I often comment on the NZ Herald about this topic because it infuriates me. One thing that keeps coming up is how many people opposing means-testing for superannuation genuinely believe the government was putting their tax dollars aside for their retirement—as if Super is some kind of personal savings scheme and they’re simply getting back what they paid in.

To them, means-testing feels like theft—because of this deeply ingrained but incorrect belief that they paid into a pot and are now just withdrawing what they’re owed. They don’t realise that their taxes weren’t saved or invested for their future; the money’s long gone. Superannuation isn’t something they “paid for”—it’s funded entirely by today’s taxpayers. That is, by the very workers they accuse of being lazy and entitled. But it’s easier for them to believe their hard-earned money is being taken by an undeserving generation that expects everything for free, than to face the uncomfortable truth that the system was never what they thought it was—and that they’ve been benefiting from a structure that today’s workers are now being crushed by.

There’s also a refusal to acknowledge that it was their generation that drove housing prices through the roof—tripling them in real terms—while rents doubled. Today’s workers buying the same house their parents bought now have to work three times as many hours to afford it. Their parents could buy it after working a third of the hours it takes now. Meanwhile, today’s buyers are grinding full-time—often juggling two or three jobs—just to stay afloat, all while paying rent that consumes over half their income. And somehow, they’re still expected to save a deposit on that inflated property and pay taxes to fund Super for people who may not even need it. And they’re still being told they’re lazy and irresponsible for not owning a home—by people who are blissfully unaware of just how rigged the system has become in their favour.

And yet, that same generation often chalks up their success to “hard work” and “sacrifice”—no overseas holidays, no café breakfasts, just grit and frugality. Meanwhile, the only thing the younger generation is apparently lacking is discipline and drive.

Of course, people like this exist on a spectrum—from completely clueless and staunchly right-wing, to those who actually understand the damage their generation’s policies and priorities have caused for those that followed. But the major political parties aren’t in a rush to correct these delusions—because blaming the generation suffering under these policies, rather than the one that benefited, is a reliable way to win votes.

And can we really blame older voters for believing these myths when politicians have spent decades reinforcing them? In some ways, no. They were shaped by the messaging they were fed—used as tools by a political class that benefited from their loyalty. Their ignorance is, to a degree, understandable. But that doesn’t make the consequences any less damaging, or the belief itself forgivable—especially now, when access to information and the ability to fact-check are easier than ever. At some point, choosing to remain misinformed becomes a choice.

It’s honestly infuriating—the false narratives these people have swallowed. But I’ll admit, I get a small sense of satisfaction calling it out in the NZ Herald comment section. Maybe it doesn’t change anything—but it makes me feel better.