# PF065: I'm retired, own my home and rely mainly on NZ Super. Rates, insurance and power bills are rising in importance for my budget, and I need regular healthcare. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What would party policies do about living costs for a retired homeowner on NZ Super?

Collected 19 October 2026

[NZ Election 2026 · Edition 4 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/4)

## ChatGPT

Answer ID: 609567bf-930e-401f-8266-d8e8f4aca929

# New Zealand election 2026: What party policies could mean for your retirement budget

As a retired homeowner relying mainly on NZ Super, your key question is practical: which policies could leave you with more money each fortnight after paying rates, home insurance, electricity, and healthcare costs?

The main parties offer different approaches. Some focus on controlling rates, limiting taxes and encouraging competition; others propose reducing healthcare charges, helping households lower power bills, or providing broader financial support. Their policies could affect you in different ways, even if they all support retirement security. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Labour's Cost of Living Plan](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/2026-election-policy-summary-pages/cost-of-living-plan/)[2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies)

I'll compare the main options across New Zealand, without assuming which city or council you live under, and without recommending how you should vote.

## 1. The policies that matter most to your budget

![Property Valuation for 15 Frieston Road, Milford, Auckland | Trade Me Property](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/ttYYcRVO4cssG187kiB7Q1j9zjMJ9CCpGgrnhXbla_8sDCu2y_OY1hXc6LUWbuCdq5rG-kffj7jSuJi_18OMDqIdrk7TkyJoZ_k_lRTHigvPyJeVfTBCkG1zJxap6Yi_3fgzZnOA50dXR769nPy-xRy-KLulpL-_FD5tY2JAr90?purpose=inline)

### Council rates

Your most direct protection may come from a rates rebate, a cap on council rate increases, or a scheme that lets older homeowners defer payments. A cap would limit increases rather than necessarily reduce your existing bill.

![Best Solar Panels NZ 2026: Brands, Tiers & Specs Compared](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/CGApuKBjkspSjrqDtQKK73i_TgjN5RY0cQe1tUrQhZLj5Ape4AgG3Qr_DQ-jEHyEt5798swEFOBhGYMNMxaMZznNMp-jShc2LqBHLJ2Xg0pOBvoW6iTB0P8bANASNM8YK_RIH4_FaidGUxq5PGmS7VAreD_AJ3CrLK4fxVExl5M?purpose=inline)

### Electricity and home energy

Look for direct assistance with power bills, lower-cost solar and battery installations, and measures to improve competition among electricity retailers. Solar financing may help in the long run but could be less useful if you cannot afford the upfront or ongoing costs.

![Botany Medical and Urgent Care | Botany Town Centre](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/wKEOY469m4Tuqx08Qb51AKMWmagxU_mItaOZjxl7ji4KWHY1qK_Mf1AhDj4a1j958lwCgct3ZgJnS9rm7B7Mtl2bSmoyQykXpGQpjF7Q73PQQaHQOQb28ij9bAn2q6hKMcVXFFaH0AwHJjaPT7EWidvDwutB7J1KmLSdO60RAZI?purpose=inline)

### GP visits and medicines

Free GP visits, prescription-charge removal, more subsidised medicines and better access to public healthcare could reduce recurring costs. The value depends on how frequently you need care and which services are covered.

![Lowest income New Zealanders paying highest power prices, data reveals | RNZ News](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/bhg-42sYtsf1f3RWUNRt5zq0R8GKkDC7RBlhQc6JFMYaMWpJNsw5CZsKFeHm4LvZfC3kjWOt_mEUp33F22WeC90t-WbV47RmISNb-Qm6OSHVjRSs8hcGI_gnz__vgyaXCjtRqnZBCauqBQPG2xdL8lwz5gOgRMnTEhWxWTNH-jg?purpose=inline)

### Insurance and NZ Super

Check whether a party offers direct financial support or only broader measures intended to slow inflation. Insurance premiums are particularly important to check separately: a general promise to reduce living costs is not the same as a specific insurance subsidy.

