An immigration advocacy group is rubbishing New Zealand First's plan to change superannuation eligibility rules for immigrants.
Winston Peters said there were 87,000 people receiving full superannuation even though they had only lived in New Zealand for 15 years or less. Photo: RNZ
The party's leader Winston Peters yesterday announced a policy that would lift the minimum time required for immigrants to live in New Zealand before receiving superannuation to 25 years.
The current requirement is 10 years, and the chairperson of the New Zealand Association for Migration & Investment, June Ranson said that was about right.
"These people are coming out here and are making a contribution to New Zealand in developing the economy.
"So therefore receiving our superannuation after 10 years, I can't see justification for that shifting."
Mr Peters claimed there are 87,000 people receiving full superannuation even though they have only lived here for 15 years or less.
He said that was unfair on taxpayers, and Grey Power president Tom O'Connor agrees.
"If we started work at 15, as I did, and collect it at 65, we've paid into that thing for 50 years before we collect it.
"I think it's overly generous to allow someone to come in here and collect full national superannuation after 10 years, I don't think 25 years is a bad idea at all."
Both Grey Power and the Association for Migration & Investment said the issue of dual citizenship superannuation, where people can be entitled to multiple pensions from different countries, was worth further scrutiny.
Ms Ranson said in her 26 years as an immigration consultant, she had never been asked about superannuation entitlements.
