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Understanding Government KiwiSaver Contributions

To help you save, the Government will make an annual contribution towards your KiwiSaver account as long as you meet certain conditions. Our guide explains what you need to know.
​Updated 3 August 2023

W​ho gets the Government KiwiSaver contribution?

If you are a member of a KiwiSaver scheme or a complying fund you’re eligible for the Government contribution, provided:
  • you're contributing to your KiwiSaver account
  • you’re 18 or over
  • you're not eligible to withdraw your savings, and
  • you mainly reside in New Zealand except for:
    • a government employee who's serving outside New Zealand, or
    • a person who's working overseas:
      • as a volunteer, or for token payment, for a charitable organisation named in the Student Loan Act regulations, and
      • the work meets one or more of the requirements set out in the Student Loan Scheme Act 2011.

​How much Government contribution you can get?

  • The maximum annual Government contribution you can receive is $521.43.
  • The Government will pay 50 cents for every dollar of member contributions up to a maximum payment of $521.43. This means that you must contribute $1,042.86 annually to qualify for the maximum payment of $521.43.
  • Employer contributions, government contributions and amounts transferred from Australia under the Trans-Tasman retirement savings portability don't count towards your $1,042.86 contribution.
  • If you contribute less than $1,042.86 from your pay, you can make voluntary contributions to ensure you receive the full payment from the Government.
  • The deadline is June 30th every year - so if you want to get the government contribution, you need to have contributed via your employer and/or personally before 30 June for the IRD to calculate how much they will contribute to your fund.

Joining part-way through a year (1 July to 30 June)

  • If you join KiwiSaver part-way through a year, you’ll receive the Government contribution based on the number of days in the year you’ve been a member.
  • When you turn 18, you’ll receive the Government contribution for the number of days in the year that you are 18.
  • The Government contribution ceases when you become eligible to withdraw your savings. You’ll receive the Government contribution based on the number of days in the year before you reach this.

​When the Government contribution is paid?

After 1 July each year, your KiwiSaver provider will claim the Government contribution on your behalf. You don’t have to do anything. This will appear in your KiwiSaver account within a month of your provider making the claim.

Your Government contribution does not count as taxable income.
Credit: This information originally appeared on kiwisaver.govt.nz before the website was closed down. MoneyHub's research team continues to keep it up to date.
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