Humanitarian work
A client can get New Zealand Superannuation while overseas if:
- they are doing full-time voluntary and unpaid humanitarian work for a recognised aid agency
- the absence is not more than 156 weeks
- the work the client is doing is not depriving another person of paid employment and
- they remain ordinarily resident in New Zealand during this time
If these conditions are not met, the usual absence overseas rules apply.
If the client is overseas for more than 156 weeks, payments must stop from the day after departure from New Zealand.
Recognised aid agency
A recognised aid agency is an organisation that has as its principal function 'the giving of aid and assistance to less advantaged communities in one or more other countries' or similar. Aid agencies would include (but are not limited to) organisations such as:
- Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- United Nations Volunteers
- Volunteer Services Abroad and
- World Vision
Whether an aid agency meets the criteria above, is determined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. If you need assistance deciding if the agency is a 'recognised aid agency' please contact Helpline.
Partners
Payment can continue up to 156 weeks for the partner of a New Zealand Superannuation client if they are also doing humanitarian work.
If the partner is absent from New Zealand and is not doing humanitarian work, they can get payments for up to 26 weeks if they return to New Zealand within 30 weeks.
Grandparented couples doing humanitarian work
Grandparented couples who are both doing humanitarian work can be absent for up to 156 weeks and both get payments. If their absence is over 156 weeks, they are not entitled to payments from the date after their departure from New Zealand and grandparenting ends from the same date.
Grandparented couples with only one partner doing humanitarian work
If the qualified partner is doing humanitarian work they can get their payments for up to 156 weeks. The grandparented non-qualified partner not doing humanitarian work can get payments for up to 26 weeks if they return to New Zealand within 30 weeks.
If the grandparented non-qualified partner is doing humanitarian work, both partners can get their payments for up to 26 weeks if they return to New Zealand within 30 weeks.
Note a grandparented non-qualified partner will lose their grandparenting if the qualifying partner is absent from New Zealand for more than 26 weeks.
Evidence
Clients must supply evidence of their absence from the Aid Agency (on their letterhead) confirming:
- the name(s) of the people concerned
- the period of their absence
- detail of the work being undertaken and that it is voluntary, full-time and unpaid
- that the work the person has been engaged to do has not deprived another person of paid employment and
- the principal function of the aid agency
For more information see:
Legislation
- Absences up to 156 weeks with aid agencies section 24 New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001
- Ending of grandparented rate due to absence clause 7(2)(c), schedule 1AA New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001
