Government Contribution

Can you tell me what the government contribution is and how it works?

As long as you're 18 or older, the Government will make an annual contribution to your KiwiSaver account.

You're entitled to $521.43 in government contributions each year.
You need to contribute at least $1,042.86 a year to get the full Government contribution.
Contributions from employers and the government don't count.
To qualify for the maximum payment of $521.43, you must contribute $1,042.86 annually to qualify for the maximum payment of $521.43.
You have to contribute $1,042.86 annually to qualify.
To ensure you get the full contribution from the government, you can make voluntary contributions if your contributions are less than $1,042.86.
Your contribution will be proportionate to your contribution if you contribute less than the full amount.

Who qualifies for government contributions?

KiwiSaver members get the Government contribution every year (around July/August) until they can withdraw:

You're 18 or older and live (or usually live) in New Zealand.
Turning 18 halfway through the year or getting into KiwiSaver
If you join KiwiSaver halfway through the year (1 July-30 June), you'll get a government contribution.
If you turn 18 during the year (1 July to 30 June), you'll also get a Government contribution.

What happens when I turn 65?

Government contributions stop when you're 65. Until you turn 65, if you haven't been in KiwiSaver for five years, then you're still eligible for Government contributions. In this case, you'll need to put $1,042 into your KiwiSaver account in order to get these Government contributions.

Can you tell me when government contributions are paid?

Every year after 1 July, we'll claim the Government contribution. There's nothing you need to do. The Government contribution will show up in your KiwiSaver account within a month.