Retirement planning questions, answered

Early Retirement Bridge Calculator NZ 2026/27

Can I access my KiwiSaver before 65?

Not for early retirement. Inland Revenue allows withdrawal at 65, with limited earlier exceptions for a first home, permanent emigration, serious illness, a life-shortening congenital condition, or significant financial hardship. Choosing to stop working is not one of them, which is exactly why a bridge is needed.

When does NZ Super start?

At 65, subject to residence requirements. From 1 April 2026 the after-tax rate at the M code is $555.15 a week for a single person living alone, $512.45 a week for a single person sharing, and $427.04 a week each where both partners in a couple qualify. For a single person living alone that is $28,867.80 a year.

Why does my total net worth not answer this question?

Because a bridge is funded from what you can reach, not what you own. On the worked example there is $931,807.86 at age 55, which sounds comfortable, but only 54.99% of it is accessible. The KiwiSaver portion is locked until 65 and contributes nothing to the ten years before that.

How much do I need to stop work at 55?

On the worked example, spending $55,000.00 a year in today's money over a ten year bridge requires $545,673.81 in accessible savings at 55. The projection reaches $512,387.12, leaving a shortfall of $33,286.69, which the money running short during age 64 makes concrete.

How much difference does working a few more years make?

Far more than people expect, because it works from both ends. On the worked example, stopping at 55 leaves a $33,286.69 shortfall while stopping at 58 produces a $258,583.69 surplus. Three years of extra saving shortens the bridge from ten years to seven at the same time.

Should I keep contributing to KiwiSaver if I plan to retire early?

There is a genuine tension worth thinking through rather than a single right answer. The employer contribution and the government contribution are strong returns you cannot get elsewhere, but every dollar in KiwiSaver is a dollar unavailable for the bridge. A common approach is to contribute enough to capture both incentives and direct the rest to accessible savings.

Does this account for inflation?

Yes. Spending is entered in today's dollars and inflated forward each year at the rate you set, which matters a great deal over a bridge that can run fifteen years. On the worked example, $55,000.00 of spending today becomes $80,124.61 by age 64.

What happens after 65?

The problem changes shape entirely. NZ Super begins, KiwiSaver unlocks, and the question becomes how to draw down a much larger pool over an unknown lifespan. This calculator deliberately stops at 65, because getting the bridge wrong is what makes early retirement fail and the two problems are best solved separately.

Inflation-Adjusted Retirement Income Calculator NZ 2026/27

What does "inflation-adjusted" mean for a retirement income figure?

It means the figure has been converted from nominal (future) dollars into today's purchasing power, so you can see what it would actually buy compared with prices now, rather than being misled by a headline number that has not been adjusted for rising prices.

Why is my KiwiSaver or retirement projection shown in nominal dollars rather than today's dollars?

Because that is the actual cash amount your account will hold or pay out in the future. Providers project contributions and investment growth forward in future dollars, since that is the money that will genuinely be there, and leave it to you to separately adjust for inflation, because nobody can know the exact future inflation rate any more than they can know the exact future investment return.

What inflation rate should I use for a long retirement projection?

The default here is 2% a year, the midpoint of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's 1% to 3% inflation target, measured by the Stats NZ Consumers Price Index. Actual annual inflation moves around within, and sometimes outside, that band, for example New Zealand's annual CPI inflation was 3.1% in the December 2025 quarter, so it is worth testing a range rather than relying on a single figure. That is why the results panel shows the answer at 1%, 2% and 3% side by side.

How do I convert a future nominal retirement income into today's dollars?

Divide the future nominal amount by (1 plus the assumed annual inflation rate) raised to the power of the number of years between now and then. This calculator does that automatically when you choose the future-amount-to-today's-dollars direction.

How do I convert a today's-dollars income target into the nominal figure I will need in the future?

Multiply the today's-dollars target by (1 plus the assumed annual inflation rate) raised to the power of the number of years. Select the today's-target-to-future-amount direction and the calculator does this for you.

Is New Zealand's inflation rate guaranteed to be 2%?

No. Two percent is the midpoint of the Reserve Bank's target range, not a guarantee. Actual inflation has ranged from close to 1% during the low-inflation early 2020s to over 7% in 2022, and was 3.1% in the December 2025 quarter, so treat any single assumed rate as a planning estimate and test more than one.

Should I use CPI or wage inflation for this kind of adjustment?

