A government U-turn means Kiwis stranded in Australia won’t lose their pension or face a large repayment bill. And many of the pensioners have already been contacted and told their payments will stop if they do not return within 26 weeks. MSD chief executive Debbie Power said it understood superannuitants who left for Australia during the travel bubble were in a “unique and challenging situation”. “I support New Zealand’s longstanding policy regarding restrictions on pension payments when pensioners are overseas for long periods. These have previously been applied to people who have been unable to return in that timeframe due to serious illness.

Source: Stuff October 08, 2021 22:03 UTC