FAQs for individuals

If you can provide evidence that you're suffering or likely to suffer significant financial hardship, you may be able to withdraw some of your KiwiSaver savings.

See significant financial hardship.

There are strict criteria that you have to meet to qualify for significant financial hardship.

See significant financial hardship.

To apply for a KiwiSaver significant financial hardship withdrawal contact an ANZ Customer Service Consultant on 0800 500 648.

If you are employed, you can elect to contribute an amount equal to 3% (2% until 31 March 2013), 4% or 8% of your salary or wages before tax. You can also make lump-sum contributions and additional regular contributions at any time.

If you are working your contributions will be automatically deducted from your salary or wages by your employer. You can also make additional contributions directly to your KiwiSaver provider or via Inland Revenue.

If you are self-employed or not working (or your salary or wages are not subject to PAYE) you can choose to make regular or lump sum contributions directly to your KiwiSaver provider or via Inland Revenue.

Yes. If you are working, 12 months after your first contribution to Inland Revenue or a KiwiSaver scheme, you can apply to Inland Revenue to take a contributions holiday. If you are suffering from financial hardship you can apply to take a contributions holiday earlier. Further details can be found on the Inland Revenue website.

If you are working, a contributions holiday allows you to stop making contributions for a period of between three months and five years. At the end of the period, your contributions will resume unless you reapply to Inland Revenue to renew the contributions holiday.

If you are not working, you can stop contributing to the ANZ KiwiSaver Scheme at any time.

At the end of the contributions holiday period, your contributions will resume unless you reapply to Inland Revenue to renew the contributions holiday.  

If you don't actively choose a KiwiSaver scheme and your employer has a preferred scheme, you will be automatically allocated to that preferred provider scheme.

If your employer doesn't have a preferred scheme, Inland Revenue will allocate you to one of six default schemes.

If you want to opt out of your employer’s preferred KiwiSaver scheme, you need to do so within eight weeks (56 days) of being automatically enrolled.

See opting out of KiwiSaver.

No. You can join any registered KiwiSaver scheme by reading that KiwiSaver scheme's investment statement and completing the application form. If you don't choose your own scheme, you will be automatically enrolled in your employer’s preferred scheme unless you opt out. You must opt out within eight weeks (56 days) of being automatically enrolled.

If your employer doesn't offer a preferred scheme, and you don’t choose your own, Inland Revenue will automatically allocate you to one of the six default schemes.

If you want to opt out of KiwiSaver, you need to do so within eight weeks (56 days).

If you're an employee who's been automatically enrolled by your employer, you can opt out of KiwiSaver within the first eight weeks (56 days) of starting your new job.

If you actively choose to join KiwiSaver you can’t opt out, but if you are employed you may be able to take a contributions holiday.See opting out of KiwiSaver.

Your KiwiSaver account will automatically follow you from one job to the next. That means you only need one KiwiSaver account over your entire working life.

If you are under 18 you may opt in at any time, whether you are working or not. If you are 15 or under, all your guardians will need to give their consent, and you can’t enrol yourself. If you are 16 or 17 you may apply jointly with one of your guardians, or under certain circumstances you may apply directly.

If you are under 18 and start a new job you will not be automatically enrolled.

If you are under 18 and working, you will not be automatically enrolled in a KiwiSaver scheme. You can join at any time by ‘opting in’; however you will not be eligible to receive the Government's annual contribution or matching compulsory employer contributions until you turn 18.

If you have been a KiwiSaver member for three years or more, you may be able to withdraw some of your KiwiSaver savings to help buy your first home.

See First Home Withdrawal.

To qualify for the First Home Withdrawal you must meet the set criteria.

See criteria.

To apply for the First Home Withdrawal, see two steps to apply.

The First Home Subsidy is a Government subsidy for certain first home purchases.

The First Home Subsidy is $1,000 for each year you have been a KiwiSaver member:

• three years of contributing = $3,000 (the minimum available)
• four years of contributing = $4,000
• five years of contributing = $5,000 (the maximum available).

See First Home Subsidy.

To apply for the First Home Subsidy, see two steps to apply.

You can withdraw your KiwiSaver savings when you reach the New Zealand Superannuation qualification age (currently 65).

If you join KiwiSaver after your 60th birthday, you are unable to withdraw your KiwiSaver savings until you have been a member of a KiwiSaver scheme and/or a complying superannuation fund for at least five years.

You can make contributions if you are self-employed or not working and wish to take part in the ANZ KiwiSaver Scheme.

If you are not working (or your salary or wages are not subject to PAYE), you can join the ANZ KiwiSaver Scheme without making a contribution.

See self-employed or not working.