Media coverage

The Retirement Policy and Research Centre (RPRC) alert the media to its contributions to the public debate. Media releases are available to view in PDF format from the Other publications database by Publication type: Media and news.

View copies of RPRC media releases from the Other publications database

PensionRelease

• Do the government’s accounts tell us what we need to know?
  In a presentation on 6 March, hosted by the Retirement Policy and Research Centre (RPRC), Associate Professor Sue Newberry from the University of Sydney posed the question: “Do the government‟s accounts tell us what we need to know?” (8 March 2012).
• Has the New Zealand Superannuation Fund increased the government’s wealth?
  The most recent investment performance results from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund illustrate the unnecessary risks that the government runs in its presence. They also underline the flawed nature of Labour’s proposal to re-start contributions with more borrowed money.
• Yet another version of KiwiSaver?
  Government proposes auto-enrolment for non-KiwiSaver members in 2014. That is the fourth major revision since it was first announced (20 October 2011).
• Enlarged definition of “family scheme income” starts today
  The RPRC supports the principle that all income should be counted when determining eligibility for state provision (1 April 2011).
• People with overseas pensions penalised
  New Zealand pays New Zealanders with overseas pensions to leave, while making them poorer when they stay (27 November 2009).
• Why does the Accident Compensation Corporation have a fund?
  RPRC co-director Michael Littlewood questions the need for the ACC to pre-fund its obligations in a discussion paper (20 August 2009).
• A guarded welcome for the government’s KiwiSaver changes
  The RPRC broadly supports the government's reduction in KiwiSaver subsidies due to start on 1 April 2009 (17 December 2008).
• Changes to KiwiSaver unfortunate
  Concerns about the latest changes to KiwiSaver announced in the 2007 Budget (17 May 2007).

Other press releases

• Media release: 2010-12 Retirement review welcome
  Susan St John says raising the age of entitlement must be part of the national discussion, along with all other aspects of the design of New Zealand Superannuation (9 December 2010).
• Media Release: 2010-11 The cost of New Zealand Superannuation can be reduced
  Putting New Zealand superannuitants on a different tax scale might have merit and make the scheme more affordable and equitable for the future, The University of Auckland Business School's Retirement Policy and Research Centre says.
• Beware the “Insurance” Model for unemployment benefits: Cautionary evidence from the Canadian experience
  In the debate on welfare reform in New Zealand, unemployment insurance has been suggested
  as a possible model (2010).
• Executive Summary - WP 2009-2 provides an overview of the complex issues of pension portability and some directions for reform
  One finding from the Retirement Policy and Research Centre‟s newly released research paper for the Human Rights Commission is that New Zealand pays New Zealanders with overseas pensions to leave, while making them poorer when they stay (2009).
• PB 2009-5 NZS suggests that welfare and tax systems need to be considered together
  The RPRC has released a briefing paper, which highlights the need to consider the welfare and tax systems together (August 2009).
• PB 2009-1 OECD's 2008 Report "Growing Unequal" shows aged Kiwis faring well
  OECD’s 2008 report on comparative living standards - New Zealand seems to be looking after its older citizens comparatively well (April 2009).
• Workplace retirement savings in 2008 - attitudes and practices of the Top 100 employers
  The RPRC released a report on the workplace superannuation arrangements, practices and opinions of many of New Zealand’s largest employers (2008).

The Retirement Policy and Research Centre (RPRC) submits opinion pieces designed to provoke discussion on issues of public significance.

Commentary articles are available to view in PDF format from the content database by Publication type: Media and news.

View copies of RPRC commentary from the content database

• The future of New Zealand Superannuation - thinking the unthinkable
  Debate in the Independent. Susan St John. Published in The Independent (26 November 2009).
• Labour and National must agree to review KiwiSaver after the election
  Susan St John. Published in the New Zealand Herald (15 October 2008).
• Whatever could be wrong with KiwiSaver?
  Potential pitfalls with KiwiSaver, Published in the NZ Herald On Sunday (17 June 2007).
• The flourishing of KiwiSaver contains the seeds of destruction for New Zealand Superannuation, critics of the Budget announcements, say
  Joanne Black. Published in the Listener (2-8 June 2007).
• Why KiwiSaver benefits the few but not the most
  Neville Bennett. Published in the National Business Review (1 June 2007).
• KiwiSaver - do we really need tax breaks?
  Michael Littlewood. Published in the Dominion Post (18 May 2007).
• Dr Cullen condemns more Kiwis to debt
  Professor John Gibson, Waikato Management School, the University of Waikato. Published in the Dominion Post (19 May 2007).
• Savings principle abandoned
  On 12 December 2006 the Government announced the extension of tax incentives to matching employer contributions to all superannuation schemes that meet the requirements of KiwiSaver. RPRC views this as the thin edge of the wedge that undermines the uniquely New Zealand tax neutral approach to retirement saving. Published in the New Zealand Herald (14 December 2006).
• Retirees doing fine, thanks
  Providers of KiwiSaver have a vested interest in promoting both tax incentives and ultimately compulsion. But is this in the interests of New Zealanders and is it any sense the 'solution' to the national saving problem? Published in the New Zealand Herald (17 January 2007).
• Muddled thinking on retirement savings
  Confusion reigns about the claimed economic benefits of KiwiSaver and the potentially more draconian compulsory savings accounts for which KiwiSaver might be the advance guard. More generally, debate about retirement savings in New Zealand has been misinformed by commentators who fallaciously claim advantages of individual retirement savings accounts like those in Australia. Professor John Gibson, Waikato Management School, the University of Waikato. Submitted to the New Zealand Herald (27 February 2007).