(Question 16)

What specific measures will your party introduce to reduce the cost-of-living pressures facing older New Zealanders?

National

Budget 2025 delivered rates relief to 66,000 more SuperGold Cardholders by raising the income abatement threshold to $45,000, we’re capping council rates to 4% to incentivise value for ratepayers, and we’re building up our energy security by building more renewable energy and commissioning an LNG terminal to provide backup generation in dry years.

Greens

The Green Party’s energy policy will help lower power bills for households, with support for solar panels on homes and KiwiPower to bring down wholesale prices. We will also expand Warmer Kiwi Homes so more low-income people can make their homes warm, dry, and energy efficient, including through insulation, efficient heating, and other upgrades. Our public housing programme will deliver thousands more homes for low-income households. We will have more to say about addressing food costs closer to the election.

Labour

At a time when the cost of living is biting hard, older New Zealanders should not be left wondering how they will make ends meet. Seniors have spent decades contributing to our country. They deserve security, stability, and dignity in retirement. Labour’s number one priority is a more affordable New Zealand; that’s why our policies are focused on making it cheaper and easier to access healthcare, why we have capped public transport fares to $20, and why we are bringing down the cost of installing solar – so that your and your families’ bills are lower.

N Z First

(responded with a generic statement on Cost of Living.)

New Zealand First is the party of common sense and therefore we continue to look initiatives that directly address the cost-of-living pressures.

This included changing the income abatement thresholds for the rates rebate eligibility for SuperGold Cardholders and retaining the winter energy payment.

Enhancing the benefits of the SuperGold card is continuing with an improved platform for accessing information and increasing discount opportunities. Budget 2026 secured the funding to make the SuperGold card a primary form of legal identification to assist those who no longer have a passport or driver license.

Most importantly New Zealand First values the contribution that Seniors make to our economy and we will continue to drive investment and economic growth. We have already announced our policy positions to deliver reform to the energy sector and supermarkets. Investment in our regions will drive economic growth.

Expanding housing options and using subsidiary dwellings as an opportunity to support multi-generational living will also provide cost of living relief.

Opportunity Party

In addition to our tax reset described above, we support:

• enabling Councils to use a wider “toolbox” of funding (such as bed levies and congestion charging) and ending unfunded mandates by central government, in order to take the pressure off rates increases
• giving the Commerce Commission powers to address market concentration across the board – including by forcing breakups where necessary.  This will help to address high costs from monopoly or oligopoly providers in sectors such as banking, supermarkets and insurance, all of which have been driving recent cost of living increases.
• significantly expanding the supply of both in-home and grid-scale renewable energy generation, which will permanently reduce power costs.

(Question 17)

Does your party support changes to rates rebates, energy assistance, or other targeted support to reduce living costs, and/or does it support the Ratings Assistance Scheme to defer rates costs, for qualifying seniors?

National

We have already expanded rates relief by increasing the income abatement threshold for SuperGold Cardholders, helping 66,000 more seniors qualify for assistance with their rates bills. We have also increased the maximum rebate available and further increased eligibility thresholds from 1 July 2026 to ensure support keeps pace with rising costs. These changes are designed to help seniors on fixed incomes meet rising rates bills while continuing to live independently in their own homes.

Greens

Yes. Our tax policy, with a tax-free threshold of $10,000, would see more money going to seniors who are reliant on the pension. Our policy also includes implementing zero-interest clean energy loans to install solar, significant tax changes to redistribute wealth and free public transport. We support the Ratings Assistance Scheme.

Labour

Labour is also standing up for seniors as consumers too. Retirement village residents must be listened to, not side-lined in favour of operators. If elected, a Labour Government will ensure you or your family get your money back within three months of leaving a retirement village. We’re stepping in where National has been missing and taking real action on the cost of living.

N Z First

As in (16) above.

Opportunity Party

We support the full ratepayer assistance scheme proposed by Local Government New Zealand (see our Intergenerational Infrastructure policy), which would enable rates deferral for older people. Our proposed land value tax also includes full interest-free deferral for older homeowners.