Fear for families too

Beyond their own circumstances, many retirees expressed concern about the financial wellbeing of younger generations. Key worries include the rising cost of living for young families, housing affordability, and job opportunities.

“This generational concern has real implications for retirement planning,” Stewart says.

“Retirees who feel a responsibility to support their whānau may face tension between preserving capital for family and meeting their own income needs.

“These pressures are translating into real hardship. Four in ten retirees surveyed already struggle to afford council rates on a fixed income, and nearly as many say NZ Super simply doesn’t stretch far enough. The core challenge is structural: retirement income that does not keep pace with rising expenses.

“When your income is fixed and costs rise across the board, there’s no easy place to cut back. That’s a genuinely difficult position to be in.”

Healthcare and income adequacy stood out as non–negotiable priorities. Almost all respondents (90%) said access to timely healthcare is important or essential, while 83% said the same about ensuring NZ Super keeps pace with rising costs. Even aged-care affordability – often seen as a longer-term issue – ranked highly, with 64% of respondents rating it four or five out of five.

Stewart says Lifetime’s regular engagement with the retired community gives it a strong understanding of these pressures and a responsibility to advocate where possible. The survey findings have already gained national attention, with coverage across outlets including Radio New Zealand (Call for higher pension rates as cost-of-living increases hit retirees), Stuff (Can you rely on NZ Super for a decent life? Here’s what retirees say), and Newstalk ZB.