CPI, the Consumers Price Index, measures the general rise in the price of goods and services, and is the right measure for working out what an income will actually buy. Wage inflation, which tends to run a little higher than CPI over time, is more relevant if you are comparing your own future income to future wages generally, which is a different question to the one this calculator answers.

How is this different from the Retirement Number Calculator?

The Retirement Number Calculator works entirely in today's dollars to size the nest egg you need on top of NZ Super. This calculator instead takes a nominal, future-dollar figure, whether that is a KiwiSaver projection, a salary estimate, or any other future amount, and translates it into today's purchasing power, or the reverse, so the two tools are complementary steps in the same planning process.

Partial / Semi-Retirement Calculator NZ 2026/27

What is partial or semi-retirement?

Stepping back from full-time work gradually rather than stopping in one go, often by cutting hours, moving to casual or consulting work, or taking a lower-paid role, then topping up the difference between that income and your living costs from savings or NZ Super.

Can I receive NZ Super while working part-time?

Yes. NZ Super is not income tested, so you receive the full standard rate alongside part-time earnings or any other income. Extra earnings can change the tax code applied to your combined income, but they do not reduce the NZ Super entitlement itself.

How is the years my savings will last figure calculated?

The calculator adds NZ Super and part-time income, subtracts that from your desired spending to find the annual drawdown needed, then compares it with the return your balance earns. If the drawdown is at or below that return, the balance lasts indefinitely; otherwise it solves for the years until the balance reaches zero.

What if my part-time income and NZ Super already cover my spending?

Then no drawdown is needed. The calculator shows a surplus instead, and the result reads Indefinitely, since the balance is untouched and, if it stays invested, keeps growing at your chosen return.

What return should I use for my remaining balance?

A realistic long-run figure net of fees and tax, not a single strong year. As a guide, Conservative funds average around 2.5% a year, Balanced around 3.5%, Growth around 4.5%, and Aggressive around 5.5%. Many people move to a more conservative fund once they start drawing down.

Does this calculator account for tax?

No. Treat part-time income, NZ Super and spending as after-tax amounts, since the calculator does not apply income tax, ACC levies or PIR. Extra income can affect your tax code, so check your actual take-home figures with Inland Revenue or your payroll for precision.

What happens once I stop part-time work altogether?

Set the part-time income field to $0 to see how long your balance lasts on NZ Super and savings alone. Since part-time income is often the biggest bridge to NZ Super, removing it can shorten how long the balance lasts by a significant margin.

Can I use this calculator before I turn 65?

Yes. Choose Not yet 65, no NZ Super, and the calculator works out your drawdown from part-time income and savings alone. Once NZ Super starts at 65, select your living situation to see how much longer the same balance lasts.

Retirement Date Calculator NZ 2026/27

How does this calculator work out my retirement date?

It first works out the nest egg you need: your target annual retirement income minus NZ Superannuation for your living situation, divided by your chosen safe withdrawal rate. It then solves the standard compound-growth-with-contributions formula for the number of years it takes your current balance and ongoing contributions, growing at your expected fund return, to reach that nest egg. Adding those years to your current age gives your estimated retirement age, and adding them to the current year gives an approximate calendar year.

What if my result comes out much later than 65?

That is a genuine result, not an error. It usually means your current balance, contribution rate or expected return are not yet enough to reach your target income by 65. Increasing your own or employer contribution rate, choosing a fund type with a higher expected return for your remaining time horizon, or lowering your target retirement income will all bring the date forward. Our Retirement Savings Shortfall Calculator shows the extra monthly contribution needed to hit a specific age instead.

What return should I use for my KiwiSaver fund?

Use a realistic long-run figure net of fees and tax, not a single strong year. As a general guide, Conservative or Defensive funds average around 2.5% a year, Balanced funds around 3.5%, Growth funds around 4.5%, and Aggressive funds around 5.5%, net of fees and after a 28% prescribed investor rate. These are broad planning assumptions, not a forecast for any specific provider or fund.

Does this include the KiwiSaver government contribution?

Yes. The government contributes 25 cents for every dollar of your own contributions, up to a maximum of $260.72 a year, which needs $1,042.86 of your own contributions in the year to reach in full. From 1 July 2025 the government contribution is removed entirely once your income exceeds $180,000. The calculator applies all three rules automatically from your salary and contribution rate.

Does this calculator include NZ Super?

