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Story: Older people

Old-age pension

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Old-age pension

An old-age pension was first introduced in 1898 – New Zealand was among the first countries in the world to provide one. To be eligible men and women had to be over 60 and earn below a certain income. This 1898 cartoon features Premier Richard John Seddon. The inscription at the bottom of the cartoon reads, 'An old friend with a new face / Santa Claus Seddon to party of sexagenarians: "You've not been forgotton this time, old boys. There's a stocking full like this for every one of you."'

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PUBL-0126-1898-001

by Ashley Hunter

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Peggy Koopman-Boyden, Older people – Life circumstances, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/26694/old-age-pension (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Peggy Koopman-Boyden, published 22 March 2011.