Cook Islanders are upset that they will lose their local pensions if they accept their New Zealand Superannuation pension.
New Zealand Super has been made portable and Cook Islanders, who meet the conditions of living in New Zealand for five years after the age of 50, will qualify.
But membership and contributions to the Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund are compulsory and people are upset to learn that if they accept the New Zealand Super there will be matching deductions.
About 4,600 Cook Islanders are affected.
Our correspondent in Rarotonga, Florence Syme Buchanan, said at the moment it is a very little known fact that this will affect every member of the Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund who is also eligible for the New Zealand Superannuation pension.
"It is an issue that is going to gain traction because it will affect thousands of Cook Islanders and it will disturb a lot of people," she said.