## 2. Comparing the main parties

This comparison uses published policies and party responses available as of 18 October 2026. Grey Power surveyed seven major parties, but ACT did not complete its questionnaire and Te Pāti Māori did not respond, so the level of detail varies. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies)

![Will National Party Finish 2nd in New Zealand's 2026 Election?](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/LCDs4P76HEgfCayafHeSga8GCw12Vxs2fPc3toeyLUZ-wmb6UiGRZY6bhdT1xRejtICfUd6GX2BWmI76EkpoWuffTU4g32bP_qUJp29rsfn5_Zvj5THHSYTLHSoo_5_YQyZ3zKE1WIpB4bu7raRltFl5TZFCgCcE0quf_GohkFI?purpose=inline)

## National

Rates relief, medicines and fiscal restraint

- Rates: Has announced a rates cap, with a maximum annual increase of 4% from 2029. The detailed framework and its effects on individual council bills matter.
- Power: Its energy plan and Home Energy Fund aim to improve electricity affordability and help households electrify their homes.
- Healthcare: Emphasises additional subsidised medicines, cancer treatment, screening and hospital procedures.
- NZ Super: Supports universal superannuation without an income or asset means test. Its commitment to retaining eligibility at 65 was not confirmed in the Grey Power survey.
- What to check: Whether the rates cap and energy measures would make a meaningful difference to your particular bills. [Rate Rebate Scheme to assist ratepayers](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/rate-rebate-scheme-assist-ratepayers)[We are delivering for seniors](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/we-are-delivering-for-seniors/)[2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies)[How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)

![South Island Election Conference 2026](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/_spFKDBqOMVPoo8r35YLoGFwljs_-WWe4ur9fdZCfekzAxaUPGA75u8rI9uxOUTssI2hUZN1r4Zu1AeDrcNaxz3uHoFIyWjDpanT5s-KJ87QzxSu1uNjNL4MOHSuazRZuTy_TzC6aN4wxHHoyU_DhzMFuMCMjNBTtg2xRxOZL6c?purpose=inline)

## Labour

Healthcare costs and household energy

- Healthcare: Three free GP visits per person each year, with the proposed Medicard starting in July 2028; removal of the $5 prescription charge from July 2027.
- Power: Government-backed, low-interest SolarSaver loans for solar panels and batteries, plus up to $3,000 extra support for eligible low- and middle-income households.
- Insurance and prices: Proposes making excessive pricing on essentials, including insurance and electricity, illegal, with repayment of overcharges where established.
- Rates: The Grey Power survey did not identify a specific Labour rates cap or rates-deferral policy.
- What to check: Whether you qualify for solar assistance, how often you use GP services, and how the proposed price rules would work in practice. [Labour's Cost of Living Plan](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/2026-election-policy-summary-pages/cost-of-living-plan/)[How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)

![New Zealand Legislative Election Winner? Winner Odds | Lines.com](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/swOpseI6JeOne3TLmsB2rSSFZkfqWuRzDkOdOuvT8jcsKlshTfgJCcrkPjPm9itoiDVRSAyxbIkvlC-FXS5FSe49Bo3CnDrYufGN9SwS5AoQLlmVszhKX6p1orBeTbQ4Zl4tgs9jF_B0ikpwMbl4J5awpbam9UyN9Rbb3MLRdKM?purpose=inline)

## Green Party

Public services, energy efficiency and broader support

- Healthcare: Proposes moving towards free primary healthcare, including free dental care and removal of prescription charges.
- Power: Proposes expanded home insulation and solar support, which could reduce energy use or bills for eligible households.
- Housing and ageing: Proposes more accessible public housing and a state-owned, not-for-profit retirement-village system.
- NZ Super: Commits to retaining eligibility at 65; it is also open to exploring different individual and couple payment arrangements in the future.
- What to check: Eligibility for home-energy support and the precise design of any changes to superannuation payments. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/health)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/community-and-inclusion)

![New Zealand legislative election winner? Predictions & Od... 2026 | Polymarket](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/UmXClDd76aKEk_XyXfEEacFBHXO18HFMG1Im-weRm7tb64uGzBsRK3vWPXuiFN2zaWaNznb7eSDIJucKOhlXtwb6Lq-BYR6oxisKzHsWTxF5AsiLmtcNGDNtwCsXzgIuSp2vW4pa6pAda-tTriG23zKX1ZuknQ81HGh411pqRkM?purpose=inline)

