Summarised by Centrist
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he is “open” to discussing whether New Zealand Super should be means-tested, raising the prospect of wealthier or still-working seniors losing access to the universal pension.
Hipkins told Newstalk ZB he does not support full means-testing, but said “there are questions” about whether someone “still working full-time, earning a six-figure salary should be claiming superannuation.”
He said any change would need to be handled carefully and with cross-party agreement.
“I don’t want to do this on a unilateral basis,” Hipkins said. “I think these need to be conversations across the Parliament.”
Hipkins also ruled out simply raising the retirement age for everyone, saying that would hit lower-income workers hardest, especially those “physically knackered by the time they get to 65.”
Winston Peters reacted sharply, warning that Labour was again willing to attack superannuation.
“‘Means testing’ is another way of saying the government will be able to refuse to give you your retirement super income if they decide you don’t deserve it,” Peters wrote on X.
Peters said New Zealand Super is “not a benefit” but a “long-standing Kiwi entitlement” for people who have worked and paid taxes for decades.
He also pointed to NZ First’s coalition agreement, saying superannuation “won’t be touched” while his party has a say.
Read more over at The NZ Herald and X
