Outrigger Financial guide
Your KiwiSaver investment, made simple
Everything that actually matters, in about five minutes of reading.
Three lots of money, not one
Most people think their KiwiSaver investment is their own savings. It is not. Three different people put money in, and two of them are not you.
If you earn $70,000 and put in 3.5%, that is $2,450 of your money. Your employer adds another $2,450. Your KiwiSaver investment gets $4,900. You doubled your money before it was even invested.
If you opt out, or drop your contributions to nothing, you do not just lose your own savings. You hand back your employer's money too.
The government top up
Put in at least $1,042.86 between 1 July and 30 June, and the government adds $260.72. That is about $20 a week to collect the full amount.
| You put in over the year | Government adds |
|---|---|
| $520 | $130.00 |
| $700 | $175.00 |
| $1,042.86 or more | $260.72 |
Self employed, on a benefit, or not working right now? You can still pay in directly to your provider and still get the top up.
Are you in the right fund?
Your money sits in a fund. The fund decides how much it can grow and how much it bounces around. The right one depends on one thing: how long until you need the money.
| Fund type | Growth assets | Suits you if |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive | 10% | You need it within 1 to 3 years |
| Conservative | 25% | You need it within 3 to 5 years |
| Balanced | 50% | 10 or more years away |
| Growth | 75% | 20 or more years away |
| Aggressive | 90% | 30 or more years away |
Thousands of people sit in a default conservative fund with thirty years to go. It feels safe. Over that long, it quietly costs a lot. If retirement is decades away, it is worth asking whether your fund matches your timeline.
Getting it out
At 65
Take the lot, take it in regular payments, or leave it invested and draw on it as you need. Your choice.
For your first home
After three years in the KiwiSaver scheme you can withdraw most of your balance towards your first home. For a lot of whānau this is the deposit. It is worth planning at least a year out, because the fund you are in matters much more when the money is needed soon.
Hard times
There are limited grounds for early withdrawal, including significant financial hardship and serious illness. They are strict, and they are worth talking through with someone rather than guessing.
Three things worth doing this month
- Log in and check what fund you are actually in. Most people have never looked.
- Check you have contributed $1,042.86 this KiwiSaver scheme year, so you get the full government top up.
- If you have changed jobs, check your contributions actually restarted.
Want someone to look at yours with you?
A KiwiSaver investment review is free and takes about half an hour. We look at your fund, your rate, and whether it is pointed at the right thing.
This guide is general information, not personalised financial advice. Rates and rules are current at May 2026 and do change. Outrigger Financial Service Limited, FSP1009635.