Retirement in New Zealand: the key numbers

1. NZ Super for a single person living alone is $1,110.30 a fortnight after tax at the M code from 1 April 2026 ($1,294.74 before tax), or $28,867.80 a year.

   Source: Work and Income, How much you can get (2 July 2026)

2. A couple who both qualify get $1,708.16 a fortnight between them after tax ($44,412.16 a year); a single person sharing accommodation gets $1,024.90 a fortnight.

   Source: Work and Income, Benefit rates at 1 April 2026

3. By law, the single living alone rate is 65% and the single sharing rate 60% of the couple’s combined net rate, and the couple’s rate must be between 66% and 72.5% of the net average wage.

   Source: MSD, OIA response on NZ Super calculations (10 December 2024)

4. NZ Super rose 3.107% on 1 April 2026, matching the 3.11% rise in consumer prices.

   Source: Work and Income, Benefit rates at 1 April 2025 and 2026

5. People born on or after 1 July 1977 need to have lived in New Zealand for 20 years since age 20, including 5 since age 50, to get NZ Super; people born on or before 30 June 1959 need 10.

   Source: Work and Income, Who can get NZ Super (22 July 2026)

6. The Winter Energy Payment is $20.46 a week for a single person and $31.82 a week for a couple, paid from 1 May to 1 October.

   Source: Work and Income, Winter Energy Payment (18 September 2026)

7. Massey University’s 2025 guidelines put “no frills” spending for a two-person metro household at $937.38 a week and “choices” at $1,780.32; one person “no frills” metro spends $705.34.

   Source: Massey University, NZ Retirement Expenditure Guidelines 2025

8. Massey estimates a two-person “choices” metro household needs $1,033,000 at 65 beyond NZ Super, and one person “no frills” metro $181,000.

   Source: Massey University, NZ Retirement Expenditure Guidelines 2025, Table 6

9. A woman born in 1961 who reaches 65 has a 50% chance of reaching 90 and 23% of reaching 95; a man 37% and 14%.

   Source: Stats NZ, cohort life tables, March 2026 update

10. On today’s death rates alone (period tables), 38% of women and 27% of men aged 65 reach 90; cohort tables, which allow for improving health, give more.

    Source: Stats NZ, period life tables 2022 to 2024

11. On KiwiSaver statement assumptions (2.5% after fees and tax, 2% inflation), $100,000 at 65 pays about $81.44 a week to 90.

    Source: Financial Markets Conduct Regulations 2014, Schedule 7A

12. Sorted’s retirement calculator assumes 3.5% a year after fees and tax in retirement, while KiwiSaver statements assume 2.5% from 65.

    Source: Sorted, How our calculators work

Figures checked against the sources on 12 November 2026. Quote them freely with a link to retirementcalculator.co.nz.