# Question 143: For the 2026 New Zealand general election: What are the parties' current positions on NZ Super, retirement income and aged care? Collected 26 October 2026 [NZ Election 2026 · Edition 6 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: 51f87795-06e8-4a15-a18c-14738da031f8 # New Zealand 2026 election: NZ Super, retirement income and aged care Policy snapshot as at 26 October 2026 · New Zealand general election: 7 November 2026 The main divide between the parties is whether to preserve the current retirement system, including eligibility for NZ Super at 65, or gradually shift more of the cost of retirement onto individual savings. Aged care adds another set of differences, particularly around healthcare costs, dementia support, care-worker pay and helping older people remain in their own homes. The comparison below draws on the parties' published policies and their responses to Grey Power's September 2026 survey. One important qualification: not every party has released a complete policy covering all three subjects. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Where the parties stand on New Zealand Super](https://www.localmatters.co.nz/general_elections_2026/where-the-parties-stand-on-new-zealand-super/)[What should we do about New Zealand’s soaring superannuation bill?](https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/09-06-2026/what-should-we-do-about-new-zealands-soaring-superannuation-bill) ## 1. NZ Super: who qualifies, and at what age? New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) is the public pension, generally available from age 65, subject to residency and other eligibility rules. The central questions for this election are whether that age should rise, whether the pension should remain universal, and how its future cost should be funded. | Party | Position on NZ Super | | --- | --- | | National | Supports universal NZ Super and opposes means-testing it. Proposes gradually raising the eligibility age from 65 to 67, starting in 2044. | | Labour | Says the eligibility age should remain 65 and opposes means-testing. Emphasises certainty for retirees. | | ACT New Zealand | Proposes increasing the age to 67 over eight years, with an exception allowing people with at least 20 years in physically demanding work to apply from 65. Existing recipients would retain their entitlement. | | New Zealand First | Opposes raising the eligibility age or means-testing. Commits to maintaining NZ Super at 66% of the net average wage. | | Green Party | Supports universal NZ Super at 65, with a focus on making retirement income adequate to cover living costs. | | The Opportunities Party (TOP) | Proposes eventually replacing NZ Super with a broader Citizens' Income system, with transitional protection to maintain payments at current NZ Super levels. | | Te Pāti Māori | Has previously advocated earlier access to superannuation for Māori, reflecting differences in life expectancy and health outcomes. A complete 2026 NZ Super policy was not available in the sources reviewed. | Sources: Grey Power's party comparison, Local Matters' September election analysis and The Spinoff's examination of the superannuation debate. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Where the parties stand on New Zealand Super](https://www.localmatters.co.nz/general_elections_2026/where-the-parties-stand-on-new-zealand-super/)[What should we do about New Zealand’s soaring superannuation bill?](https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/09-06-2026/what-should-we-do-about-new-zealands-soaring-superannuation-bill) ## 2. Retirement income and KiwiSaver NZ Super is only one part of retirement income. The other major issue is how much people are expected to save privately, and whether employers and the government should contribute more. ![KiwiSaver: Government Contribution](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/P_8qqY6B4CfgsCDht2-_GPynG-nTAhuPdGN-l0-8XTsrN4DXoQd9zeHfjEhePPpy2ljK2R163WDlhO9sQ33ieUg_foDS2DIYBkBVmTmF8ek7Ei4FDfhXVTfs5TiLasuv_L6caUy4AMGyfiMav22GwUUBSejju3JRQC7dtRd0hGQ?purpose=inline) National Proposes compulsory KiwiSaver contributions for workers from July 2028, automatic enrolment at birth and a $1,500 contribution for each newborn from July 2027. Combined default contribution rates would rise to 12% by 2032. Employer contributions would also continue for eligible workers over 65 from July 2027. [Enhancing KiwiSaver for Everyone](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/kiwisaver)[Where the parties stand on New Zealand Super](https://www.localmatters.co.nz/general_elections_2026/where-the-parties-stand-on-new-zealand-super/) ![Retirement Villages and Aged Care Options in NZ | Lifetimes