NZ Super /Veteran's Pension for Cook Islands residents

You may qualify for NZ Super or Veteran's Pension from the Cook Islands if you:

• are 65 or over
• either:
  • are a New Zealand citizen
  • are a permanent resident, or
  • hold a residence class visa
• are ordinarily resident in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau when you apply, and
• have lived in New Zealand for at least 10 years since you turned 20. These 10 years must include 5 years since you turned 50. If those 10 years in NZ don't include 5 years since you turned 50, you can count time you've lived in one or more realm countries since you turned 50.

What we mean by 'have lived in NZ'

When we say 'have lived in NZ', we mean you were 'resident' and 'physically present' in NZ at the same time.

Resident in NZ

Being resident in NZ means you permanently made your home in NZ. In most cases, you'll be resident in NZ if you lived here on a permanent basis for the required number of years.

In other cases, we may need to consider other things to work out if you've been resident in NZ. To do this, we'll look at your involvement in NZ society, e.g your:

• employment
• community activities
• club memberships, and
• local churches.

Physically present in NZ

To work this out, we'll look at if you were physically in NZ for the required number of years. If you left NZ, you weren't physically present in NZ for that period of time.

For example, if you went on holiday for:

• 25 days, you weren't physically present in NZ for 25 days. This means you would need to have lived in NZ for an extra 25 days to make up what is required
• 14 days every year for 10 years, that’s 140 days in total. This means you weren't physically present in NZ for 140 days. So you would need to have lived in NZ for an extra 140 days to make up what is required.

If you left NZ for an approved reason, we may still consider that you were physically present in NZ.

Approved reasons to leave NZ

There are times when you will have left NZ and we may still consider you to be resident and physically present in NZ.

This includes when you left NZ because you:

• worked overseas and your NZ income tax (PAYE and/or source deduction payments) was paid to Inland Revenue
• were going overseas with your partner who worked overseas and their NZ income tax (PAYE and/or source deduction payments) was paid to Inland Revenue
• needed special medical or surgical treatment and there was a good and sufficient reason for it to be overseas
• were doing vocational training and there was a good and sufficient reason for it to be overseas
• were a seaman serving on a ship registered or owned in NZ, and which was engaged in trading to and from NZ
• were serving as a member of the naval, military or air force of any Commonwealth country. This includes war service as a member of any organisation attached to any of these forces, e.g. YMCA or Red Cross
• were doing full-time voluntary work (humanitarian work) for a recognised aid agency that is:
  • a NZ charity that gives aid and assistance to less advantaged communities in one or more countries, or
  • an entity that is affiliated with, or closely related to, a NZ charity that gives aid and assistance to less advantaged communities in one or more countries
• were doing work as an accredited volunteer appointed by Volunteer Service Abroad, or
• were doing missionary work.

Using realm countries to meet residence criteria

If those 10 years don't include 5 years since you turned 50, you can count time you've lived in one or more realm countries since you turned 50.

NZ realm countries include:

• the Cook Islands
• Niue, and
• Tokelau.

When we say 'have lived in a NZ realm country', we mean you were 'resident' and 'physically present' in the realm country at the same time.

Resident in a realm country

Being resident in a realm country means you permanently made your home in the realm country. In most cases, you'll be resident in a realm country if you lived there on a permanent basis for the required number of years.

In other cases, we may need to consider other things to work out if you've been resident in a realm country. To do this, we'll look at your involvement in the realm country's society, e.g. your:

• employment
• community activities
• club memberships, and
• local churches.

Physically present in a realm country

To work this out, we'll look at if you were physically in the realm country for the required number of years. If you left the realm country, you weren't physically present in that realm country for that period of time.

For example, if you went on holiday for:

• 25 days, you weren't physically present in the realm country for 25 days. This means you would need to have lived in the realm country for an extra 25 days to make up what is required
• 14 days every year for 10 years, that’s 140 days in total. This means you weren't physically present in the realm country for 140 days. So you would need to have lived in the realm country for an extra 140 days to make up what is required.

Example - move to Cook Islands at 45

You were born in NZ and moved to the Cook Islands at age 45. You apply for NZ Super when you turn 65 (from the Cook Islands).

You've lived in NZ for at least 10 years since you turned 20, but this doesn't include 5 years since you turned 50. You can use the time you've lived in the Cook Islands since you turned 50 to make up the 5 years.

Example - born in the Cook Islands

You were born in the Cook Islands and moved to NZ at age 30. You move back to the Cook Islands at age 52 and don't return to NZ. You apply for NZ Super when you turn 65 (from the Cook Islands).

You've lived in NZ for at least 10 years since you turned 20, but this only includes 2 years since you turned 50. You can use the time you've lived in the Cook Islands since you turned 50 to make up the rest of the 5 years.

Example - move to Cook Islands at 20

You were born in NZ and moved to the Cook Islands at age 20. You move back to NZ when you turn 60. You apply for NZ Super when you turn 65 (from NZ).

You've only lived in NZ for at least 5 years since you turned 20. Therefore you wouldn't meet this residence criteria for NZ Super until you had lived in NZ for at least 10 years. This means you would need to wait until you were 70 before you would meet this residence criteria for NZ Super.

How much you get depends on how long you've lived in New Zealand since you turned 20:

• 20 years or more – the full rate appropriate to you (single or married rate)
• Less than 20 years – a rate calculated on the number of years you have lived in New Zealand.

The amount you get may change if you or your partner get, or qualify for, a social security benefit, pension or allowance from a country other than New Zealand.

More about New Zealand Superannuation

More about overseas pensions

If you're already 65, apply as soon as possible so you don't miss out on any payments.

If you're nearly 65, apply before your birthday.

You need to complete and sign an application form. You can get this from either the:

• New Zealand High Commission in Rarotonga (or your outer-island administration office), or
• Ministry of Social Development in New Zealand by emailing us at: international.services@msd.govt.nz

Take the form and all the documents we need to the New Zealand High Commission or your outer island administration office. The documents we need are listed below and on the application form.

Identification

You must provide government issued ID and secondary ID. One of your identification documents must be at least 2 years old.

If you have a partner who's not getting NZ Superannuation or Veteran's Pension, you also need to provide identification documents for them.

Government issued ID

You need to provide one type of government issued identification that has your full legal name and your date of birth. For example:

• birth certificate
• passport
• drivers licence
• firearms licence
• deed poll.

If your name has changed, you need to provide your:

• marriage certificate
• deed poll, or
• other proof of the name change.

Secondary ID

You need to provide 2 documents that support your identity. For example:

• marriage certificate
• bank statement
• driver licence
• bill with your name on it.

Bank account number

You need to provide a bank statement or deposit slip showing the:

• account name
• account number
• bank logo.

If you write any of these details yourself, you need to get the bank to stamp and sign the statement or slip.

Living in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau

You may be using the time you lived in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau from the age of 50, to qualify for this payment. If this is the case, you need to provide proof of your residence and presence. You can get this from the Customs or Immigration offices in those places.

Ask us if you need help with this.

After you return your application form and the documents we need:

• your form will be checked to make sure it's complete
• copies of your documents will be made and the originals will be sent back to you
• your application will be sent securely to New Zealand to be processed.

We'll send you a letter to let you know the outcome of your application.