The Government has introduced several KiwiSaver changes which come into effect on 1 April 2026 and 1 April 2028.
1 April 2026 changes
Default employer and employee contribution rates
The default KiwiSaver contribution rate will rise to 3.5% (from 3%) for you and your employer.
If you’re currently contributing at 3%, your employer will check and update their payroll settings to make sure the new 3.5% default rate is applied from 1 April (unless you apply for a temporary rate reduction).
The new rate will affect all pay days from 1 April. So even if your pay period covers before and after 1 April, your whole contribution for that pay period will be deducted at the new rate.
Temporary rate reduction
You can apply for a temporary rate reduction from 1 February 2026 if you want to carry on contributing at 3% from 1 April 2026. This could be because you can’t afford the rate increase or want to save in other ways.
You can apply for a temporary rate reduction for a 3 month (92 days) to 12 month period. You can apply for the rate reduction as many times as you like.
Your employer can choose to match your temporary rate reduction. Once you move from the temporary rate to a higher rate, we’ll notify your employer.
Contributions for 16 and 17-year-olds
If you’re aged 16 or 17 you’ll qualify for employer KiwiSaver contributions from 1 April 2026, so long as you meet other eligibility requirements.
If you contribute to KiwiSaver from your wages, your employer will need to start making contributions. Before 1 April 2026, your employer only needs to contribute for employees aged 18 to 65.
Changes that have already taken effect
Government KiwiSaver contributions
From 1 July 2025, the government contribution is 25 cents for each dollar you contribute to KiwiSaver each year, with the maximum government contribution being $260.72.
If you’re aged 16 or 17, you now qualify for government contributions, so long as you meet other eligibility requirements.
If you earn more than $180,000 of taxable income a year, you no longer qualify for the government contribution.