## New Zealand First

Superannuation protection and seniors' services

- NZ Super: Commits to retaining eligibility at 65 and maintaining superannuation at 66% of the net average wage.
- Healthcare: Prioritises better coordination between primary, community and aged care.
- Housing: Proposes a Seniors Housing Plan and more options to help older people remain in their homes.
- Rates and power: The Grey Power responses do not establish a specific direct rebate on home insurance or a quantified reduction in household electricity bills.
- What to check: The detail, funding and delivery timetable for its seniors' housing and aged-care proposals. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Retirement Policy: Where NZ Parties Stand in 2026](https://whichparty.nz/topics/retirement)

![](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/KZ1zP60v_ZeHHj3ij4DA2sVh6oX86DHN4x_RGhm63IEKbj8P_3phlgxON0_dzBqruxZt_piBvLSwWYOzxGtRjeiBIDJnBczyBauAihY7VhbFruy9Xq4tPeGbXtvfFHap7T9ZV_eOqtHyttigv_yv7jT6ibug6IoPJMJnJ8SLOeE?purpose=inline)

## The Opportunities Party (TOP)

Rates deferral and a broader income-support model

- Rates: Proposes interest-free rates deferral for older homeowners. This could ease immediate cash-flow pressure, although the rates would still need to be paid later.
- Healthcare: Proposes a 10-year, cross-party health plan and more investment in primary, preventive and community-based care.
- Income support: Proposes a broader Citizens' Income model, with longer-term retirement changes not planned within the next decade.
- NZ Super: Commits to retaining the eligibility age at 65.
- What to check: How rates deferral would operate, how any housing payment would work for an owner-occupier, and how the income-support changes would affect you personally. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Retirement Policy: Where NZ Parties Stand in 2026](https://whichparty.nz/topics/retirement)

### What about ACT and Te Pāti Māori?

- ACT: Its published policy emphasises reducing government spending and taxes. That approach could affect your household through the wider economy and tax settings, but the Grey Power survey did not provide a direct, comparable set of its senior-specific commitments. [Cost of Living Policy: Where NZ Parties Stand in 2026](https://whichparty.nz/topics/cost-of-living)[How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)
- Te Pāti Māori: Its published policy agenda includes broader income and housing reforms. However, it did not respond to Grey Power's questionnaire, so I would not infer a specific commitment on your rates, insurance or power bills from that survey. [Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/housing)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/environment)[How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)

## 3. The biggest difference may be in how you pay your bills

A useful distinction is whether a policy reduces your costs permanently, reduces them only for eligible households, or simply postpones payment.

| Policy type | Potential effect on you | Main limitation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rates cap | Limits the rate of increase if your council is covered | Your bill can still rise, and details and exemptions matter |
| Rates deferral | Frees up money now | You may owe the deferred amount later |
| Free GP visits | Reduces the cost of routine healthcare | The proposed Labour scheme covers three visits annually |
| Free prescriptions | Saves money on eligible prescription charges | Does not cover every medicine or healthcare expense |
| Solar assistance | May reduce future power bills | Savings depend on eligibility, property suitability and usage |
| Insurance price regulation | Could address certain unfair charges | Not a promise that your home insurance premium will fall |
| Higher NZ Super | Raises your regular income | The size of future increases depends on the policy and indexation rules |

These are possible effects of the policies described above, not guarantees of the amount you would save. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Labour's Cost of Living Plan](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/2026-election-policy-summary-pages/cost-of-living-plan/)[Rate Rebate Scheme to assist ratepayers](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/rate-rebate-scheme-assist-ratepayers)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/abundant-electricity-will-ease-cost-of-living)

### A current benefit worth checking

The Government announced that, from 1 July 2026, the maximum annual Rates Rebate would increase from $805 to $830. The income abatement threshold for SuperGold Cardholders would rise to $46,400. The scheme is subject to eligibility requirements, and you apply through your council. [Rate Rebate Scheme to assist ratepayers](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/rate-rebate-scheme-assist-ratepayers)

You can check the official [Rates Rebate Scheme information](https://www.govt.nz/browse/housing-and-property/rates-and-property-related-taxes/rates-rebate-scheme/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) to see whether you qualify. If you already receive a rebate, check whether the new limits change your entitlement.

