Children can be KiwiSaver members from birth. Inland Revenue describes KiwiSaver as open to “New Zealand residents, of any age, whether they are working or not”, but the joining rules, the contributions a child can receive and the control they have over the account all differ from an adult’s. This page covers how to enrol a child or newborn, the rules for under-18s, and what changes at 16 and 18.
How a Child Joins KiwiSaver
Children aren’t automatically enrolled: automatic enrolment happens through an employer, and IRD says “If you’re under 18 you can only join KiwiSaver through a scheme provider. You cannot join through your employer.” Who signs depends on age (IRD: Joining KiwiSaver):
| Child’s age | Who applies |
|---|---|
| Under 16 | At least one legal guardian consents and contacts the chosen provider on the child’s behalf; the child can’t enrol themselves |
| 16 or 17 | The child applies, and at least one legal guardian co-signs the application |
| 18 and over | The adult rules apply, including automatic enrolment when they start a new job if they’re eligible (aged 18 to 65, not already a member, and in a full-time or permanent part-time job or on a contract of more than 28 days) |
The child also has to meet the residence rule that applies to everyone (a New Zealand citizen, or entitled to live here indefinitely, and living in New Zealand). The KiwiSaver eligibility rules for visa holders cover children who arrive on a visa.
Enrolling a newborn
- Get the baby an IRD number. Providers ask for it. IRD says “You can get an IRD number for your baby when you register their birth”; if that didn’t happen, you can apply for one separately (IRD: Child IRD numbers).
- Choose a provider and fund. You apply directly with the provider, as the child’s guardian. KiwiSaver providers and KiwiSaver fees compared set out the facts provider by provider.
- Consent as guardian. For a child under 16, the guardian completes the provider’s enrolment on the child’s behalf.
- Decide on contributions. A child who isn’t working contributes only through voluntary payments, which can be regular or one-off.
The account belongs to the child, not to the parent: you can’t withdraw or redirect the money.
What Are the Rules for Under-18s?
| Feature | Under 16 | 16 and 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Joining | Guardian consents and contacts the provider | Child applies, guardian co-signs |
| Employer contributions | None unless employed (the employer obligation starts at 16) | Yes, on wages, if employed and contributing from pay |
| Government contribution | No | Yes, from 16, if contributions are made |
| Voluntary contributions | Yes | Yes |
| Access to savings | Generally at 65, or early in limited cases | Same |
Employer contributions
Because most children aren’t in paid work, most receive no employer contributions, so a child’s balance comes from voluntary contributions, investment returns and, from 16, the government contribution. A teenager with a part-time job is different: If you're aged 16 or over and under 65, in KiwiSaver and contributing from your pay, your employer must contribute at least 3.5% of your gross pay (unless you're on a temporary rate reduction or in a defined benefit scheme), less employer superannuation contribution tax (ESCT).
The Government Contribution: From Age 16
The government contribution starts at age 16, lowered from 18 on 1 July 2025. Contributions made on behalf of a baby or young child earn no government contribution until the account holder reaches 16.
- Maximum: $260.72 per year (halved from $521.43 from 1 July 2025), at 25 cents per dollar contributed
- To receive the maximum, the member contributes at least $1,042.86 in the KiwiSaver year (about $20.06 a week)
- The KiwiSaver year runs from 1 July to 30 June
- Members with prior-year taxable income over $180,000 are not eligible
Over a childhood, only the years at 16 and 17 qualify, so the most a child can receive before turning 18 is about $521.44 (two years at the current maximum). The KiwiSaver government contribution page has the full eligibility rules.
Starting Early: How Compounding Works Over Decades
For a child enrolled young, the long time before the money is accessible is the main thing that differs from an adult’s KiwiSaver. The figures below are arithmetic, not a forecast: they assume a constant 7% a year after fees and tax, which no fund guarantees.
A single $1,000 contribution, left invested until 65, at an assumed 7% a year:
| Age at contribution | Years invested | Balance at 65 |
|---|---|---|
| Birth (0) | 65 | about $81,300 |
| 18 | 47 | about $24,000 |
| 25 | 40 | about $15,000 |
$1,000 × 1.07^65 ≈ $81,273; × 1.07^47 ≈ $24,046; × 1.07^40 ≈ $14,974. The same contribution made at birth ends up a little over three times larger than one made at 18, purely from the extra 18 years of compounding. Real returns vary year to year, and the result is before inflation.
How much risk a long horizon can carry, and what each fund type has historically done, is covered in conservative vs balanced vs growth by time horizon. Fees compound too: over several decades a fee difference of a fraction of a percent a year adds up, which is why the fees comparison is worth checking for a child’s account.
Trade-offs to Weigh
Locked until 65 or a first home
A child’s KiwiSaver follows the adult rules: savings are generally locked until 65, with limited exceptions such as a first-home withdrawal after 3 years of membership, and hardship or serious illness. For a newborn that is a lock of decades. Money intended for education, a first car or an OE can’t come out of KiwiSaver for those purposes. The KiwiSaver withdrawal rules list every exception, and first home withdrawal eligibility covers the first-home criteria.
Other places to hold a child’s savings
A savings account, term deposit or non-KiwiSaver managed fund in the child’s name has no lock-in but also no government contribution from 16. Investing for children in NZ compares how those options work.
Fixed fees on small balances
Some providers charge a fixed dollar membership fee as well as a percentage fee, which takes a larger share of a small balance that receives only occasional contributions. Check a provider’s fee structure before joining.
What Changes at 16 and 18
At 16: the government contribution becomes available, and if the teenager is employed and contributing from pay, the compulsory employer contribution applies. A 16- or 17-year-old joining now applies themselves, with a guardian co-signing.
At 18: the member takes over the adult rules in full. If they aren’t already a member, they’ll be automatically enrolled when they start a new job, as long as they meet IRD’s conditions (with the usual opt-out window). If they’re already in KiwiSaver, nothing restarts: contributions continue on the same terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a child need an IRD number to join KiwiSaver? Providers ask for one. A baby can get an IRD number when their birth is registered; otherwise you apply to Inland Revenue.
Can grandparents contribute to a child’s KiwiSaver? Voluntary contributions can be made to a member’s account at any time; ask the child’s provider how it accepts payments from family members.
What age can a child join KiwiSaver? Any age. A newborn can be enrolled by a legal guardian through a provider.
Can a teenager under 18 join through their employer? No. IRD says under-18s can only join through a scheme provider. Once they’re a member, their employer deducts contributions from their pay like anyone else’s.
What to Read Next
- KiwiSaver by life stage and situation: guides for students, migrants, people on work visas and more; self-employed members have their own guide
- KiwiSaver for students: part-time work and the government contribution
- Average KiwiSaver balance by age
- What is KiwiSaver?: how the scheme works
- KiwiSaver fund types explained