NZ](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/MVsLecdKQWFiGBqhHhMqjzH0nZSgWLdeIcHTytGCxurV9GRKUTBvRs0MCTaieq6sC1627Pn1RmLlMvieG7S97xjqXFGteK-kgiP0dEU9O21I1ohLTuXX6NLoRSr_5Ve6fmxgfS5wTep4SsGAyrcFGIlvaT5lHieVYPSpZMVR-ko?purpose=inline) Labour Supports keeping NZ Super at 65 and proposes raising compulsory employer KiwiSaver contributions to 6% by 2032, with the default employee contribution rising to 4%. It also wants to prevent employers from including KiwiSaver contributions within total-remuneration packages, and to continue employer contributions for workers over 65. [Election 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?](https://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz/resources/retirement-news/2026/october/election-2026-what-s-in-it-for-seniors-so-far)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy/) ![KiwiSaver After 65: Keep Contributing or Withdraw?](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/6ZV6xv2CkkaOiI3iaNbihVkVlaGM4EnB35xX8SnpMw3ck6j4yP7Mkd5dFy6tcc9J5tGFYkm6W_ZLxVIjWzaJmVsk8YEAbVabDOE1ko5bGdnZfyqdnw1Ol6uis4u4aTYdKiP1MozhKybfcpyVkTqkFTZTWv_Eiq4mBquH0olREqg?purpose=inline) ACT Supports compulsory retirement saving and raising NZ Super eligibility to 67 by 2035. Its proposed changes include removing tax on KiwiSaver earnings and removing the government KiwiSaver contribution. People with at least 20 years in physically demanding jobs could apply for NZ Super from 65. [Election 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?](https://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz/resources/retirement-news/2026/october/election-2026-what-s-in-it-for-seniors-so-far)[Where the parties stand on New Zealand Super](https://www.localmatters.co.nz/general_elections_2026/where-the-parties-stand-on-new-zealand-super/) ![Age Concern Auckland - Summer by the Water: Staying Safe and Active as We Age](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/_pMhdNA5k5IFLc-pj7zad6bdIVGM5emOoGY57_ggsj_5bYZqg4rCPaN5haDIlHb3tWILZN7TiAgVoiyfMvYqZ96lAFjyC9dZru7tVTFVkz9ePxbD6sdWFpJcNX1LU-0hnyuMCQn9bslFawa-rACQo8PnB6y6d2WDP6WjWhb18Nc?purpose=inline) New Zealand First Wants compulsory KiwiSaver, with a proposed automatic $1,000 contribution at birth. It opposes raising the NZ Super age and has also advocated higher contribution rates over time. Its stated position is to protect the existing public pension entitlement. [Election 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?](https://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz/resources/retirement-news/2026/october/election-2026-what-s-in-it-for-seniors-so-far)[Winston Peters](https://www.nzfirst.nz/winston_peters_seniors_sole_defender) ![Enliven Central Rest Homes | Quality Care and Positive Ageing](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/BpValDc3_Si5Havyt5Ki6jSWd15St8R2EEwGdL__TVLziUL6d4Ju1Wc20dfDOe8aBZ2EaixJXlutoNaSYnZxBT7EazNu9PIxRKmAWfr-QEqLrFWcEnQ_fv2Vu4dt06YnAX4P7z-CPBNdYyQ-IX5zrdsMsi3udR4nqCkrjLI-5hk?purpose=inline) Green Party Opposes raising the age of NZ Super and prioritises making the public pension sufficient for everyday living costs. It also wants to reinstate a 10-year New Zealand residence requirement for NZ Super, alongside its broader healthcare and housing proposals. [Election 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?](https://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz/resources/retirement-news/2026/october/election-2026-what-s-in-it-for-seniors-so-far)[How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/) ![How Much Do You Need to Retire Comfortably in NZ?](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/DjoTE3D9j0HKKOzezq71gpflH-bi8YSoafer3IFdOd9FQ_V8TucpED3Ajb5EXTh62INrgkkvC7G7kXIKKCIV4hPEvIkf4KL-fEcujyS_RuTBhSvCBVghpLr_8NTdNum0HPN09rg7V1Lc4H1JVWrtW5CL7urg3kO1VVz-IX5pqiQ?purpose=inline) The Opportunities Party (TOP) Proposes a compulsory KiwiSaver 2.0 system, with employer and employee contributions ultimately reaching 6% each. Its longer-term Citizens' Income model would replace NZ Super with a broader income payment and could reduce the additional pension top-up as a person's other income grows. TOP says major structural changes would not occur within the next decade. [Election 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?](https://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz/resources/retirement-news/2026/october/election-2026-what-s-in-it-for-seniors-so-far)[Where the parties stand on New Zealand Super](https://www.localmatters.co.nz/general_elections_2026/where-the-parties-stand-on-new-zealand-super/) ![Caring for Kaumatua | The Journal | AARP International](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/jJgVsrYFjmQ1y_-f_W1UODIPCDp8WG-MLe13djnbkZoz93TrwD-_6a_xxL-5gmfWIKd5ktuyC-jRM9ExievMEeuDDV8OpIgUf6hL_hnOsiXwd3myC8PlmdE5kMdpTX9UdPIR_WF6kcdnm_sUPPgbIqZOXLlIkowfQBnGiVTZ3qs?purpose=inline) Te