Super for employed 'should be reduced'

Press, 21 April 1982, Page 11

Super for employed 'should be reduced'

Forty per cent of New Zealanders believe that National Superannuation should :,be reduced for superannuitants, who are still in employment. Twelve per cent go further and say that the payment sfiould be reduced for superannuitants who receive investment or other non-salary income.: But there is also a strong lobby, 32 per cent, for making no change at all in national superannuation. Proposals for raising the starting age (now 60) to 62 or 65 years find only minor support. Those results are shown in a “New Zealand Herald". — National Research Bureau survey held from March 13 to 17 in the 20 main population centres of New Zealand. The survey covered 2200 people aged 15 and over selected by random probability methods. People were asked: “Which of the allowing changes, if any, do you think should be made to the national superannuation scheme?” The percentage replies total more than 100 because multiple responses were allowed.

was among people aged 25 to 34 (6 per cent) and • Wellington City residents (5 per cent). Highest support for a starting age of 65 was among men (10 per cent), people aged 55 and over (16 per cent), and Wellington provincial area residents (12 per cent). Lowest support for a starting age of 65 was among women (8 per cent), people aged 15 to 24 (5 per cent), and Christchurch provincial area residents (2 per cent). Highest support for reduced payment to employed superannuitants was’ 'among women (40 per cent), people aged 45 to 54 (42 per cent), and Wellington City residents (53 per cent). Lowest support payment to employed superannuitants was among men (39 per cent), people aged 15 to 24 (36 per cent), and Dunedin provincial area residents (23 per cent). Highest support for reduced payments for superannuitants receiving non-salary income was among men and women equally (12 per cent), people aged 25 to 34 (16 per cent), and Auckland City residents (14 per cent). Lowest support in the "non-salary inPer cent

Raise starting age to 62 years ; 7 Raise starting age to 65 years , 9 Reduce the payment if superannuitant is still in employment 40 Reduce the payment if superannuitant is receiving investment or other non-salary income . 12 No change at all 32 Don't know . 8

A "Herald" — NRB survey in September, 1980, found that 55 per cent of people then believed that national superannuation should continue on its existing basis. 22 per cent disagreed that it should, and 23 per cent were neutral. In the latest poll, highest support for a starting age of 62 was among men and women equally (7 per cent), people aged 45 to 54 (8 per cent), and Auckland city residents, (9 per cent). Lowest support for a starting age of 62

come" option was among people aged 55 and over (10 per cent) and Wellington City residents (9 per cent). Highest support for no change was among men (33 per cent), people aged 55 and over (34 per cent), and Dunedin provincial area residents (44 per cent). Lowest support for no change was among women (30 per cent), people aged 45 to 54 (29 per cent), and Wellington city residents (23 per cent). — Copyright, 1982 — “New Zealand Herald.”