## 4. How to assess the effect on your own finances

For your circumstances, I would compare each party using four questions rather than relying on broad claims about the cost of living.

- Cash in hand: Will NZ Super be protected, and is there any additional support you would qualify for?
- Bills you cannot avoid: Is there a concrete policy on rates, electricity, insurance or healthcare charges?
- When the help arrives: Does the policy start in 2027, 2028 or later? Will you still face the bills in the meantime?
- Eligibility and trade-offs: Is the support universal, income-tested, dependent on owning suitable property, or funded through tax changes?

One important distinction: Labour's published plan says its proposed capital gains tax would exclude the family home, so it is not a proposed tax on the value of the home you live in. The Greens' and TOP's broader tax and income proposals should be checked separately for their treatment of owner-occupied property and retirees. [Labour's Cost of Living Plan](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/2026-election-policy-summary-pages/cost-of-living-plan/)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/economy)[Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)

## 5. Make a simple comparison using your actual bills

If you want to go one step further, you can use the optional worksheet below. Approximate figures are fine; you do not need to share your address or any identifying information.

The worksheet can help identify which published commitments are relevant to your budget, but it cannot reliably predict your future savings without detailed policy rules and eligibility information.

For the official party-by-party policy listings, see [Policy.nz's 2026 election guide](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/health?utm_source=chatgpt.com), alongside the parties' own policy pages. That will help you check for new announcements before voting day on 7 November 2026. [Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/health)[How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)

## Gemini

Answer ID: 7dd4816e-91bd-45e5-8233-6f936bad1e7d

For a retired homeowner relying primarily on New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super), the primary cost-of-pressures—local council rates, insurance premiums, power bills, and regular healthcare access—are key focal points in the 2026 New Zealand general election. 

While major parties generally agree on protecting the current settings of NZ Super itself (keeping the eligibility age at 65, aside from minor adjustments proposed by some ACT and National over longer horizons), their approaches to mitigating your day-to-day cost-of-living pressures and healthcare access vary significantly.

---

### 1. Healthcare and Medications
Regular healthcare is one of the fastest-growing expenses for retirees. Parties propose distinct mechanisms to alleviate this:

*   **Labour:** Proposes introducing a **"Medicard" providing three free GP visits each year** alongside free prescriptions, funded through a capital gains tax (excluding the family home). They also plan to expand the scope of community pharmacies to manage stable long-term conditions.
*   **National:** Focuses on strengthening the clinical supply side rather than universal GP subsidies. Their healthcare policy includes a **$604 million increase to Pharmac’s medicines budget** (partly funded by reallocating foreign aid outside the Pacific) and expanding cancer screening programmes.
*   **New Zealand First:** Emphasizes aged-care reform and better coordination between primary, community, and aged-care sectors, prioritizing a shift toward preventative health and senior wellbeing.
*   **ACT:** Proposes increasing medicine funding progressively to match Australian funding levels by 2033 and establishing new national cancer centres, while opposing broad new taxes.
*   **Green Party & The Opportunities Party (TOP):** Generally push for broader structural increases to health funding (TOP proposes targeting health spending to 9% of GDP), emphasizing primary care and preventative medicine.

### 2. Rates, Housing Costs, and Energy (Power Bills)
Fixed costs like local body rates, home insurance, and electricity are hitting homeowners hard. Parties have floated specific safety nets:

*   **The Opportunities Party (TOP):** Proposes targeted mechanisms for older homeowners, including **interest-free rates deferral schemes**, replacing the Accommodation Supplement with a universal housing payment, and low-interest loans for home electrification/energy efficiency to reduce power bills. They also propose ringfencing government profits from power generation to invest heavily in renewables.
*   **New Zealand First:** Highlights a dedicated **Seniors Housing Plan** alongside expanded options to support "ageing in place" to help manage long-term housing stability.
*   **National:** Emphasizes broad economic management, aiming to curb inflation and keep interest rates down to stabilize cost-of-living increases, while targeting fiscal restraint rather than new broad-based spending programmes.
*   **Labour & The Greens:** Focus more heavily on systemic housing reforms and rental caps (though less directly applicable if you own your home outright), alongside green-energy transitions aimed at long-term power price stabilization.

