How much is NZ Super? All about New Zealand Superannuation

Standard NZ Super rates as of 1 April 2025

Here are the current superannuation rates after tax has been deducted at rate 'M' (the standard code if NZ Super is your primary income). For other tax codes, see the Work and Income website.

Source: Ministry of Social Development 

The level of NZ Super payments is set by the government each year, which reviews and adjusts them to take into account any increases in the cost of living (inflation) and average wages.

The after-tax NZ Super rate for couples (who both qualify) is based on 66% of the ‘average ordinary time wage’ after tax. For single people, the after-tax NZ superannuation rate is close to 40% of that average wage.

NZ Super is paid fortnightly every second Tuesday. If that falls on a holiday, the payment is processed earlier. Here’s where to see the dates. 

Who’s eligible for NZ Super?

All eligible New Zealanders receive NZ Super, regardless of how much they:

• Earn through paid work
• Have in savings or investments
• Have by way of other assets
• Have paid in taxes.

To be eligible for NZ Super, you need to be aged 65 or over and a legal resident of New Zealand. You can get NZ Super even if you’re still working.

Currently, you need to have lived here for 10 years since age 20. Since July 2024, however, this residency requirement has been gradually increasing to 20 years by July 2042. 

You’ll need to have lived in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau (or a combination of these) for 20 years since age 20, with five of those years from age 50 or older.

What does it mean to ‘have lived in New Zealand’?

To have lived in New Zealand means you were both a resident and physically present in the country at the same time.

What ‘resident’ means

Being resident means you permanently made your home in New Zealand for the required number of years.

For example, if someone usually lives overseas, but visits New Zealand from time to time, those visits do not count as time in which they are resident and present, because they’re not permanently making their home here.

What ‘physically present’ means

You will need to be physically in New Zealand for the required number of years. If you left, you weren't physically present in New Zealand for that time period.

For example, if someone usually lives in New Zealand but takes overseas holidays, those holidays do not count as time in which they are resident and present (even if they are employed and paying tax in New Zealand), because they are not physically here.

Here’s more information on the change to the residency requirement.

Here’s more information about NZ Super eligibility.

It’s important to remember that NZ Super may be different in years to come in terms of who gets it and when.

Overseas pensions can affect NZ Super

If you receive a pension from another country (such as UK state pension, Australian Age Pension, or similar), this may reduce your NZ Super payment by the amount you receive from overseas. 

For more information, call Work and Income on 0800 777 227 or email international.services@msd.govt.nz.