Media Statement

Hon Peter Dunne
MP for Ohariu
Leader of UnitedFuture

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Dunne: Brash error on retirement age speaks volumes

Act leader Don Brash’s error in talking about a retirement age that does not exist goes to the heart of the lack of choice his thinking around superannuation would give to New Zealanders, UnitedFuture leader and Ohariu MP Peter Dunne said today.

“New Zealand has not had a statutory retirement age since 1993,” Mr Dunne said.

“It is more than a technical error on Dr Brash’s part – it is the kind of thinking that locks in the lack of choice, be it at 65 or 67, which underpins Act’s and other parties’ thinking on Super.

UnitedFuture’s sustainable Flexi-Super policy allowing New Zealanders to take their superannuation any time they want between 60 at a reduced rate, and enhanced each year they wait until 70, offers Kiwis one thing no other party is offering – choice.

“The beauty of our policy is that people can choose their time of retirement – not have the state tell them when to retire.

“We will be taking the Flexi-Super policy into post-election negotiations as a way forward for the country,” Mr Dunne said.

Flexi-Super would work with KiwiSaver being made compulsory, which almost all New Zealanders agree needs to happen, he said.

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