Yes. Select your living situation, single living alone, single sharing, or a couple where both qualify, and the current NZ Superannuation rate for that situation is netted off your target income before the required nest egg is worked out. Select None to size the full target from savings alone, useful if you plan to retire before you qualify for NZ Super at 65.

What if I can already retire today?

If your current balance already meets or exceeds the nest egg required for your target income, the calculator shows your current age as your retirement date, with zero years remaining. This reflects whether the required savings are already in place on paper, not whether you have actually decided to stop working.

Does this calculator account for inflation?

No. Your target retirement income and the resulting nest egg are both treated as today's dollars, and the projection compounds your balance and contributions in the same terms without a separate inflation adjustment. Over a horizon of several decades, this means the actual dollar balance you accumulate will buy somewhat less by the time you get there than the same figure would today.

Can I use this for savings outside KiwiSaver?

Yes. Set the employer contribution rate to 0% if there is no employer match, and use the salary and contribution rate fields to represent your own regular savings amount. The government contribution only applies to KiwiSaver, so it will show as $0 if you are modelling non-KiwiSaver savings this way.

Retirement Glide Path Calculator NZ 2026/27

Should I move to conservative investments as I get older?

It depends entirely on what you are trying to achieve, and this page shows the trade rather than a recommendation. On the worked example, a rising glide path lasts 5 years longer than staying fully in growth if a downturn hits immediately, and finishes $2,084,870.51 behind it if no downturn arrives. Neither result makes one of them correct.

Does a glide path protect against sequence of returns risk?

Partly, and less than people expect. On the worked example a downturn in years 1 to 3 exhausts every one of the four strategies tested. The rising glide path lasts until year 22 against year 17 for all growth, so defensive allocation delays failure rather than preventing it.

What is a rising glide path?

An allocation that starts conservative at retirement and becomes more growth-oriented over time, which is the reverse of conventional advice. The logic is that sequence risk is concentrated in the first decade, so that is where the protection belongs, and later years have less remaining time for a downturn to do damage.

Which strategy is best?

None of them, across all scenarios. Staying in growth wins comfortably in three of the four cases tested and fails earliest in the fourth. The rising path is best in the scenario that actually ends retirements and worst everywhere else. Choosing between them is a judgement about which risk matters more to you, not an optimisation.

What matters more, the allocation or the withdrawal rate?

The withdrawal rate, and it is not close. On the worked example every allocation fails under a bad start at this rate, differing only in whether that happens in year 17 or year 22. Lowering the withdrawal changes whether the portfolio survives at all, which no allocation choice does.

Is a KiwiSaver conservative fund the right choice at 65?

Switching at 65 assumes the money is being spent at 65, and often it is not. Someone retiring at 65 may be drawing on that balance into their nineties, which is a long investment horizon rather than a short one. The relevant question is when each dollar will be spent, not what age you are when you stop working.

Why do all the defensive strategies do so badly with no downturn?

Because the protection is paid for continuously while the benefit only arrives if a downturn actually happens. Conservative assets return less every single year, and over 30 years that compounds into a very large number. On the worked example the gap between all growth and the rising path is $2,084,870.51 when no downturn arrives.

Are these returns realistic?

They are illustrative assumptions you should replace with your own. Real portfolios do not deliver a fixed number outside downturn years, downturns vary in depth and duration, and conservative assets can fall too. The purpose is to compare strategies under identical conditions rather than to forecast any of them.

Retirement Income Gap Calculator NZ 2026/27

What is the retirement income gap?

The retirement income gap is the annual shortfall between the income you want in retirement and the income NZ Superannuation plus a safe drawdown from your savings will actually provide. It is calculated as target annual income minus NZ Super minus your annual savings drawdown.

How is the annual income gap calculated?

First, your expected savings or KiwiSaver balance at retirement is multiplied by your chosen safe withdrawal rate to give an annual drawdown. That drawdown is added to NZ Super for your living situation to give your total expected retirement income. The gap is your target annual income minus that total. If the total already meets or exceeds your target, the calculator shows a surplus instead.

What if my savings and NZ Super already cover my target income?

The calculator shows a surplus rather than a gap, and the extra savings needed to close it is $0. This means your current plan is, on paper, already sufficient to fund your target income at the withdrawal rate you selected.

Where do the NZ Super figures come from?

