Originally Posted by carcajou

Damson, what pre-existing ties do you have to New Zealand (ie, is your university degree from there, how many years of NZ experience do you have, etc)?

The most recent Skilled Migrant draws have required 160 points. For many, that is exceptionally difficult to obtain without a job offer or other very significant points-generating ties to New Zealand. An ordinary British couple of near retirement age, say 55, both with university degrees, but no substantial ties to New Zealand, would not come close to meeting the 160 point threshold for this visa.

I am guessing your spouse is not a New Zealand Citizen otherwise you would just go the partner sponsorship route.

Before you head too far down this track I would urge you to look at the various points calculators and see if this is actually a viable pathway for you.

Even with substantial ties it will be difficult. I went to the points calculator and updated the scenario above - British couple, between 50-55, with post-graduate degrees gained in New Zealand, and with the maximum amount of New Zealand work experience, and in an absolute skills shortage area, that the calculator allowed - and it was still short of 160 points.

Originally Posted by Stuck in Auckland

what is retirement age?

i semi retired at 38

Originally Posted by Bo-Jangles

What age of pensioners are you thinking about? I would say like anywhere else if you are in good health being retired at 65 with plenty of money in the bank to provide for yourself and swan about on holidays then yeah things will be fine; however add ten more years, throw in some poor health and no pot to piss in, then it ain't exactly going to be barrel of laughs.

I don't think the publicly available support is here in the same way that it is in the UK; most here seem to take a dim view of our ever aging population and pensioners are looked upon about as favourably as dole bludgers. You only have to look at media comments to see the bile that's spewed at 'baby boomers' etc. 'sucking on the public teat' (to coin an antipodean phrase not mine).

There's plenty of gold standard private retirement homes that are happy to relieve you of all your hard earned dosh; you would need to you have spare million bucks to pay your way in and from there you can transition through the ever more depressing and expensive levels of support and care until you die.

Originally Posted by Stuck in Auckland

Uncle had two treatments for brain. Then told no more. tumour still there after 2 years. not growing or reducing. no more treatment is from Tauranga and waikato hospitals.