Over 1,200 New Zealanders over 90 still working

In New Zealand, over 1,200 people aged over 90 are still working, according to Stats NZ. This group includes notable figures like Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. More than 200,000 New Zealanders aged 65 and older are still employed, with nearly 90,000 over the age of 70. The data shows that older workers hold various roles. Around 10% of machinery operators and drivers and 9% of managers are over the age of 65. However, these numbers drop significantly for those over 70. Many older people working in physically demanding jobs may not be doing heavy tasks but are instead supervising or managing others. Some older individuals take on flexible jobs like driving buses or taxis. Craig Renney, a chief economist, points out that many over-90 workers might not be engaged in strenuous jobs. He emphasizes that while it's good for older people to have the option to work, it's concerning if they have to work due to financial need. Research shows that a third of those over 65 work out of financial necessity. Gareth Kiernan from Infometrics notes more people aged 65-69 are staying in the workforce, but it becomes harder after that age. He suggests that many remain in jobs because of a lack of choice, especially in lower-skilled positions. Discussions about raising the retirement age raise concerns for physical workers. Changes to retirement benefits based on job type could be complicated and might unfairly impact manual laborers, particularly women and minority groups. Lastly, some experts question the accuracy of reports from older workers, suggesting that not all who claim to work are doing so in traditional roles.