# Question 143: For the 2026 New Zealand general election: What are the parties' current positions on NZ Super, retirement income and aged care? Collected 31 October 2026 [NZ Election 2026 · Edition 7 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: 614a5dd8-0cbe-42fd-bf67-6bdeda3736a9 # 2026 New Zealand general election: NZ Super, retirement income and aged care The key distinction to look for when comparing the parties is that NZ Super, retirement savings and aged care are three different policy areas: 1. NZ Superannuation: Who qualifies, the age of eligibility, payment levels and whether the pension is means-tested. 2. Retirement income: KiwiSaver contributions, employer contributions, tax treatment, savings incentives and support for people who reach retirement with limited assets. 3. Aged care: Residential care, home support, dementia care, funding for rest homes, workforce pay and access to publicly funded services. I'll distinguish between policies explicitly announced for the 2026 election, existing party commitments and positions that are not yet clear. This matters because a party's current policy should not be confused with a policy it implemented or supported in the past. ## 1. NZ Super: eligibility age and entitlement This is one of the clearest differences between the parties. | Party | Position on NZ Super | | --- | --- | | National | Retain universal, non-means-tested Super, but gradually raise eligibility from 65 to 67, starting in 2044. | | Labour | Keep eligibility at 65. Opposes means-testing Super. | | Green | Keep eligibility at 65 and retain universal entitlement. Focus on ensuring payments cover living costs. | | NZ First | Keep eligibility at 65. Opposes changes to existing entitlements. Wants eligibility restricted to NZ citizens from 2029. | | ACT | Raise eligibility to 67 by 2035. Proposes an exemption for people with at least 20 years in physically demanding occupations. | | The Opportunities Party (TOP) | Replace NZ Super with a Citizens' Income, with a supplementary payment initially maintaining the equivalent of current Super. | | Te Pāti Māori | No clear, comprehensive 2026 Super policy identified in the published material reviewed. Has previously advocated earlier access for Māori, reflecting differences in life expectancy. | Sources: Grey Power's September party questionnaire and the September retirement policy comparison. [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/)[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) ### What the differences mean - National: The increase would be phased in from 2044, so it is a long-term change rather than an immediate increase for people approaching retirement. - ACT: Its proposed change would happen much sooner, reaching age 67 by 2035. The physically demanding work exemption is an important qualification. - Labour, Greens and NZ First: All three support retaining 65 as the eligibility age. - TOP: Proposes changing the underlying structure rather than simply changing the age. One important distinction: universal Super means people can qualify regardless of their personal wealth or other income. That is different from whether their payment is taxed. ## 2. KiwiSaver and retirement income This is another substantial area of policy difference. | Party | Main retirement savings proposals | | --- | --- | | National | Make KiwiSaver compulsory from July 2028; progressively increase employee and employer contributions to 6% each by 2032. Continue employer contributions for working members over 65 from July 2027. | | Labour | Increase employer contributions to 6% by 2032, even when employees pause their contributions. Increase the default employee contribution rate to 4%. Prevent employers from including KiwiSaver contributions in total remuneration packages. | | ACT | Remove tax on KiwiSaver investment earnings, but remove the government's annual KiwiSaver contribution. | | NZ First | Make KiwiSaver compulsory, with an automatic $1,000 contribution at birth. Its proposals also include higher contribution rates over time. | | Greens | Retain universal NZ Super, with emphasis on adequate retirement income and reducing living costs. No equivalent compulsory KiwiSaver restructuring identified in the material reviewed. | | TOP | Introduce compulsory KiwiSaver 2.0, with employee and employer contributions gradually increasing to 6% each. Integrate retirement income into its Citizens' Income system. | | Te Pāti Māori | No sufficiently detailed, confirmed 2026 KiwiSaver package identified in the sources reviewed. | Sources: [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/)[Election policy tracker: what the parties are promising](https://stories.theconversation.com/nz-policy-tracker-2026/) The fundamental policy distinction: - National, Labour, NZ First and TOP all want stronger compulsory retirement saving, although they differ in the design. - ACT wants to change the tax treatment of KiwiSaver investments while removing the government contribution. - TOP's proposal is different because it would ultimately integrate retirement income with a broader universal income system. - Labour's proposal places particular emphasis on employer contributions continuing even when an employee temporarily stops contributing. ## 3. Aged care, rest homes and support for older people This is an area where the parties' proposals are less uniform. It is also important to distinguish residential care from support that enables someone to remain living independently at home. ### National National's October 2026 seniors' policy includes: - More affordable pensioner housing. - Ring-fencing at least 20% of future Housing Flexible Fund places for seniors' housing. - Expanding granny-flat rules to make it easier for families to accommodate older relatives. - A free 0800 Seniors helpline to help older people navigate government services. - Stronger protection against elder abuse and financial exploitation. - Continued employer KiwiSaver contributions for working