---

### What to Weigh Up for Your Vote
When deciding how your vote aligns with your situation as a retired homeowner, consider the following trade-offs:
1. **Direct Relief vs. Systemic Investment:** Do you prefer targeted, immediate relief on out-of-pocket expenses (such as Labour's free GP visits) or supply-side investments to lower systemic costs (such as National's Pharmac funding boost)?
2. **Fixed-Cost Interventions:** Look closely at whether parties offer specific mechanisms for homeowners facing soaring council rates and power bills, such as rates deferral options or home energy assistance.

Are there specific cost areas—such as GP costs versus prescription charges—that weigh heaviest on your monthly budget?

## Google AI Mode

Answer ID: 7a421baf-c504-4541-afaa-076b38a382dd

**For a retired homeowner relying on NZ Super in the _2026 New Zealand general election_ , major political parties offer distinct approaches regarding the age of entitlement, indexation of NZ Super, energy and rates pressures, and healthcare access.**

As of April 2026, NZ Superannuation Rates sit at weekly net baselines of **$555.15** for a single living alone and **$854.08** combined for a couple (under the 'M' tax code). While most mainstream parties have committed to maintaining the age of entitlement at 65 or engaging in post-election cross-party talks, policy differences emerge around eligibility age adjustments, health funding, and cost-of-living relief.

* * *

Overview of Party Positions Relevant to Retired Homeowners

Party| Stance on NZ Super Age & Settings| Healthcare & Cost-of-Living Focus
---|---|---
**National Party**| Keeps the NZ Super age at **65** ; plans cross-party talks on long-term sustainability; focuses on gradual KiwiSaver changes for younger cohorts.| Emphasizes fiscal restraint, targeted tax or cost relief, and healthcare waitlist reduction targets.
**Labour Party**| Keeps the NZ Super age at **65** ; supports current wage-indexed settings; open to post-election talks on retirement settings.| Focuses on public health system funding, subsidizing prescription/general practice care, and cost-of-living support.
**ACT Party**| Proposes gradually lifting the retirement age to **67** over the next decade (leaving KiwiSaver withdrawal at 65).| Favours public spending restraint, tax reductions, and market-driven healthcare delivery.
**New Zealand First**| Strong protection of NZ Super at **65** tied to wage-growth indexing; advocates heavily for senior-focused concessions and cost protections.| Emphasizes regional health services, free or heavily discounted prescriber/GP visits for seniors, and winter energy assistance.
**Green / Te Pāti Māori**| Keep NZ Super at **65** ; oppose raising the age or means-testing universal Super.| Focus on free primary healthcare, community pharmacy funding, and targeted energy/rates relief for low-fixed-income households.

* * *

Key Living Cost Areas for Retired Homeowners

1\. NZ Superannuation and Eligibility Age

 * * **Most Parties (National, Labour, NZ First, Greens, Te Pāti Māori):** Pledge to keep the eligibility age locked at **65** and preserve universal access without income- or asset-testing. [RNZ]

 * **ACT:** Proposes increasing the retirement age to **67** starting in the coming decade, arguing it is necessary due to demographic shifts and fiscal pressures. [RNZ]

 * **Post-Election Talks:** Several major parties have signaled agreement to participate in multi-party or cross-party dialogue on the long-term design of retirement income after the 2026 election. [RNZ]

 *

2\. Healthcare and Medical Costs

 * * **Labour, Greens, and Te Pāti Māori:** Focus heavily on increasing direct funding to Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ), lowering or eliminating prescription co-payments, and reducing general practice (GP) visit fees for older New Zealanders.

 * **National and ACT:** Focus on management efficiencies, reducing surgical waitlists through private-public partnerships, and broad economic management rather than sweeping universal free-care expansions.

 * **NZ First:** Historically champions targeted healthcare relief for seniors, including lower costs for primary care and better provincial/rural health service continuity.

 *

3\. Rates, Insurance, and Energy Bills (Fixed Household Costs)

 * * **Rates and Local Government:** Local council rates are set by municipalities rather than central government, though central policies on three-waters/local infrastructure mandates and rate-rebate thresholds affect how much local councils charge. Parties differ on whether to expand or adjust the central government [Rates Rebate Scheme](https://www.govt.nz).

