The Labour Party's new savings policy has received a mixed response from Whanganui electorate candidates.
"Bold" and "a game-changer" is how Labour's hopeful Hamish McDouall rated it but National candidate Chester Borrows said the policy showed Labour knows it won't win the election.
For the Green Party, John Milnes expressed cautious optimism about Labour's policy, while New Zealand First's Ian Brougham said raising the superannuation age to 67 was a "kick in the guts for the hard-working people in this country".
The savings policy was released by Labour Party leader Phil Goff on Thursday. It would see the age of eligibility for New Zealand superannuation raise from 65 to 67 gradually between 2020 and 2033.
Employer contributions to KiwiSaver would also increase to 3 per cent in 2014 and 7 per cent by 2022.
Mr McDouall said the policy showed Labour had the necessary long-term vision.
"This election is about our future, not National's re-election. We need a vision that is not just three years ahead," he said.
Mr McDouall said those whose jobs involved hard physical work could still retire at 65 and receive superannuation, based on means testing.
"But the 65-year-old lawyer or accountant will not be able to keep earning $100,000 a year and pick up super."
Mr Borrows said the policy showed Labour was not serious about winning the election.
"It's so controversial, Labour wouldn't do it if they thought they had a chance of winning the elections," Mr Borrows said.
Prime Minister John Key has said the superannuation age would stay at 65 under a National-led government. Mr Borrows said the National Party recognised that government borrowing was already at a high level - but Labour's savings policy would add an extra $7 billion to that over the next four years.
Mr Borrows said forcing employers to increase KiwiSaver payments to 7 per cent showed Labour "has no real understanding of the costs businesses face".
"The vast majority of New Zealanders are employed in small businesses and, for the sake of the economy, we need them to stay strong."
Mr Milnes said New Zealanders need to have further discussions about superannuation "particularly with regards to the affordability of the scheme as it is now".
He said the Greens' policy was to keep the superannuation age at 65.
"We're concerned about the effect [raising the age to 67] would have on those in physical jobs, and particularly those with low life expectancy, such as Maori and Pacific Island people."
Mr Milnes said the party supported making KiwiSaver compulsory and raising the employer contribution.
Mr Brougham said: "It's the working people that always seem to get hit the most."
He said New Zealand First was committed to keep the superannuation age at 65.