Retirement Commissioner Gains Taskforce Schools Competition

The Retirement Commissioner, Colin Blair, will take responsibility for a secondary schools competition on retirement issues following today's announcement by Steve Maharey, Minister of Social Services and Employment officially disestablishing the Super 2000 Taskforce.

"We are very pleased the Government has recognised the value of keeping this educational project alive," says Colin Blair.

"The competition is an innovative way to encourage young people to think about future changes in the age structure of our society, and the implications in the area of retirement income policy. It encourages students to discuss the issues with parents and others in the community."

"The competition compliments our Financial Literacy Programme which is also aimed at senior secondary school students," he says. "The success of this programme lies with its ability to equip young people with the essential financial know-how to survive when they leave school."

Interest in the competition from students and teachers has been high throughout the country with 104 schools and 411 teams having entered since it was launched by the Super 2000 Taskforce in October last year.

Students have until 3 July to complete assignments which will set out their proposals for retirement income policy. Students must demonstrate that their policy is fair, affordable, efficient, sustainable and has the support of their school community.

The Retirement Commissioner says he is looking forward to working with the schools already involved and emphasises that it is still not too late for other schools to participate. They can find more information about the competition and how to enter by visiting the Office of the Retirement Commissioner's website www.retirement.org.nz Schools have until Friday 3 March to register their entry.

The incentive to participate is a $42,000 prize package supported by financial services company Armstrong Jones. Schools can win up to $8,000 in prizes and students up to $6,000 for winning entries.

"This is an exciting competition with a challenging assignment, but thanks to Armstrong Jones the incentives for schools and individual students are very worthwhile," says Colin Blair.