Retirement commissioner Jane Wrightson joins Bernard Hickey to discuss superannuation in New Zealand. Topics include the age of eligibility, demographics affected by raising it, and pensioners collecting NZ Super while earning over $100,000 a year.
Retaining the age of eligibility for New Zealand's superannuation at 65 is affordable and provides simplicity and low administrative costs.
Increasing the age of eligibility to 67 would disproportionately affect women, Māori, Pacifica, and manual workers, highlighting the need for a holistic and equitable approach.
Deep dives
Keeping New Zealand's Superannuation at 65
The podcast episode explores the affordability of New Zealand's superannuation and the potential options for change. The retirement commissioner argues that, contrary to popular belief, the current setup of New Zealand's superannuation is affordable for the country. The simplicity and low administrative costs of the scheme are highlighted, with the paper stating that it costs only 0.003% to run. While the recommendation is to retain the age of eligibility at 65, other options, such as income testing, are discussed as potential ways to reduce costs and ensure fairness. However, income testing raises concerns about evasion and logistical challenges, highlighting the need for further analysis and discussion.
Impacts on Different Groups and Fairness
The podcast episode delves into the importance of considering the impacts on different groups and the fairness of any changes to New Zealand's superannuation. It highlights how increasing the age of eligibility to 67 disproportionately affects women, Māori, Pacifica, and manual workers. These groups often face lower savings and shorter lifespans, making the proposed change unfair. The episode emphasizes the need for a holistic and equitable approach when considering any alterations to the pension system. It also discusses the potential inclusion of income testing as a way to address fairness concerns, pointing out that some individuals earning over $100,000 a year are currently receiving New Zealand superannuation.
The Need for Consensus and Long-Term Planning
The podcast episode concludes by suggesting the importance of consensus and long-term planning when addressing New Zealand's superannuation. It highlights the challenges and political sensitivity surrounding the issue but emphasizes the benefits of collective decision-making and foresight. The retirement commissioner recommends periodic reviews to monitor the system's sustainability and adaptability in response to changing demographics and circumstances. The podcast encourages a broader conversation beyond the limited debate of age eligibility, with a focus on understanding the impacts, considering alternative options like income testing, and ensuring stability for future generations.
After releasing a paper earlier this week outlining her policy recommendations for the government, retirement commissioner Jane Wrightson joins Bernard Hickey to discuss the complex challenge of superannuation in Aotearoa. Why should the age of eligibility stay at 65? Which demographics would be adversely affected by a decision to raise it? And is it a problem that approximately 50,000 pensioners collect NZ Super while earning over $100,000 a year?