RNZ poll: Most voters want super age to stay at 65
A recent poll in New Zealand indicates that a majority of voters oppose raising the superannuation age from 65. While some political parties have previously supported an increase, public sentiment remains firmly in favor of the status quo.
Why it matters
Pension reform is a politically sensitive issue that directly impacts fiscal policy and voter behavior in aging populations.
National will face an uphill battle convincing people to lift the superannuation age, with most voters opposed to the idea, according to the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll.
In contrast, the survey found overwhelming support for the party's plan to make KiwiSaver compulsory, but that largely evaporated when paired with a higher pension age.
National's Nicola Willis reignited the superannuation debate at this year's Budget, highlighting Treasury's forecasts that the cost will balloon to more than $30 billion a year by 2030. She said any party that ignored the size of the problem was doing so for its own benefit.
But asked for their view, a clear majority of poll respondents - 58 percent - said they wanted the age of eligibility to remain at 65.
That compared to 35.3 percent who said it should be increased to 67, while another 6.8 percent were unsure.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in