KiwiSaver and Savings

Back to 2022 Review of Retirement Income Policies

We worked with our National Strategy for Financial Capability partners and other private sector representatives to consider new initiatives to encourage people to save. The report's recommendations put forward ideas for the private sector to get more people saving, and lifting their wellbeing.

KiwiSaver is a voluntary retirement savings scheme that New Zealanders (and their employers) contribute to directly from salary and wages. KiwiSaver has been in existence for 15 years.

The 2022 RRIP research highlighted that KiwiSaver balances in general are low and are likely to remain low even as the scheme matures. Detailed data analysis commissioned for the RRIP showed that 40% of KiwiSaver members have a balance of less than $10,000, with women on average having lower KiwiSaver balances than men across all age groups.

Ongoing improvements to KiwiSaver and additional private saving and education are required to ensure better retirement outcomes for all New Zealanders.

An introduction to KiwiSaver and how it operates, including enrolment and default providers, and policy settings can be found in our recent policy paper.

The following infographic outlines key moments in the history of KiwiSaver from 2007 to 2021.

Te Ara Ahunga Ora recently undertook research on those people who are not currently contributing to their KiwiSaver. It is available here.

KiwiSaver is one form of retirement saving scheme but there are others across the OECD. See how NZ’s retirement income system compares to other countries. Download the paper.

 

KiwiSaver research from previous RRIPs

A report prepared for the 2019 RRIP provides some insights into KiwiSaver member behaviour as at 2018. Download the report

This commissioned report for the 2019 RRIP looks at ethical investments in KiwiSaver. Download the report

The 2016 RRIP looked at KiwiSaver from a number of perspectives, including surveys, reports and interviews with the public.