New Zelaanders who have worked hard all their lives deserve the right to retire at 65, and be looked after when they do.

New Zealand First changed the laws, got rid of the pernicious surtax, restored Super to 66% of the net average wage, and brought in the Super GoldCard with free public off-peak hour travel on buses, trains, and ferries.  Then added 13,000 businesses giving discount concessions to GoldCard carrying purchasers.  

New Zealand First’s six-point plan for superannuitants and aged care:

• The age of retirement will remain at 65 years.  No ifs, buts, or maybes.

• NZ First will keep the age of National Superannuation entitlement at 65 years and the current 66% of net average wage maintained, and not lowered by shifting the link to inflation.
  

• Reduce the cost-of-living squeeze through a 50% SuperGold rates rebate.

• NZ First will fund rates relief for SuperGold card holders, who are mostly on fixed incomes, to apply for a 50% local authority rates rebate for those who own and live in their only home or equivalent such as an apartment, up to a maximum of $1,600 each year. When retired couples are taken into account the estimated cost will be approximately $480m. 
  

• Provide aged-care dignity by beginning to fully fund the placement shortages

• NZ First knows we will need approximately 78,000 residential care beds by 2040, but on current progress, there will be just 33,000 and if nothing is done, it will place impossible strain on the public health system. NZ First commits to:
  • Immediately fund 2,000 new standard residential care beds over the next term of Parliament
  • Begin to address standard bed residential care support to providers by indexing it to inflation
  • Engage openly and constructively with the aged-care sector
  • Undertake a Select Committee Inquiry into aged care provision to include supporting people with early onset conditions and what asset thresholds are appropriate in 2023/24
  • Secure bi-partisanship agreement to fully fund the care and dementia beds that New Zealand needs now and with a focus on the long term needs by 2040.
    

• Boost retirement savings through KiwiSaver Mortgage Clearance.

• NZ First will evaluate the utility of the Singaporean model where at a certain level of savings kiwis can apply savings above that level to downsizing their mortgage.
  

• Improved healthcare with world-leading medicines, specialist access and operations.

• NZ First will introduce a new patient-focussed medicines buying agency to replace Pharmac and increase its funding, from the last Budget of $1.2bn, with an additional $1.3bn for life changing medicines.
• The new agency will be focused on patients' health and recovery - not cost savings and lack of essential medicines.
  

• Retirement village property title.

• NZ First will liaise with retirement village owners and occupiers to seek a mutually agreed way forward to safeguard the interests of the 50,000 plus New Zealanders living in retirement villages, having been assured by retirement village owners that this is achievable.