people over 65. National has also emphasised its wider health system performance and additional healthcare capacity. Its published seniors' package is more detailed on housing, financial security and navigating services than on a specific overhaul of aged-care funding. [Fixing the Basics and Building the Future: National’s plan for retirement](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20261022-retirement)[How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/) ### Labour Labour's emphasis includes: - Three free GP visits annually for everyone through its proposed Medicard. - Increased support for general practice and community healthcare. - Improving primary-care nurse pay so working outside hospitals is not financially disadvantageous. - Keeping Super at 65. - Retirement village reforms requiring departing residents to receive their money back more promptly. Labour's retirement village proposal is particularly relevant to people who have paid an occupation-right deposit. Its proposed legislation would require 10% repayment within five working days and the balance within three months. [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)[Vote for health: From Labour to ACT, how will (or won’t) our politicians fix pay parity?](https://kaitiaki.org.nz/article/vote-for-health-from-labour-to-act-how-will-or-wont-our-politicians-fix-pay-parity/) ### Green Party The Greens have put forward a broader ageing-population strategy, including: - A dedicated long-term strategy for older New Zealanders. - A state-owned, not-for-profit retirement village system. - Better access to community-based healthcare. - Full implementation of the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan over five years. - Support for family carers. - Equal pay for nurses working in aged care, iwi providers, primary care and public hospitals. - Greater emphasis on enabling people to age in their own homes. The proposed state-owned retirement village model is a significant difference from relying primarily on commercial retirement village providers. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026)[Vote for health: From Labour to ACT, how will (or won’t) our politicians fix pay parity?](https://kaitiaki.org.nz/article/vote-for-health-from-labour-to-act-how-will-or-wont-our-politicians-fix-pay-parity/) ### New Zealand First NZ First has identified aged-care reform as a priority. Its stated areas of focus include: - Better coordination between primary, community and aged-care services. - More support for older people to remain living in their own homes. - A Seniors Housing Plan. - Protecting existing Super entitlements. - Improving the position of older New Zealanders in the health system. However, its publicly available aged-care proposals are less detailed than its Super and retirement savings commitments. [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/) ### ACT ACT supports raising the Super eligibility age to 67 and has a more limited set of clearly documented 2026 aged-care-specific commitments in the sources reviewed. It did not provide a response to Grey Power's older-person policy questionnaire. Its absence from that response should not be interpreted as opposition to any particular aged-care proposal. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026) ### The Opportunities Party (TOP) TOP emphasises: - More community-based healthcare. - Greater support for family carers. - A long-term, cross-party health funding plan. - Better preventive healthcare. - Supporting older people to remain at home for longer. - Its Citizens' Income model for retirement income. TOP's approach puts considerable emphasis on reducing the need for institutional care by strengthening community services. [How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/)[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) ### Te Pāti Māori The available material does not establish a comprehensive 2026 aged-care policy package. However, its health policy includes a commitment to sustainable funding for primary care, aged care and iwi providers, so that nurses are paid equally across the different types of providers. That is particularly relevant to the availability of culturally appropriate aged-care services and the workforce supporting older Māori. [Vote for health: From Labour to ACT, how will (or won’t) our politicians fix pay parity?](https://kaitiaki.org.nz/article/vote-for-health-from-labour-to-act-how-will-or-wont-our-politicians-fix-pay-parity/) ## 4. Retirement villages and residential care: an important additional issue There are some particularly relevant differences for people who own homes, have retirement village deposits or may eventually need residential care. | Issue | Party proposals | | --- | --- | | Retirement village repayments | Labour proposes repayment within three months, including existing residents and contracts. | | Retirement village repayments | National proposes a nine-month repayment framework, with 10% of net termination proceeds paid within four weeks. Its proposed rules would apply to new agreements rather than existing ones. | | Not-for-profit retirement villages | Greens propose a state-owned model. | | Affordable seniors' housing | National proposes additional government-funded affordable pensioner housing. | | Ageing at home | Greens, TOP and NZ First emphasise community support and ageing in place. | Source: [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)[Fixing the Basics and Building the Future: National’s plan for retirement](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20261022-retirement)[How parties stand on issues affecting older New Zealanders](https://greypowermag.co.nz/politics/how-parties-stand-on-issues-affecting-older-new-zealanders/) ### An important issue: who pays for rest-home care? New Zealand's aged-care funding system is also under review. An Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group report released in August 2026 recommended significant