Pāti Māori Has advocated earlier access to NZ Super for Māori, citing shorter average life expectancy and health inequities. Its broader approach emphasises Māori-led health services and preventive care. The exact details of its current retirement-savings policy should be checked against its latest election announcements. [Election Survey 2026 - National Council of Women of New Zealand](https://www.ncwnz.org.nz/election_survey_2026)[Election 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?](https://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz/resources/retirement-news/2026/october/election-2026-what-s-in-it-for-seniors-so-far) One distinction worth keeping in mind: compulsory KiwiSaver and a higher NZ Super age are separate policy decisions. A party can favour greater private saving while keeping Super at 65, or propose both higher savings and a later pension age. ## 3. Aged care, dementia and support for older people Aged care covers more than residential care homes. It includes home support, dementia services, GP access, hospital treatment, care-worker pay, retirement villages and support for family members providing unpaid care. The parties' published positions differ in how directly they address these services. | Party | Main stated priorities | | --- | --- | | National | Points to additional doctors and nurses, funding for medicines, elective surgery and expanded cancer screening. It has also highlighted rates rebates and Accommodation Supplement changes. Its detailed aged-care election commitments remain less clear in the sources reviewed. | | Labour | Proposes three free GP visits per year for everyone through a Medicard, more support for general practice, and free prescriptions from July 2027. It also has a member's bill proposing faster repayment of retirement-village residents' funds when they leave. | | Green Party | Wants free public primary healthcare, including free dental care and prescriptions, and full implementation of the national Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan over five years. It also proposes more accessible public housing and a state-owned, not-for-profit retirement-village scheme. | | ACT | Did not submit a response to Grey Power's older-person policy questionnaire. Its detailed aged-care commitments therefore cannot be compared on the same basis here. | | New Zealand First | Identifies aged-care reform as a priority, supports better coordination between primary, community and aged care, and proposes a Seniors Housing Plan with more options for ageing at home. | | TOP | Wants a 10-year cross-party health plan, stronger primary and preventive healthcare, more community-based services and support for family carers, helping older people remain at home for longer. | | Te Pāti Māori | In its response to the National Council of Women of New Zealand, committed to implementing the recommendations of the Ministerial Advisory Group's report on aged care. It also emphasises rebuilding the Māori Health Authority and preventive healthcare. | Sources: Grey Power's September 2026 comparison and the National Council of Women of New Zealand's election survey. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Election Survey 2026 - National Council of Women of New Zealand](https://www.ncwnz.org.nz/election_survey_2026) ### Where the differences matter most Access to healthcare Labour's three free GP visits and free prescriptions are specific proposals. The Greens go further in proposing a move towards fully free public primary healthcare, including dental care. National emphasises workforce and treatment capacity, while TOP focuses on long-term funding and community care. [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 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy/) Dementia and long-term care The Greens have a clearly stated five-year commitment to implement the national dementia action plan. New Zealand First has identified aged-care reform as a priority, and Te Pāti Māori has committed to implementing the aged-care advisory group's recommendations. These commitments do not, by themselves, establish how much extra funding each would provide. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Election Survey 2026 - National Council of Women of New Zealand](https://www.ncwnz.org.nz/election_survey_2026) Staying at home versus residential care TOP emphasises community services and family-carer support. The Greens propose a not-for-profit retirement-village option and more accessible public housing. New Zealand First proposes more options for ageing in place. Labour's retirement-village repayment proposal addresses a different issue: residents getting their money back promptly when they leave. