A re-elected National Government will help seniors enjoy a more secure and independent retirement, with more funding for seniors housing, greater financial certainty and easier access to the support they need, National Leader Christopher Luxon says.
"Older New Zealanders have spent a lifetime contributing to this country. They deserve a secure retirement, more choice about where they live, and the freedom to stay independent while being close to family," Mr Luxon says.
"Over the past three years, National has delivered for seniors.
"We've lifted superannuation so couples have an extra $180 a fortnight in their back pockets, and we've protected the Winter Energy Payment to help with power bills.
"Every SuperGold Card holder living on NZ Super with rates over $2,000 can now get the full rates rebate. We've also made it easier to build a granny flat by removing the need for building and resource consents in most cases.
"We're also rebuilding our health system. National invested a record $34.2 billion in health this year, delivering more cataract, hip and knee operations to cut waiting times, targeted free prescriptions to seniors, introduced 12-month repeat prescriptions that save time and money, and funded 33 extra cancer treatments and 33 additional medicines.
"A re-elected National Government will build on this success, by boosting housing choices for Kiwi seniors."
National will:
- Establish a dedicated pipeline of affordable housing for seniors, by ringfencing at least 20 per cent of places to seniors housing from the Housing Flexible Fund.
- Expand our successful granny flats policy so more can be built, faster, and cheaper.
- Make it easier to build tiny homes by expanding the granny flat rules to them, too.
"National wants seniors to be able to live with dignity as they age, in warm, dry, affordable homes. Like for every age group in society, we're building a housing market that provides choice for people and families, so people can choose housing suitable for them and their budgets.
"National is working to make the wider housing market more affordable, but some seniors will still need extra support, and that need will only grow. 15 per cent of Housing Register applicants are already 65 or older, and a third are 55 or older.
"Not every senior can - or wants to - move to a retirement village. New Zealand needs many more low cost, affordable pensioner housing units and in government, National will step up to fund and deliver them.
"We also want to increase housing choice for seniors. We know many families want to embrace inter-generational living, but councils make it too difficult.
"That is why we will expand our granny flat rules, making a range of red-tape cutting changes, including extending the policy to tiny homes."
A re-elected National Government will also:
- Establish 0800 Seniors, a single free helpline to help seniors navigate government services and access the support they are entitled to.
- Strengthen protections against elder abuse and financial exploitation by reviewing the Enduring Powers of Attorney framework and considering further measures including law changes to better protect seniors from economic harm.
- Extend compulsory employer KiwiSaver contributions to contributing members aged over 65 from 1 July 2027, ensuring those who choose to keep working receive the same employer contributions as everyone else.
- Introduce no new taxes, protecting the savings seniors have worked a lifetime to build.
"This election will be tight and there is a clear choice," Mr Luxon says.
"National will protect seniors' savings and security, while Labour will hit them with higher taxes, higher costs, and a more uncertain retirement.
"Going back to Labour, propped up by the Greens, Te Pati Māori and TOP, will undo the progress New Zealand has made over the last three years by spending recklessly, meaning more borrowing and at least nine new taxes for Kiwis."
Link to National's plan to retirement HERE
