How to join KiwiSaver
Joining is easy
Joining KiwiSaver is easy - if you're eligible to join you:
- will be automatically enrolled when you start a new job, or
- can choose to join.
If you're under 18, or if you're enrolling a child in KiwiSaver, you can only join by contacting a scheme provider directly.
Automatic enrolment
| If you're starting in a new job with a new employer and your job is ... | and you're ... | then you ... |
|---|---|---|
|
18 years of age or older |
will be enrolled automatically. You then have a choice to either stay enrolled or opt out (within 8 weeks). |
|
under 18 years of age |
won't be automatically enrolled. |
Exceptions to automatic enrolment
You won't be automatically enrolled if you:
- are a casual agricultural worker, election day worker or private domestic worker
- are employed on a temporary employment contract of 28 days or less
- are on paid parental leave
- stay on the same payroll:
- when a business is taken over or amalgamated, or
- if you relocate with the same employer
- receive payments subject to withholding tax
- aren't a New Zealand resident
- don't normally live here (unless you're a government employee working overseas)
- aren't required to have PAYE deductions made from your salary or wages.
What happens if you're automatically enrolled
The following table describes the process if you're automatically enrolled.
| Timeframe | What happens | Find out more |
|---|---|---|
|
When you start work |
Your employer will give you a KiwiSaver employee information pack (KS3) and provide your details to us.
We'll provisionally allocate you to:
|
|
|
When you get your first pay |
Contributions will start to be deducted from your pay at your chosen rate of 4% or 8% of your gross pay. You may also be entitled to an employer contribution from 1 April 2008. |
|
|
Within the first 8 weeks |
You'll need to decide whether to stay in KiwiSaver or opt out. |
|
|
Within 3 months of your first contribution being deducted from your pay |
If you don't opt out:
|
|
|
After you've been making contributions for 3 months |
If you haven't opted out or chosen your own scheme:
|
Example: Tim's story
Tim started a new job on 1 August working for a manufacturing company. He meets the basic criteria for KiwiSaver membership, so Tim's employer has automatically enrolled him and also given him a KiwiSaver employee information pack (KS3).
Tim isn't sure if he wants to stay in KiwiSaver but he has until 26 September to make up his mind.
Choosing to join
Important:
Once you opt in to KiwiSaver you can't opt out.
| If you're ... | then you can join ... |
|---|---|
|
either: |
|
Exception: trusts and partnerships
You'll be considered an employee for KiwiSaver purposes, and have contributions deducted from your pay at the rate of 4% or 8%, if:
- your business is run through a trust or a company and you're paid a salary or wage from which PAYE is deducted, or
- you're a working partner of a partnership which pays you a salary or wage for services provided under a written contract of service.
In these cases, you can join KiwiSaver either by choosing a scheme provider and applying directly, or by giving your payroll a KiwiSaver deduction notice (KS2) in which case we'll allocate you to a scheme. You may also be entitled to an employer contribution.
If you're a shareholder-employee you should get advice to determine whether your remuneration is subject to PAYE.
Applying directly to a scheme provider
Important:
If the provider of a KiwiSaver scheme accepts a person who is aged under 18 as a member of a KiwiSaver scheme, the contract between the provider and the person must be treated, for the purposes of the Minors' Contracts Act 1969, as if the person were aged 18.
Step 1
Contact the provider of the scheme you want to join, and they will send you an application form to complete, along with their investment statement.
Step 2
The following table describes the remainder of the process for applying directly to a scheme provider.
| If you're eligible to join and you're ... | then you'll need to ... | Find out more |
|---|---|---|
|
a salary or wage earner |
choose which employer(s) you want to deduct contributions from your pay, and tell your scheme provider. Note:If you don't specify your employer(s), we'll contact your main employer(s) and ask them to start deducting contributions from your pay.
|
|
|
not earning a salary or wage |
agree your contribution amount and any terms and conditions with your chosen provider - these may include fees and special rules (such as the ability to stop contributions for a period of time). Note:If you later become an employee, contributions will be deducted from your salary or wages, unless you take a contributions holiday.
|
|
|
Self-employed but also earning a salary or wage |
choose which employer(s) you want to deduct contributions from your pay, and tell your scheme provider. Note:If you join through a scheme provider and agree a contribution rate which you intend to deduct from your self-employed income, contributions will still be deducted from your salary or wages. If you don't specify your employer(s), we'll contact your main employer(s) and ask them to start deducting contributions from your pay. |
Does a scheme provider have to accept your application?
KiwiSaver schemes can have specific criteria for membership and have the right to refuse your application if you don't qualify for membership in their scheme - for example, a scheme can restrict membership to members of a particular trade union or industry.
What happens after you join?
When your application has been accepted, the scheme provider will notify us that you've been enrolled.
| If you're ... | then ... | Find out more |
|---|---|---|
|
a salary or wage earner |
we:
|
|
|
not a salary or wage earner |
you'll either pay your contributions:
|
Joining through your employer
What you need to do
The following table describes the process for joining KiwiSaver through your employer.
| Timeframe | What happens | Find out more |
|---|---|---|
|
When you decide to opt in |
Ask your employer for a KiwiSaver employee information pack (KS3), if you haven't been given one already Complete the KiwiSaver deduction form (KS2) and give it to your employer. |
|
|
When you next get paid |
|
|
|
Once your employer sends your details to us |
You'll be provisionally allocated to a scheme - either to:
|
|
|
Within 3 months of your first contribution being deducted from your pay |
You'll have the option of choosing your own scheme. We'll hold on to your and your employer contributions, and pay interest on them. |
|
|
After you've been making contributions for 3 months |
If you've chosen your own scheme, you'll be enrolled in that scheme, otherwise you'll be enrolled in the scheme you were originally allocated to. We'll then pay in to your account:
|
Need to know more?
- The $1,000 kickstart
- Fee subsidy payments
- Member tax credits
- Employer contributions
- First home deposit subsidy
- Mortgage diversion
- Who can join
- Opting out
- Your pay and contributions
- KiwiSaver schemes
Forms and guides
Check out what KiwiSaver forms and guides are available.
Date published: 25 Jun 2008
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