changes, including: - More consistent funding arrangements for residential and home-based care. - Better support for people who want to remain at home. - A proposed five-year lifetime cap on residential-care contributions. - More consistent assessment of care needs. - Better workforce remuneration and training. - Improved funding for dementia care. These are recommendations to the Government, not adopted election promises from all the parties. The report proposes a more graduated approach to individual contributions based on income, assets and care needs. [Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group: Frequently asked questions September 2026](https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/2026-09/Aged-Care-Report-FAQs-Updated-September-2026.pdf)[A place to grow old: Securing the future of aged care](https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/2026-08/MAGroup-Report-Aged-Care-NZ-v2.pdf) This is worth watching because the cost of residential care and the treatment of people's assets can have a major effect on retirement savings and family inheritances. ## 5. Side-by-side summary Here is a condensed comparison of the main policy directions. | Party | Super age | Retirement savings | Aged-care emphasis | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | National | 67 from 2044 | Compulsory KiwiSaver, 6% employer and employee | Seniors' housing, protections and access to services | | Labour | 65 | Higher employer contributions and 4% default | Primary healthcare, GP access, village repayments | | Greens | 65 | Adequacy of retirement income | Not-for-profit villages, dementia care, ageing at home | | NZ First | 65 | Compulsory KiwiSaver, birth contribution | Aged-care reform, seniors' housing | | ACT | 67 by 2035 | Tax-free KiwiSaver earnings, remove government contribution | Fewer detailed aged-care commitments identified | | TOP | Citizens' Income model | Compulsory 6% + 6% KiwiSaver | Community care, family carers, ageing at home | | Te Pāti Māori | No confirmed comprehensive 2026 position | Insufficient detail identified | Equal pay and sustainable funding for aged-care providers | This table summarises the published positions identified as at 30 October 2026, not necessarily every policy a party may announce before election day. [Where the parties stand on New Zealand Super](https://www.localmatters.co.nz/general_elections_2026/where-the-parties-stand-on-new-zealand-super/)[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/)[Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026)[Retirement, Aged Care and KiwiSaver Policy](https://allianceparty.nz/alliance-retirement-aged-care-kiwisaver-policy/) ## 6. Where to check the original policies These are useful independent resources for checking the proposals and any subsequent announcements: - [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). Particularly useful because it asked parties directly about older people's needs. - [Lifetime Income – Election 2026: What's in it for seniors?](https://www.lifetimeincome.co.nz/resources/retirement-news/2026/october/election-2026-what-s-in-it-for-seniors-so-far?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Covers Super, KiwiSaver, tax and retirement villages. - [The Conversation – 2026 Election Policy Tracker](https://stories.theconversation.com/nz-policy-tracker-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Allows comparison across party policies. - [Ministry of Health – Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group recommendations](https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/2026-09/Aged-Care-Report-FAQs-Updated-September-2026.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Important background on the future of residential and home-based care. ## 7. Three questions worth examining before voting In comparing these policies, I would pay particular attention to three questions: 1. Security of retirement income: Will someone who is currently 55–64 still be able to rely on receiving NZ Super at 65? 2. Protection of assets: If someone owns their home and subsequently needs residential aged care, how much of their lifetime savings and home equity might they have to use? 3. Quality and availability of care: Will there be enough properly funded rest-home beds, dementia-care facilities, home support workers and nurses to meet the needs of an ageing population? The third question is particularly important because a promise to protect NZ Super does not necessarily mean a party has a comprehensive plan for funding and delivering aged care. My suggestion: Look at the Super and aged-care policies together rather than treating them as separate election issues. The age at which someone receives Super, how much they can save, and how residential care is funded can all affect the same household's financial security in retirement. ## Gemini Answer ID: 875515b9-8601-46f3-856b-29d93597d842 For the **2026 New Zealand General Election**, political parties have drawn distinct lines around retirement income, the future of New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super), KiwiSaver settings, and the pressure facing aged care and senior housing. The primary positions of the major political parties outline how they plan to address New Zealand’s aging population: --- ### 1. New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) Age & Eligibility The debate over whether to lift the age of eligibility remains one of the most significant divides among parties: * **ACT:** Strongly advocates raising the NZ Super age to **67 by 2035**, proposing compassionate early-access exemptions for individuals who have spent their careers in physically demanding jobs. They also propose removing the tax on KiwiSaver investment earnings while discontinuing the government contribution. * **National:** Has signaled support for raising the eligibility age to **67 starting in 2044**, though it emphasizes that any change should follow a broader cross-party consensus. For