Too true, Steve.

NZ doesn't seem to have any information on retirement at all. But people do retire there! So I'm not sure how they go about it at all... I think most people who get to retire to NZ are sponsored by family, and the rest probably have plenty of money to be able to sustain their living without drawing on NZ benefits.

You might want to approach the immigration minister direct for this kind of thing, as, if you're not going to be considered a 'burden', ie having a pension from NZ govt, then you may well be allowed anyway.

Failing that, do as Steve suggested, hurry up and apply now as a skilled migrant if you are 55 or under!!