Nearly half of New Zealanders want to keep working after they turn 65 - most of them by choice.
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A BNZ Financial Futures survey asked more than 2,000 people about their retirement plans and found 46 percent want to keep working past what's regarded as the retirement age - 65.
Two thirds want to work by choice, while 30 percent thought they would need to keep working in order to make ends meet.
BNZ's director of retail and marketing Paul Carter said people in their 60s and 70s are fitter and healthier than previous generations and keen to work.
"It's not a one size fits all, it's not all about working full time, only 18 percent said it would be full time, but there's part time work and different ways that people later in life feel they have a lot to contribute."
He said for many working was a matter of satisfaction and there were other positives, which were good for the economy as well as for the individuals.
However, he said society should be looking for ways to assist those who felt they had no choice to work in older age just to to pay the bills.
Mr Carter said the survey also pointed to the need for younger people to do financial planning, limit their debt, and pick a KiwiSaver fund of the right sort that would deliver returns in old age.
