Government contribution

The KiwiSaver Government contribution is designed to help you save for your retirement. Here’s how it works:

If you’re eligible, the Government will contribute 50 cents for every dollar you contribute to your KiwiSaver account, up to a maximum of $521.43 each year. That’s extra money to add to your KiwiSaver savings - and it could add up to a whole lot more over time.

The Government contribution is calculated based on your contributions between 1 July to 30 June each year and is paid directly into your KiwiSaver account (usually by the end of August).

See the difference that the Government contribution can make to your KiwiSaver savings over time.

You're generally eligible for the Government contribution if you: 

• Are aged 18 to 64 (or older if you're not eligible for a retirement withdrawal)
• Contribute to your KiwiSaver account, and
• Mainly live in New Zealand. 

Don’t worry if you’re only eligible for part of the year – you’ll still get part of the Government contribution. The calculation of the amount will be based on the number of days in the year you were eligible.

You won't be eligible for the Government contribution if you make a life-shortening congenital conditions withdrawal.

To get the maximum Government contribution of $521.43 each year, you need to make sure you contribute at least $1,042.86 yourself.