Full Breakdown
New Zealand Voters Reject Raising Superannuation Age to 67
7/16/2026, 4:17:55 AM
Poll Shows Broad Opposition to Raising Superannuation Age
An RNZ-Reid Research poll of 1,000 New Zealanders conducted online 2-9 July 2026 found that 58 % want the superannuation eligibility age to stay at 65, while only 35.3 % support raising it to 67. A further 6.8 % were unsure. The poll’s margin of error is ±3.1 % at the 95 % confidence level.
Party-Specific Support and Opposition
Opposition to the age increase was widespread across most party supporters. Labour and Green voters were the most resistant, with only 25 % and 19 % respectively in favour. National supporters were almost evenly split (47.8 % for, 48.2 % against). ACT and Opportunity voters leaned toward support, and a surprising 33 % of New Zealand First voters favoured the hike despite the party’s historic stance. Among Te Pati Maori supporters, 44.6 % backed the increase, even though the party advocates a lower age for Maori due to lower life expectancy.
Attitudes to Means-Testing and Compulsory KiwiSaver
When asked about means-testing the pension, 46.6 % said yes, 40.7 % said no, and 12.7 % were undecided. The same poll showed overwhelming backing for National’s proposal to make KiwiSaver compulsory from July 2028—70.4 % support overall, though support fell to 51.8 % among Green voters. However, when the compulsory KiwiSaver plan was paired with a higher pension age, 52 % opposed the combined package while only 37.6 % approved it.
Official Statements & Responses
National MP Nicola Willis, who revived the superannuation debate at the recent Budget, warned of rising costs: “She said any party that ignored the size of the problem was doing so for its own benefit.” — Nicola Willis, National MP
Labour leader Chris Hipkins briefly entertained means-testing in an April interview, describing his party as “open” to a bipartisan conversation, but the party later ruled out any changes to pension settings in June.
Criticism & Opposition
Labour, the Greens, New Zealand First and Te Pati Maori all publicly opposed raising the superannuation age, arguing that it would disproportionately affect lower-income retirees and Maori communities with shorter life expectancies. Their stance contrasts with National’s push to increase the age as part of broader fiscal reforms.
