Retirement Life
6 May 2026
Don’t let ‘hyper-ageing’ derail your retirement
New Zealand is ageing fast - faster than most of us realise. And while NZ Super provides a foundation, it is unlikely to fund the retirement many Kiwis hope for, particularly as the country ages and demand for NZ Super shoots up.
A new report from The Koi Tū Centre for Informed Futures says demographic change is one of the most significant structural shifts New Zealand will face in the coming decades. However, current planning is too short-term and tied to election cycles, and it wants to see a bipartisan population strategy developed to address the coming challenges.
The report says New Zealand’s demographic future will be defined by slowing population growth - driven by declining fertility and reinforced by the population’s rapid ageing. A growing reliance on immigration will be the major, if not only, source of population growth.
Within a few decades, one in four New Zealanders will be aged 65 or over - something we’ve never experienced before. And in parts of the country, the shift will be even more dramatic. Regions such as Tasman, Marlborough, Nelson and the West Coast are expected to become 'hyper-aged', with more than 30% of residents aged 65 or older.
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Why this matters to New Zealanders
An ageing population requires sufficient hospitals, infrastructure and, crucially, NZ Superannuation.
Treasury figures cited in the report show the number of people receiving NZ Super is growing much faster than the number of working age New Zealanders paying the taxes that fund it. In the 1960s, there were seven workers for every person over 65. Today, there are around four. By 2065, that number is expected to fall to just two.
The NZ Super reality check
Even now, many are feeling the pinch.
Living costs have risen, but NZ Super doesn't cover the sort of lifestyle in retirement many expected. For a growing number of New Zealanders, NZ Super alone means a tighter, more constrained retirement than they imagined.
That’s why having your own additional source of income matters more than ever for retirement.
Turning your assets into income
If you’ve built up savings over your working life, through KiwiSaver, investments, or your home, you don’t have to rely on NZ Super alone.
Our specialist Lifetime Retirement Income Fund lets you turn your retirement savings into a regular, predictable fortnightly payment, on top of NZ Super. That certainty makes it easier to budget, plan ahead, and enjoy the things that matter to you - whether that’s travel, hobbies, helping family, or simply peace of mind.
Own your home but short on cash flow? Lifetime Home could be an option. Lifetime buys a portion of your home (typically around 35%), while you continue living in it. In return, you receive a regular fortnightly payment, all without taking on any debt.
Take control of your retirement income
New Zealand’s population is changing, and pressure on NZ Super is growing. But you can take control of your own retirement funding.
If you want more flexibility and confidence about your income in retirement, find out more about Lifetime Retirement Income’s solutions.
Your retirement should be about living, and shouldn’t be derailed by population changes.
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Written by:
Sonia Speedy
Sonia Speedy has been a journalist for over 20 years, working in newspapers, magazines and radio. She also runs an online platform for parents at familytimes.co.nz. She lives on the Kāpiti Coast with her young family and loves writing stories that help make people's lives easier.
Invest with Lifetime for a retirement income managed for living.