If you're eligible, the Government could give your KiwiSaver balance an extra boost each year.

Some important changes have been made to government contributions since 1 July 2025:

• Government contributions are now available to eligible 16 and 17 year olds

• People earning over $180,000 are no longer eligible

• The maximum Government contribution has reduced from $521.43 to $260.72

This year, for every dollar you contribute to your KiwiSaver account between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, the government will contribute 25 cents - up to a maximum of $260.72 per year. That’s effectively free money going towards your retirement or first home savings.

To receive the government contribution for the current KiwiSaver year there are two things to check:

1. Whether you’re eligible

2. Whether you’ve contributed enough before 30 June to receive the maximum amount

Who is eligible?

You’ll generally qualify if you:

• Have been a KiwiSaver member for at least one year

• Are aged between 16 and 64

• Mainly lived in New Zealand this KiwiSaver year (6 months or more)

• Earned taxable income of $180,000 or less in the last tax year

What if I turned 16 or 65, or joined KiwiSaver during the year?

If you were only eligible for part of the year - for example because you turned 16 during the year, joined KiwiSaver recently, or turned 65 - your entitlement will be reduced proportionally.

If you are only eligible for part of the KiwiSaver year, both the maximum contribution you can receive and the amount you need to contribute will be calculated on a pro-rata basis - meaning you’ll receive a proportional amount based on how much of the year you were eligible for.

Even if you weren’t eligible for the full year, it can still be worth contributing before 30 June to receive a partial Government contribution - you will still receive 25 cents for every dollar you contributed once you were eligible. 

EXAMPLE - Mia turned 16 on 1 January 2026 and joined KiwiSaver. She is eligible for half of the KiwiSaver the year, so will need to make employee or voluntary contributions of $521.43 in order to get a maximum government contribution of $130.36.

It’s also important to know that 16 and 17 year olds are not automatically enrolled into KiwiSaver. They’ll need to actively sign up, usually with a parent or guardian’s consent.

Have you contributed enough?

To receive the full government contribution of $260.72, you’ll need to contribute at least: $1,042.86 between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.

This can come from:

• Employee contributions from your salary or wages

• Voluntary contributions made directly to your KiwiSaver account

• Or a combination of both

• Please note: Employer contributions do not count.
  

If you contribute less than this amount, you may still receive a partial government contribution.

How to check your contributions

You can check your employee contributions by:

• Logging into your KiwiSaver account, or

• Checking your MyIR account at www.ird.govt.nz/kiwisaver Under the “KiwiSaver member” section, select “Contribution summary”.
  
  
  

For voluntary contributions made directly to Simplicity:

1. Log into the Simplicity app

2. Go to summary and look at “Your contributions”
   
   
   

If you changed KiwiSaver providers during the year, you may also need to check with your previous provider.

Do you need to top up?

If you haven’t contributed enough yet, you can still top up your KiwiSaver account before 30 June. To make a voluntary contribution:

• Log into your online account

• Select “Deposit”

• Follow the payment instructions
  

Because transfers can take a few days to process, we recommend making any top-up contributions by Thursday 25 June to ensure they clear in time.

Other KiwiSaver changes

From 1 April 2026, default KiwiSaver contribution rates increased from 3% to 3.5% for both employees and employers. They’ll increase again to 4% from 1 April 2028. 16 and 17 year olds also became eligible for employer contributions. 

While the increase may slightly reduce take-home pay in the short term, even small increases can make a meaningful difference over time thanks to compounding returns.

If the higher rate feels difficult financially, members can temporarily remain at 3% by applying through Inland Revenue.

Finding the right balance

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to KiwiSaver.

If you can afford to contribute a little more, it can make a significant difference to your long-term savings. But if things feel tight right now, it’s okay to prioritise your current financial situation too.

The important thing is staying engaged with your KiwiSaver and revisiting your contribution settings as your circumstances change.