The just-released HLFS population estimates show that there are 642,700 people aged 65+. It's an estimate based on the last census, births, deaths etc but it's the best data available. The large majority - but not all - of this group would qualify for super.
Yet at September 2015 there were 693,409 people receiving Super or a veteran's pension.
Is the difference made up by younger partners sharing the Super?
Not according to the table which I requested from MSD earlier this year showing the numbers and ages of non-qualifying spouses receiving Super. (OK the data is 9 months apart but that wouldn't account for the discrepancy).
Does this mean that the HLFS estimate is significantly wrong? No.
The difference must lie in the number of pensions being paid to people who are not currently residing in New Zealand. Officially...
You can reside almost anywhere in the world and still get part or all of your New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension payments. What you’ll get depends on where you go to and how long you’ve resided in New Zealand.
Potentially there could be upwards of 40,000 superannuitants living outside of NZ.
