Good news, if you’re 16 or 17, your KiwiSaver account could be about to work even harder for you. If you contribute, the government will as well – and from 1 April 2026, if you contribute from your salary or wages, your employer may start contributing too.

The government will contribute if you do

As long as you're eligible, for every $1 you invest into your KiwiSaver account, the government may contribute 25 cents, up to a maximum amount of $260.72 each KiwiSaver year (from 1 July to 30 June). To get your full KiwiSaver government contribution, you need to contribute $1,042.86 to your KiwiSaver account. However, in the year you turn 16 your maximum government contribution will be less as it’s based on the number of days you’ve been 16.

From 1 April 2026 your employer will contribute if you do

If you can, regular contributions will help keep your KiwiSaver account thriving. If you're working you can choose to contribute 3%*, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10% of your before tax pay. From 1 April 2026, if you contribute, your employer will contribute 3.5%* or more (eligibility criteria applies). Chat with your employer about what they offer.

* The 3% contribution rate will increase to 3.5% on 1 April 2026, and then to 4% on 1 April 2028. Employer contributions will increase in line with these changes. If you're already contributing to KiwiSaver, you can apply for a temporary rate reduction to remain on 3% from 1 April.

Got questions?

If you’d like to talk to someone about KiwiSaver, or what’s changed for 16- and 17-year-olds, our friendly team are here to help. You can chat to us online, email us, or call us on 0508 347 437.