 * **Power and Energy Bills:** Centre-left and populist parties (Labour, Greens, NZ First) tend to emphasize market intervention, winter energy payment protections, or targeted power bill relief. Centre-right parties (National, ACT) lean toward energy market supply-side reforms and regulatory changes to lower wholesale generation costs.

 * **Home Insurance:** Rising home and contents insurance (driven by severe weather events and reinsurance costs) is a growing pressure point. Most parties have debated climate adaptation and disaster resilience funding, though direct private insurance subsidies are generally limited across all platforms.

 *

If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:

 * Which specific **cost of living pressure** (e.g., healthcare, power, or rates) is hitting your budget the hardest?
 * Whether you want to look closer at a **particular party's complete manifesto** for seniors?

## AI Overviews

Answer ID: 032ae9db-f499-4002-a09c-a86611699efb

Political parties have differing approaches to handling cost-of-living issues, healthcare, and the long-term structure of NZ Super for the **2026 New Zealand General Election**. As a retired homeowner already receiving NZ Super, your eligibility age is locked in, but the ongoing value of your pension and your immediate household costs (rates, insurance, power, and healthcare) depend heavily on the next government's policies.

The main party platforms outline the following impacts on your retirement budget:

1\. NZ Superannuation and Pension Value

 * **National:** Pledges to maintain universal NZ Super with no means testing. They highlight recent structural changes, such as the April 2026 Annual General Adjustment which increased the married couple rate to $1,708 a fortnight. While National has joined cross-party talks to discuss raising the future eligibility age to 67 by 2044, this will not affect you as an existing retiree.
 * **Labour:** Vows to keep the age of eligibility firmly at 65 and preserve the current system, though they are open to future discussions regarding means-testing retirees with very high incomes or assets. Their fiscal strategy focuses on growth rather than public spending cuts to avoid squeezing household support.
 * **NZ First:** Heavily opposes any increases to the retirement age or cuts to entitlements. They explicitly commit to maintaining NZ Super at **66% of the net average wage**. However, they plan to restrict NZ Super strictly to New Zealand citizens from 2029 to curb rising costs from older migrants.
 * **ACT:** Proposes the most aggressive reforms, planning to raise the superannuation age by three months per year until it hits 67 by 2035. For current retirees, they plan to remove taxes on KiwiSaver investment earnings but will halt new government contributions to the NZ Super Fund.
 * **Greens:** Support a universal pension, strongly oppose raising the eligibility age, and have signaled interest in exploring individualized rather than couple-based payment rates in the future.

2\. Healthcare and Doctor Costs

 * **Labour:** Has centered its campaign on a cost-of-living plan that includes **three free GP visits per year** via a "Medicard" system, alongside completely free prescription collections.
 * **National:** Emphasizes funding frontline healthcare services and reducing wait times through stricter fiscal management and government "reprioritization" rather than introducing new direct subsidies.
 * **ACT:** Aims to reduce government debt by cutting non-frontline public service spending and independent medical certifications, prioritizing macroeconomic stability over targeted healthcare handouts.

3\. Homeowner Costs (Rates, Insurance, and Utilities)

 * **Rates & Infrastructure:** High council rates across New Zealand are tied directly to water and infrastructure costs. National opposes central mandates and shifts infrastructure funding models to local councils, while Labour and the Greens favor central government co-investment to lower the direct rating burden on homeowners.
 * **Power Bills:** **Labour** has proposed a clean energy incentive that allows homeowners to install solar panels with **no upfront cost** , aiming to reduce monthly utility bills. The **Greens** heavily favor green energy subsidies and state-supported home insulation programs specifically aimed at lowering electricity bills for low-income and fixed-income households.
 * **Insurance:** Rising insurance costs due to climate risks are an ongoing challenge. Left-leaning parties (Labour and Greens) favor stronger government intervention and regulatory oversight on insurance companies, while right-leaning parties (National and ACT) prefer market-driven solutions and reducing the regulatory compliance costs faced by insurers.

* * *

To help look closer at the choices, let me know:

 * Which of these expenses (**rates, power, insurance, or healthcare**) is currently putting the absolute largest strain on your budget?
 * Are you interested in how minor parties like **The Opportunities Party (TOP)** or **Te Pāti Māori** plan to adjust retirement income?