workers aged 65+, National proposes extending mandatory employer KiwiSaver contributions to ensure those who continue working do not miss out. * **Labour, Green Party, and New Zealand First:** All explicitly oppose raising the retirement age. They are committed to **keeping the eligibility age at 65** and maintaining NZ Super at its current benchmark (linking it to 66% of the net average wage). * *New Zealand First* additionally proposed restricting Superannuation exclusively to New Zealand citizens starting from 2029. * **The Opportunities Party (TOP):** Proposes a major structural overhaul of the welfare and retirement system through a **Citizen’s Income** policy (providing a universal weekly income to adults, backed by a land value tax) alongside compulsory retirement contributions. --- ### 2. KiwiSaver and Long-Term Savings Parties are utilizing KiwiSaver policy adjustments to boost long-term national savings and address adequacy: * **Labour:** Proposes making employer contributions **compulsory starting in July 2028**, lifting the minimum rate progressively to **6% by 2032** (even if employees pause or lower their personal contributions). They also intend to mandate KiwiSaver contributions for parents on paid parental leave and extend employer contributions past age 65. * **ACT:** Proposes making employer contributions compulsory and raising the minimum rate to **6%**, but couples this with restructuring the tax framework on investment earnings and removing the government KiwiSaver tax credit. * **New Zealand First:** Focuses on a "KiwiSaver Generation" initiative by automatically enrolling newborn citizens into KiwiSaver backed by a **$1,000 government contribution**. * **The Opportunities Party (TOP):** Supports moving toward fully compulsory retirement savings, scaling up employee and employer contribution rates to a combined total of 12%. --- ### 3. Aged Care, Health, and Senior Housing With New Zealand tracking toward a "super-aged" population, aged care funding, healthcare accessibility, and housing options have drawn targeted commitments: * **Aged Care Sector Pressures:** Sector advocates (such as Grey Power and elder health researchers) have heavily highlighted the crisis in Age-Related Residential Care (ARC), specifically the shortage of publicly funded "standard beds" and severe funding strains relative to public healthcare wages. * **Healthcare Affordability for Seniors:** * *Labour* has campaigned on lowering health costs for households through policies like a **"Medicard" providing three free GP visits a year** and free prescriptions. * *National* has focused on boosting Pharmac's medicines budget (by $604 million) and expanding cancer screening programs. * *New Zealand First* has explicitly identified comprehensive **aged-care reform** and better coordination between primary, community, and aged care as major policy priorities, alongside a proposed Seniors Housing Plan to support ageing-in-place. * **Housing and Ageing in Place:** Parties have faced pressure to address the high percentage of older New Zealanders renting in the private market. Proposals range from expanding the *Warmer Kiwi Homes* insulation/solar grants to building more accessible, mobility-friendly pensioner housing units and exploring council rates-deferral schemes for fixed-income seniors. --- Are you interested in how a specific party’s broader tax or cost-of-living package intersects with these retirement policies? ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: 4408d57c-c284-4faf-b472-0590cc0436a5 For the 2026 New Zealand general election, New Zealand's political parties hold distinct positions regarding New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super), retirement income settings, and related superannuation policy frameworks. **NZ Superannuation Eligibility Age and Core Stances** * **National Party** * **Entitlement Age:** Supports raising the eligibility age for NZ Super to 67, but starting later from 2044. National has stated it prefers a cross-party consensus discussion on the matter before making abrupt unilateral changes. * **Retirement Income/KiwiSaver:** Proposes moving toward compulsory KiwiSaver with automatic enrolment at birth, alongside a $1,500 "baby boost" contribution, and allowing employer KiwiSaver contributions to continue past age 65. * **ACT Party** * **Entitlement Age:** Proposes a faster timeline to raise the eligibility age to 67 by 2035, accompanied by targeted exemptions for people in physically demanding or arduous occupations. Access to KiwiSaver funds would remain at age 65. * **Retirement Income/KiwiSaver:** Keeps KiwiSaver voluntary while aiming to remove taxes on KiwiSaver investment earnings to encourage private savings. * **Labour Party** * **Entitlement Age:** Opposes lifting the retirement age, maintaining that eligibility for NZ Super should stay locked at 65. * **Retirement Income:** Focuses on protecting the universality and settings of the current state pension framework without raising the threshold. * **Green Party** * **Entitlement Age:** Firmly supports keeping the NZ Super age of entitlement at 65. * **Retirement Income:** Focuses opposition on changes that would increase financial pressure or delay retirement security for working- and lower-income New Zealanders. * **New Zealand First** * **Entitlement Age:** Strongly opposes any increase to the entitlement age, maintaining eligibility at 65. However, NZ First advocates restricting eligibility to New Zealand citizens starting from 2029. * **Retirement Income/KiwiSaver:** Proposes compulsory KiwiSaver with an initial ramp-up of employee and employer contributions to 8% (eventually targeting 10%), alongside a $1,000 government kickstart contribution for newborns. * **The Opportunities Party (TOP)** * **Retirement Income/KiwiSaver:** Proposes major structural reform through a Citizen’s Income style approach, alongside making KiwiSaver compulsory with combined employer and employee contributions scaling up to 12%.