KiwiSaver has default settings that apply unless a member changes them: the default contribution rate (3.5% from 1 April 2026), and a default fund. These pages sit within the wider KiwiSaver hub. The guides in this section set out the choices that change a KiwiSaver balance, how KiwiSaver compares with other uses of the same money, and how it works in particular situations such as a low income, a student loan or retirement.
The levers that make the biggest difference over time (employer and government contributions, fund type, fees, contribution rate, lump sums and staying invested through falls) are set out in seven levers that change a KiwiSaver balance.
These guides are general information, not financial advice. For advice on your own situation, the Financial Service Providers Register, maintained by the Companies Office, is where you can search for individuals, businesses and organisations that offer financial services in New Zealand.
KiwiSaver vs Other Uses of Your Money
Whether extra money goes into KiwiSaver or somewhere else turns on a few things: KiwiSaver’s employer and government contributions (which come with contributions at the default rate), the lock-in until 65, and how the other option’s return compares with a fund’s. Each comparison below sets these out for one alternative.
Guides in This Section
Growing Your Balance
- Seven Levers That Change a KiwiSaver Balance
- KiwiSaver Tax Benefits Compared With Other Investments
- The KiwiSaver Government Contribution
- Voluntary and Lump Sum KiwiSaver Contributions
KiwiSaver vs Other Investments
- KiwiSaver vs Paying Off Your Mortgage
- KiwiSaver vs Investing in Shares
- KiwiSaver vs Term Deposits
- KiwiSaver vs Buying a Rental
Income and Family Situations
Retirement and Downturns
- KiwiSaver and NZ Super: How They Combine
- KiwiSaver After 65: Contributing and Joining Late
- KiwiSaver During a Recession