New Zealand's pension system just earned its best score ever — 71.4

In the 2026 Marsh CFA Institute Global Pension Index, New Zealand's retirement system scored 71.4 — its highest mark yet — while Australia earned its first A grade. The index's advice for going further is unglamorous and doable: lift KiwiSaver contributions and coverage, and make drawing down retirement income easier. There's a live tension to manage — higher contributions can slow mortgage repayment for households with little spare cash — and one striking strength to build on: work participation among New Zealanders over 65 rose 16% in twenty years, among the biggest gains anywhere. A record score for the system that has to be there when working life ends.

SDG 1 · No poverty