Get ready for KiwiSaver changes

Created: June 18, 2025 at 5:49 PM | Updated: April 17, 2026 | By NZ Navigator Trust

KiwiSaver is undergoing changes - to its contribution rates, government contributions, and more.

There are some key dates that New Zealand organisations will need to be aware of...

Government KiwiSaver contributions

Changes that have already happened (since 1 July 2025):

• People aged 16 and 17 now qualify for government contributions.
• The government KiwiSaver contribution was halved, reducing the maximum government contribution from $521.43 to $260.72 each year.
• People earning more than $180,000 of taxable income in a year now no longer qualify for government contributions.
• Employer and Employee default contribution rates - changes from 1 April 2026:
  • the minimum (default) employer and employee KiwiSaver contribution rates are going up.
  • employer contributions are now required for people aged 16 and 17
  • organisations that employ people will need to contribute 3.5% (up from the current 3%)
  • the default contribution from employees will also rise to 3.5% (up from the current 3%)
  • there is an option for employees to apply for a temporary rate reduction - read about this here.

The next changes happen on 1 April 2028...

• the employer contribution moves to 4% (up from 3.5%) to their employees’ KiwiSaver accounts.
• the default contribution from employees will also rise to 4% (up from the current 3.5%).

It’s a good idea to start thinking about how this change in 2028 will impact your payroll and budgeting, especially if you have employees on total remuneration packages (the total sum of salary, bonuses, benefits and perks).

More information

See the Inland Revenue website here for further information.