Understanding New Zealand's Superannuation Scheme

Understanding New Zealand’s superannuation scheme before you retire can help you plan for your retirement.

While Aotearoa doesn’t have an official retirement age, most people retire at 65. This is because both KiwiSaver and NZ Super, begin to pay out your savings once you turn 65.

What is NZ Super?

NZ Super is the government-funded superannuation scheme in New Zealand. It is different to KiwiSaver or other pension funds which you largely fund yourself.

If you are a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or hold the right type of visa, you will receive fortnightly payouts from the government once you turn 65.

How do I qualify for NZ Super?

There are some criteria for qualifying for government-funded super. You must be:

• 65 years old, or older

• A New Zealand citizen or

• A New Zealand permanent resident or

• Hold a residence class visa for New Zealand or

• An ordinary resident in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau at the time of application.

If you weren’t born in New Zealand, you must have lived in New Zealand for a certain amount of time to qualify:

• You must have lived in New Zealand for a certain number of years from age 20.

• You must have lived in New Zealand for at least five years from age 50.

• The years do not need to be consecutive for either period.

How long do I have to live in New Zealand to qualify for NZ Super?

You must have been a 'resident' and 'physically present' in NZ at the same time to qualify as having lived in New Zealand. This means if you were a resident of a different country, that period may not count towards your time living in New Zealand.

If you moved to New Zealand as a refugee or protected person, you can count the number of years you lived here from the day you arrived.

It’s worth noting that the time-period to qualify for the NZ Super as a resident is gradually increasing from 10 years to 20 years. The table below shows how long you’ll need to have lived in New Zealand based on your date of birth. The years do not need to be consecutive but need to include at least five years from the age of 50, no matter what year you were born.

Date of birth

Total number of years you must have lived in NZ from age 20

• On or before 30 June 1959 10 years
• 1 July 1959 - 30 June 1961 11 years
• 1 July 1961 - 30 June 1963 12 years
• 1 July 1963 - 30 June 1965 13 years
• 1 July 1965 - 30 June 1967 14 years
• 1 July 1967 - 30 June 1969 15 years
• 1 July 1969 - 30 June 1971 16 years
• 1 July 1971 - 30 June 1973 17 years
• 1 July 1973 - 30 June 1975 18 years
• 1 July 1975 - 30 June 1977 19 years
• On or after 1 July 1977 20 years

I haven’t lived in New Zealand for long enough. Can I still get Super?

If you haven’t lived in New Zealand for long enough to qualify for NZ Super you can wait until you’ve lived in New Zealand long enough to apply. You can also use another country to meet the criteria if:

• That country has a Social Security Agreement (SSA) with NZ:
• Australia
• Canada
• Denmark
• Greece
• Ireland
• Jersey
• Guernsey
• Malta
• the Netherlands
• South Korea
• United Kingdom
• or
• is a NZ realm country (the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau).

Do I have to stop working to get NZ Super?

You do not have to stop working or earning income to qualify for NZ Super. It is not means tested and does not take into account your existing assets.

However, what type of income you earn can affect your payments. Earning income may change your tax code which could effect your Super payments.

How much is the NZ Super payout?

If you qualify for NZ Super you’ll be paid ever fortnight on a Tuesday. How much you receive will depend on your tax code.

NZ Super payment rate if you're single

NZ Super payment rate if you have a partner

Are there other payments for seniors in New Zealand?

New Zealand is a high cost of living country. It’s recommended that you plan for your retirement by saving through a KiwiSaver or work-related pension scheme so that you can top up your NZ Super payments. Most people will struggle to live on their NZ Super payments alone.

There are other payments available for seniors over the age of 65. These include:

• Accommodation Supplement - help with rent, board, mortgage or related costs

• Disability Allowance - for pensioners with regular ongoing disability costs

• Temporary Additional Support - to cover essential living costs,

• Community Services Card - save on health care and public transport costs

Can I still receive NZ Super if I move overseas?

Sometimes. You can receive NZ Super in the first 26 weeks of going overseas. Beyond that you will need to advise Work and Income New Zealand and your payments will depend on where you are living. This is because New Zealand has SSA agreements with some countries and you may have to apply through your new country's Superannuation scheme to get paid.