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.

Lived in NZ for at least 10 years since 20

When we say 'have lived in NZ', we mean you were:

• resident in NZ, i.e. you permanently made your home in NZ, and
• physically present in NZ.

To determine this, we'll look at things like:

• your involvement in NZ society
• the number of times you left NZ, why you left and how long you left for.

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 in a realm country, i.e. you permanently made your home in a realm country, and
• physically present in a realm country.

To determine this, we'll look at things like:

• your involvement in the realm country's society
• the number of times you left the realm country, why you left and how long you left for.

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.