The eligibility age for superannuation will rise to 67 years old by 2040, Prime Minister Bill English revealed this afternoon.

In a major political development, English promised to begin progressively lifting the threshold from 65 to 67 years old in 2037.

That means the changes will not affect anyone born on or before 30 June, 1972.

The Government will not act on the promise until after the general election in September.

The Government will also limit superannuation eligibility to people who have lived in New Zealand for 20 years, rather than 10 years. That is lower than the commissioner's recommendation of 25 years.

English said the new residency requirement would apply to people who arrived in the country after the law was passed - likely to be next year if the National- led Government remains in power.

"New Zealanders are healthier and living longer so adjusting the long-term settings of NZ Super while there is time for people to adapt is the right thing to do," English said.

附：目前新西兰养老金政策，来源，Susan Zhu：

如果您超过65岁，在新西兰住满10年（必须在20岁以后在新西兰住满10年，并且您在50岁以后必须在新西兰住满5年的时间），而且在递交申请时长期居住在新西兰，您就会符合领取新西兰养老金的标准。新西兰的养老金不看你是否有交税，也不看是否缴纳过养老金保险，或者是否有工作和收入。如果你在其他国家也有稳定的养老金，政府会扣除这部分。

其中需要注意的是住满10年的计算方法：

• 是从您入境的那一天算起；如果您第一次入境是持探亲签证，然后是在新西兰境内获得长期居留权（PR）的，就要从您拿到PR的那一天开始算起10年。

• 如果在过去的十年中，您有离开过新西兰，您离境的时间就要扣除，计算要具体到天；

• 而且您在递交申请之前必须是长期在新西兰居住的；

最高的养老金收入标准：（此标准是在没有其他收入的情况来计算的）