NZ Super and the 2026 New Zealand election

As of 26 October 2026, the main differences between the parties concern whether you can continue receiving NZ Super from age 65, whether eligibility rules will change, and how retirement income should be funded in the future. New Zealand's general election is scheduled for 7 November 2026. Election 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?Should the NZ Super age rise to 67?

Because you own your home, rely mainly on NZ Super and have regular healthcare needs, it is useful to separate three issues:

• Your pension: whether the age of eligibility or your entitlement could change.
• Your household budget: whether a party promises to protect or increase the purchasing power of NZ Super.
• Your other costs: what parties propose for healthcare, rates, power bills and retirement savings, which can affect your disposable income even if the pension itself stays the same.

1. Where the parties stand on NZ Super

The following is a comparison of publicly reported positions as of October 2026. A party's published policy, an announcement by its leader and a commitment to maintain current settings are not necessarily the same thing.

Party	Retirement age position	Eligibility and payment approach
National	Has proposed a gradual rise from 65 to 67 starting in 2044, while seeking cross-party discussion.	Supports universal NZ Super and opposes means-testing. Its approach places greater emphasis on KiwiSaver. Where the parties stand on New Zealand SuperElection 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?
Labour	Keep the age at 65.	Opposes means-testing. Has not announced a wholesale redesign of NZ Super for this election. How parties stand on issues affecting older New ZealandersWhere the parties stand on New Zealand Super
Green Party	Keep the age at 65.	Supports universal superannuation and prioritising adequate payments for everyday living costs. Also proposes restoring a 10-year minimum residence requirement. Where the parties stand on New Zealand SuperElection 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?
ACT	Raise the age gradually to 67 by 2035.	Proposes early access at 65 for people who have spent much of their careers in physically demanding work. It also proposes removing tax on KiwiSaver investment earnings and ending the government KiwiSaver contribution. ACT New ZealandElection 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?
New Zealand First	Keep the age at 65.	Opposes means-testing and changes to the retirement age, but proposes restricting NZ Super eligibility to New Zealand citizens from 2029. Winston Peters - “Seniors Sole Defender”NZFirst Campaign Announcement: NZ Super for Citizens Only
The Opportunities Party (TOP)	Proposes restructuring the system rather than simply raising the age.	Would replace NZ Super with a Citizen's Income and a top-up to bring payments into line with current NZ Super rates. The longer-term proposal allows the top-up to be reduced in line with income as KiwiSaver balances grow. Where the parties stand on New Zealand SuperElection 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?
Te Pāti Māori	No confirmed formal 2026 policy located.	Has previously advocated earlier access to superannuation for Māori, around 7–10 years earlier, citing life expectancy and health inequalities. Its current election position remains unclear. Where the parties stand on New Zealand SuperHow parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders

An important distinction for current retirees: the proposals to increase the pension age are mainly about future eligibility. ACT has said existing superannuitants would not have their entitlement changed. National's proposed change begins in 2044. New Zealand First's citizenship proposal is different because it concerns who qualifies, not just the age at which payments begin. Where the parties stand on New Zealand SuperNZFirst Campaign Announcement: NZ Super for Citizens Only

2. What about the amount you receive?

Keeping the age at 65 does not necessarily mean that a party will increase the amount you receive in real purchasing-power terms.

NZ Super is generally adjusted annually under existing rules, including a link to wages. The key questions to ask parties are:

• Will they retain the current payment-setting rules?
• Will they provide additional support if rates, insurance, power and food costs rise faster than pension payments?
• Will they retain universal entitlement regardless of income and assets, including for homeowners?
• Will they change tax, health costs or other household expenses in ways that affect the amount you have left each week?

Labour, the Greens and New Zealand First have clearly opposed raising the age, while the Greens have specifically emphasised the adequacy of payments for everyday costs. TOP's proposed Citizen's Income would change the structure of payments, so it is worth examining how its top-up would work for an existing retiree. How parties stand on issues affecting older New ZealandersWhere the parties stand on New Zealand SuperElection 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?

3. The policies that could matter to your household budget

Since your pension is your main income, the wider cost-of-living policies deserve as much attention as the retirement-age debate.

Power bills

Labour proposes government-backed, low-interest loans for solar panels and batteries through its SolarSaver policy, estimating savings of around $1,000 a year for an average household. National has an energy plan aimed at improving affordability and security. Check whether you could actually benefit from solar if your roof, budget or health needs make installation difficult. Labour's Cost of Living Plan2026 Election Policy

Healthcare costs

Labour proposes three free GP visits per person each year from July 2028 and removing the $5 prescription charge from July 2027. These are proposed future policies, not benefits already in place. If you see your GP frequently or pay for several prescriptions, the details and eligibility of any healthcare assistance could matter. Labour's Cost of Living Plan

Rates and homeownership

National says it will keep rates affordable and refocus councils on core services. TOP proposes a land value tax, with possible exemptions or deferrals for people who are asset-rich but cash-poor, including retirees. A deferral is not the same as a reduction: the rules and eventual repayment obligations would matter to someone living mainly on NZ Super. 2026 Election PolicyTax Reset

Retirement income security

National and Labour both propose changes to KiwiSaver contributions, while ACT would remove tax on KiwiSaver investment earnings but discontinue the government contribution. These policies primarily affect savings and working-age people; for someone already retired, the immediate impact may be less than changes to pension payments, taxes and household bills. Election 2026: What’s in it for seniors so far?ACT New Zealand

4. What to check before voting

Here is a practical checklist you can use when reading party policies or asking candidates questions.

Questions for candidates

0 of 6 checked

Will you keep NZ Super eligibility at 65 for the foreseeable future?

Will you preserve universal NZ Super without income or asset testing?

How will you protect the real purchasing power of pension payments as essential costs rise?

What concrete assistance will you provide with GP visits, prescriptions and other healthcare costs?

What will you do about council rates and home insurance for retirees on fixed incomes?

Will any proposed tax or housing reforms create new costs for homeowners, even if payments can be deferred?

Copy checklist

5. Official information to consult

• Work and Income — Who can get NZ Super: current age, residence and visa requirements.
• Work and Income — NZ Super payment rates: current rates by living situation and tax code.
• National's 2026 election policies
• ACT's fiscal plan
• Labour's cost-of-living plan
• The Green Party's website
• New Zealand First's superannuation announcement
• TOP's Tax Reset

One final point: if you are already receiving NZ Super, current eligibility rules and proposed future policies are two different things. For example, the existing residence rules are already changing for people reaching 65 in different years, but Work and Income says those changes do not affect people who were receiving NZ Super before 1 July 2024. Who can get NZ SuperChange to residence criteria for NZ Super and Veteran's Pension

The central question for your circumstances is not simply which party says it will keep the pension age at 65. It is also which proposed combination of pension settings, healthcare support, taxes and household-cost policies would leave you with enough reliable income to live comfortably in your own home. The evidence above lets you compare those commitments without assuming that any one party will necessarily deliver a particular outcome.