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Election Survey 2026 - National Council of Women of New Zealand](https://www.ncwnz.org.nz/election_survey_2026) Aged-care workers All five parties that responded to Grey Power's survey — National, Labour, the Greens, New Zealand First and TOP — supported pay equity for aged-care workers. That is broad agreement on the principle, although it does not mean they have identical plans for wages, staffing levels or funding. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/) ## 4. Quick comparison: what to look for on the ballot | If your main concern is… | The key policy differences to examine | | --- | --- | | Retiring at 65 | Labour, the Greens and NZ First explicitly support retaining the age; National and ACT propose raising it. | | Keeping NZ Super universal | National, Labour, the Greens and NZ First support universal entitlement. TOP proposes a longer-term Citizens' Income restructure. | | Building private retirement savings | Compare National's compulsory KiwiSaver and $1,500 newborn contribution, Labour's employer-contribution changes, ACT's tax changes, NZ First's proposed birth contribution, and TOP's KiwiSaver 2.0. | | Affordable healthcare in retirement | Compare Labour's Medicard and free prescriptions with the Greens' broader free-care proposals and TOP's long-term health plan. | | Dementia and residential aged care | Look closely at the Greens' dementia action-plan commitment, New Zealand First's proposed aged-care reform, and Te Pāti Māori's commitment to the aged-care advisory group's recommendations. | | Staying in your own home | Compare TOP's community-care approach, the Greens' housing proposals and New Zealand First's Seniors Housing Plan. | ## 5. Sources to check before voting These are useful starting points for verifying the latest announcements, especially where parties' policies have been updated during the campaign. - [Grey Power — How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - [Local Matters — Where the parties stand on New Zealand Super](https://www.localmatters.co.nz/general_elections_2026/where-the-parties-stand-on-new-zealand-super/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - [Lifetime Income — Election 2026: What's in it for seniors so far?](https://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz/resources/retirement-news/2026/october/election-2026-what-s-in-it-for-seniors-so-far?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - [The Conversation — 2026 New Zealand election policy tracker](https://stories.theconversation.com/nz-policy-tracker-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - [National — KiwiSaver policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/kiwisaver?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - [Labour — 2026 election policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Bottom line: The most consequential choice on NZ Super is between retaining eligibility at 65 and gradually moving to 67. On retirement savings, the main debate is how much more people should be required or encouraged to save privately. For aged care, compare the specific commitments on dementia, primary healthcare, home support, residential care and workforce funding — areas where a general pledge to support older people is not the same as a funded policy. Because some parties have not yet published equally detailed commitments across all three areas, treat missing detail as unconfirmed, rather than assuming a party supports or opposes a proposal. ## Gemini Answer ID: b6c58109-8800-4866-9f06-53840756b6fa For the **2026 New Zealand general election**, political parties have outlined distinct approaches regarding New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super), retirement savings (KiwiSaver), and aged care. While there is broad consensus on preserving the core structure of NZ Super, parties diverge significantly on the age of eligibility, compulsory savings, and aged-care reform. --- ### 1. New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) & Eligibility Age The debate over whether to lift the age of eligibility remains a primary dividing line among parties: * **ACT Party:** Proposes raising the age of eligibility for NZ Super to 67 by 2035 (increasing by three months every year), with exemptions for individuals in physically demanding occupations. * **National Party:** Has previously expressed openness to raising the eligibility age to 67 starting from 2044, but emphasizes the preference for a cross-party accord before making definitive structural changes. * **Labour Party, Green Party, and New Zealand First:** Strongly oppose raising the age of eligibility, firmly supporting keeping NZ Super