Automatic enrolment

When you start a new job, if you're not already a member and are eligible, your employer will automatically enrol you in KiwiSaver.

You'll be automatically enrolled in KiwiSaver if you're aged from 18 to 64 years, start a new job with a new employer and your job is:

• full-time
• permanent part-time
• a temporary contract for more than 28 days, or
• as a casual agricultural worker for more than 3 months.

Exceptions to automatic enrolment

You won't be automatically enrolled if you:

• are under 18 years old
• are a casual agricultural worker
• are an election day worker
• are a private domestic worker and you pay your own PAYE
• are employed under a temporary contract for less than 28 days - however, if the contract is extended beyond 28 days you will be automatically enrolled on day 29
• are a casual employee who receives holiday pay with your wages
• are on paid parental leave or ACC
• stay on the same payroll
  • when a business is taken over or amalgamated, or
  • if you relocate with the same employer eg transfer between branches, or if you are promoted
• only receive schedular payments (formally withholding payments)
• aren't required to have PAYE deductions made from your salary and wages
• revert to an employer from whom you were seconded, straight after that secondment
• are already employed as a teacher and transfer to another state or state integrated school
• are an employee of the New Zealand State Services working overseas
• are a shareholder employee and your income is not subject to PAYE.

Inland Revenue takes up to 3 months after you've been automatically enrolled to send your contributions, your employer's contributions and the $1,000 kick-start to your KiwiSaver provider. Find out what happens after you've been automatically enrolled.

If you're automatically enrolled by your employer

	When you start work Your employer gives you a KiwiSaver employee information pack (KS3). You need to complete the KiwiSaver deduction form (KS2) in the KS3 pack and give it to your employer.
	Your employer sends the details on the KS2 to Inland Revenue.
	Inland Revenue provisionally allocates you to: your employer's chosen scheme, if they have one, or a default KiwiSaver scheme.
	When you get your first pay Contributions start to be deducted from your pay (before tax) at your chosen rate. Your employer makes compulsory employer contributions.

	Within the first 8 weeks You 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: you have the option of choosing your own scheme Inland Revenue holds on to your contributions and pays interest on them.

After you've been making contributions for 3 months If you've chosen your own scheme, you'll be enrolled with them. Otherwise you'll be enrolled with the employer-chosen scheme or default scheme you were originally allocated to. Inland Revenue pays to your scheme: the $1,000 kick-start, and your contributions and your employer contributions that have been processed, with interest.