chris Hipkins says Labour has been "very clear" Super will stay at 65, and finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says "it all comes down to affordable choices". No Labour Super policy page was found as at 15 October 2026; its KiwiSaver policy would extend compulsory employer contributions to people working past 65 from 1 July 2028. Edmonds has agreed to cross-party talks on retirement after the election and says any change to the age would need "the strong mandate to do it". The biggest tradeoff: people keep certainty about when Super starts, but its projected cost is unchanged, so its growth would be met from taxes, borrowing, other spending or payment changes.

Age you would qualify for NZ Super: 65 yearsKeeps 65 and no means test. No Labour Super policy page was found on its website as at 15 October 2026; its position comes from statements by Chris Hipkins and Barbara Edmonds.

National

Lift the age to 67 gradually from 2044; seeks cross-party agreement first.National's policy page says it would keep the NZ Super age at 65 until 2044, then lift it gradually to 67, and that the change would not affect anyone born before 1979. Super would stay linked to 66% of average after-tax incomes. National has not published a cost or a year for reaching 67. When it released its fiscal plan in October, Christopher Luxon said National is not running on changes this election and that a change "requires a political consensus, and we don't have that currently". Nicola Willis has agreed with Labour's Barbara Edmonds to cross-party talks on retirement, which she says should start within National's first 100 days. The biggest tradeoff: the long lead time gives people years to plan, but projected Super spending would not be lower than currently forecast until after 2044.

Age you would qualify for NZ Super: 67 yearsNational's policy page says the age stays at 65 until 2044, then rises gradually to 67, and nobody born before 1979 is affected; it gives no year for reaching 67. Christopher Luxon says National is not running on changes this election and wants cross-party agreement first.

NZ First

Opposes

Keep the age at 65; limit Super to citizens from 2029.NZ First opposes raising the Super age. Shane Jones says "under no circumstances whatsoever" will a government NZ First serves in get its support to change it, and the party says it does not support changes to Super's entitlement or eligibility. Its one proposed change is to who qualifies: from 2029 only New Zealand citizens would get NZ Super, with a grace period "within the next three years". Non-citizen residents can now qualify. NZ First says Super paid to people who became residents aged 50 or older costs over $1 billion a year. It has not published a saving from the citizenship rule or said how non-citizens already on Super would be treated. The biggest tradeoff: people keep certainty about age 65, but outside the citizenship rule Super's projected cost is unchanged, so its growth would be met from taxes, borrowing, other spending or payment changes.

Age you would qualify for NZ Super: 65 yearsKeeps 65. Separately, from 2029 only New Zealand citizens would qualify for NZ Super, with a grace period, taking effect within three years.

Opportunity

Under review

No set age; would replace Super with a Citizens' Income plus top-up.Opportunity has not said whether the qualifying age should change. Its Tax Reset would replace NZ Super with the Citizens' Income, a payment to residents aged 18 and over that the party sets at $19,400 a year, plus a top-up the party says brings superannuitants to current NZ Super rates ($10,000 a year for a single person, $5,250 in total for a couple). The party says "No-one who relies on NZ Superannuation will receive less than they currently do". The package is funded mainly by a land value tax, which superannuitants could defer until their property is sold. The new payment would reach "successive age cohorts, starting with young people". The biggest tradeoff: the party says superannuitants would receive no less than now, but it has not said when over-65s would move to the new payment or how the income reduction would apply to them.

Age you would qualify for NZ Super: Not on this scaleNot on this scale. Opportunity would replace NZ Super with a Citizens' Income for adults plus a top-up for superannuitants, and its documents do not state a qualifying age for the top-up. Leader Qiulae Wong wants a citizens' assembly on Super.

Te Pāti Māori

No stated position found (checked 15 Oct 2026)

Background and sources

Cost and ageing. Treasury's long-term fiscal statement, He Tirohanga Mokopuna (24 September 2025), says NZ Super spending has grown from 3.9% of GDP in 2006 to 5.1% now and "is expected to grow to around 8% of GDP by 2065". There are about four people aged 15 to 64 for each person aged 65 and over, down from seven in the 1960s and projected to fall to two by 2065. Treasury says the cost could be held steady as a share of GDP by raising payments in line with inflation rather than wages, and that "achieving the same by steadily increasing the age of eligibility would require it to rise to 72 by 2065". It also says "signalling changes well in advance will enable people to adjust their savings decisions and plan for retirement" (Treasury). Treasury expects the number of people receiving Super to rise from 928,000 in 2024/25 to 1,084,000 in 2029/30 (interest.co.nz).

What the Retirement Commission says. Its 2025 review said "we do not support making these changes before the long-term plan is developed" and that a higher age "is no silver bullet", because it does not meet the needs of people who cannot work longer because of health or caregiving. It cites University of Otago surveys (2014 and 2022) in which raising the age to 67 "attracted significantly less support" than raising taxes to keep 65. It noted the OECD favours individual health assessments over occupation-based early retirement (Retirement Commission). In November 2025 the then Retirement Commissioner, Jane Wrightson, called for "a long-term political accord" (Retirement Commission).

Life expectancy. Infometrics found that, at 65, a Māori woman born in 2016 could expect about 13 years of Super against 20 for a non-Māori woman, and that Māori men born in 2016 have a health expectancy of 64 years. It concluded that lowering the age for Māori would not fix those gaps and would end Super's universal design (Infometrics).

Cross-party talks. On 11 October 2026 Nicola Willis (National) and Barbara Edmonds (Labour) agreed to cross-party talks on retirement (1News). Willis said starting them should be a priority within National's first 100 days, and Edmonds said she was willing to start a working group in that time (interest.co.nz).

Public opinion (context only). A 1News Verian poll of 1,001 eligible voters (13 to 17 June 2026) asked what the government's top priority on Super should be: 44% said keep eligibility unchanged, 26% gradually raise the age to 67, and 25% reduce or remove payments for people with higher incomes or assets (1News). Polling shows what voters prefer, not whether a policy would work.