accessible at age 65. NZ First also explicitly commits to maintaining NZ Super at the legislated rate of 66% of the net average wage. * **Te Pāti Māori:** Focuses on equity, supporting earlier access to NZ Super for Māori to account for lower life expectancies. --- ### 2. Retirement Income & KiwiSaver Reforms To address long-term retirement sustainability, several parties have introduced structural changes to KiwiSaver: * **National Party:** Proposes making KiwiSaver compulsory for all workers starting in July 2028, with employee and employer minimum contributions gradually rising to 6% each by 2032. They also propose enrolling every newborn with a $1,500 kickstart payment. * **Labour Party:** Proposes making employer contributions compulsory from July 2028, rising to 6% by 2032 (even if employees temporarily pause their own contributions), while deliberately avoiding compulsory employee contributions to ease cost-of-living pressures. Labour's package also includes extending employer contributions for workers aged 65 and older. * **New Zealand First:** Supports compulsory universal KiwiSaver enrollment at birth (with a $1,000 Crown contribution) and advocates for higher eventual employee and employer contribution rates, scaling up to 8% and eventually 10%. * **The Opportunities Party (TOP):** Proposes a universal, compulsory "KiwiSaver 2.0" scheme with combined employee and employer contributions totaling 12%, alongside broader structural overhauls like a citizen's income framework. --- ### 3. Aged Care and Support for Seniors With a rapidly aging population, aged care, health access, and retirement village regulations are major focus areas: * **New Zealand First:** Has identified aged-care reform as a primary policy priority, emphasizing better coordination between primary, community, and aged-care sectors, alongside a dedicated Seniors Housing Plan to support "ageing in place". * **Labour Party:** Focuses heavily on workforce retention and protections within the sector, including restoring pay equity legislation with immediate pay adjustments for care and support workers. Labour also champions stronger consumer protections for retirement village residents—such as enforcing tighter timeframes (e.g., three months) for the repayment of capital to residents or their families. * **Green Party:** Advocates for a major structural shift toward fully publicly funded and owned health and aged-care services, aiming to transition away from commercial models in aged and palliative care alongside guaranteed fair wages and pay parity for health workers. ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: 04d31bd7-d7d8-4dc3-9470-1ec94ac387ef According to reports from Lifetime Income and RNZ, New Zealand's political parties have outlined distinct positions regarding NZ Superannuation, retirement age, and KiwiSaver adjustments. **New Zealand Superannuation & Entitlement Age** * * **ACT Party** : Supports raising the NZ Super eligibility age to 67 by 2035, while carving out exemptions for individuals who have worked in physically demanding occupations (access to KiwiSaver would remain at 65). * **New Zealand National Party** : Supports raising the age of entitlement to 67 starting from 2044, though it has emphasized a desire for cross-party consensus and discussions prior to implementation. [Lifetime Retirement Income] * **New Zealand Labour Party** : Opposes raising the entitlement age, supporting the retention of eligibility at 65. [Lifetime Retirement Income] * **Green Party** : Opposes increasing the retirement age, maintaining that NZ Super eligibility should stay at 65. [Lifetime Retirement Income] * **New Zealand First** : Strongly opposes any increases to the entitlement age, keeping it at 65. They also propose restricting NZ Super eligibility exclusively to New Zealand citizens starting from 2029. [Lifetime Retirement Income] * **Retirement Income & KiwiSaver Policies** * * **National Party** : Proposes newborn KiwiSaver enrolment with a $1,500 government contribution, moving toward 6% combined employer and employee contributions by 2032, and allowing employer contributions past age 65. * **Labour Party** : Plans a 6% compulsory employer contribution and 4% default employee rate by 2032, ending total remuneration bundling, and extending employer contributions past 65. * **ACT Party** : Proposes removing tax on KiwiSaver investment returns while eliminating the government contribution. * **New Zealand First** : Advocates for newborn KiwiSaver enrolment with a $1,000 government contribution and increasing contribution rates to between 8% and 10%. * **The Opportunities Party (TOP)** : Supports compulsory savings scaling up contribution rates to 6% alongside broader Citizen's Income restructuring.