KiwiSaver Government Contribution - Frequently Asked Questions

The government contributes 25 cents for every dollar you put into KiwiSaver yourself, up to a maximum of $260.72 a year. To get the full $260.72, you need to contribute at least $1,042.86 of your own money between 1 July and 30 June - about $20.07 a week.

Only your own contributions count toward this threshold. Employer contributions don't count, no matter how much your employer puts in.

No. Only money you personally put in - through PAYE deductions from your pay, or voluntary lump-sum payments - counts toward the $1,042.86 needed for the maximum government contribution.

Your employer's compulsory contributions (typically 3% of your pay) sit on top of your KiwiSaver balance but don't count toward this specific threshold.

Yes, since 1 July 2025. If your taxable income for the relevant year is over $180,000, you don't qualify for the government contribution at all that year, regardless of how much you personally contributed.

This is a new rule - before mid-2025, there was no income test on this specific payment.

You need to be at least 16. The contribution generally stops once you turn 65, though the exact cutoff can depend on how long you've been a KiwiSaver member if you joined later in life - check directly with your provider if you're close to 65 and unsure.

Under 16, you can still have a KiwiSaver account and receive contributions from an employer or yourself, but the government contribution specifically doesn't apply yet.

It's automatic - your provider claims it on your behalf, and it's paid into your account between late July and the end of August each year, covering the KiwiSaver year that just ended (1 July to 30 June).

You don't need to fill in a form or apply, as long as you're eligible and your provider has your correct details on file.

Yes, on a proportional basis. If you joined KiwiSaver partway through the year, turned 16 partway through, or were only an eligible member for part of the period, the maximum you're entitled to is scaled down for the number of days you qualified, not a flat $260.72.

The 25-cents-per-dollar rate and the $1,042.86 contribution threshold (scaled to match) still apply within that shorter window.

Yes, as long as you personally contribute at least $1,042.86 over the year and meet the age, income and residency requirements - the contribution isn't tied to employment.

Voluntary lump-sum payments direct to your provider count the same as payroll deductions would. This matters for anyone between jobs, self-employed without PAYE, or not currently working, who can still top up manually to capture the full match.

It's half of what it used to be. Before 1 July 2025, the government matched 50 cents per dollar contributed, up to $521.43 a year, with no income test.

Budget 2025 cut the match rate to 25 cents per dollar, halved the maximum to $260.72, and introduced the $180,000 income cap for the first time. If you're going by an older figure you remember, it's now out of date.