The NZ Super amounts used are the net, after-tax rates on the standard M tax code from 1 April 2026, published by Work and Income: $28,867.80 a year for someone living alone, $26,647.40 a year for someone sharing, and $44,412.16 a year combined for a couple where both partners qualify. These are the same figures used across Calculate.co.nz's other retirement calculators.

What withdrawal rate should I use for my savings drawdown?

A commonly used starting point is 4% a year, based on research by William Bengen and the later Trinity study, though many planners now discuss a range of roughly 3% to 5% depending on how long the money needs to last and how it is invested. It is a planning rule of thumb, not a guarantee, and this calculator lets you enter any rate you choose.

Does this calculator account for inflation?

No. All figures are treated as being in the same set of dollars, so the comparison between your target income, NZ Super and drawdown is fair, but none of them is separately adjusted for inflation over time. If you are many years from retirement, both your target income and your savings balance may need to be larger again in future dollars to buy the same amount as today.

How is this different from the Retirement Number Calculator?

The Retirement Number Calculator works out the total nest egg you need from a target income and NZ Super alone, assuming no existing savings. This calculator starts from a savings balance you already expect to have, whether that is your current KiwiSaver balance or a projected future one, and shows the actual annual income gap that balance leaves, plus the extra amount needed on top to close it.

Can I use this if I plan to retire before I qualify for NZ Super?

Yes. Select None for your NZ Super situation so the calculator compares your target income against your savings drawdown alone. You may want to run the numbers twice, once for the years before you turn 65 with NZ Super set to None, and again for the years after with NZ Super included, since the gap usually narrows once NZ Super starts.

Retirement Number Calculator NZ 2026/27

What is my retirement number?

Your retirement number is the size of the nest egg you need saved to fund the gap between your target annual retirement income and NZ Superannuation, drawn down at a safe withdrawal rate. It is calculated as (target annual income minus NZ Super) divided by your chosen withdrawal rate.

What is a safe withdrawal rate?

A safe withdrawal rate is the percentage of a retirement portfolio you draw down each year with a reasonable expectation the money lasts through retirement without running out too early. The most commonly cited figure is 4%, based on US research from the 1990s (the Bengen study and the later Trinity study), though many planners now discuss a range of roughly 3% to 5% depending on how long the money needs to last and how the portfolio is invested. It is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee, since it does not account for the exact sequence of investment returns you experience or New Zealand-specific tax and fund settings.

Does this calculator include NZ Super?

Yes. Select your living situation (single living alone, single sharing, or couple where both qualify) and the calculator nets the current NZ Superannuation rate off your target income before working out how much you need from savings. You can also select None if you want to see the full number excluding NZ Super, for example if you plan to retire before age 65.

Why does the withdrawal rate change the answer so much?

The withdrawal rate is the divisor in the calculation, so a lower rate demands a much larger nest egg for the same income. At a 4% withdrawal rate you need 25 times your annual shortfall (1 divided by 0.04). At a more cautious 3% you need roughly 33 times the shortfall, and at a more aggressive 5% only 20 times. Small changes to this one assumption move the answer by hundreds of thousands of dollars on a typical shortfall, which is why it is worth testing more than one rate.

Is this the same as how long my money will last?

No, they answer different questions. This calculator works out a target nest egg for a chosen ongoing withdrawal rate, assuming that rate is sustainable indefinitely. Our separate Retirement: How Long Will My Money Last Calculator starts from an actual pot and drawdown amount and estimates the number of years it lasts given an expected return, which is useful if you already have a balance and want to stress-test a higher or lower withdrawal amount.

Should I use today's dollars or future dollars?

This calculator works in today's dollars throughout, meaning the income figure you enter and the nest egg it produces are both expressed in current purchasing power. If you are many years from retirement, remember that the actual dollar balance you need to accumulate by then will be larger once inflation between now and retirement is added, since a dollar in 20 years buys less than a dollar today.

Does the nest egg figure include tax?

No. The calculator is a simple pre-tax planning estimate. In practice, any income your investments generate once you start drawing on them may be taxed, for example at your prescribed investor rate inside a PIE fund or at your marginal tax rate on other investment income, which can mean you need to draw slightly more than your target take-home figure to end up with the income you actually want in hand.

What if I plan to retire before I qualify for NZ Super?

Select None for your NZ Super situation so the full target income is funded from savings alone. You may then want to run the calculation twice: once for the years before you turn 65 with NZ Super set to None, and again for the years after 65 with NZ Super included, since your required income from savings usually drops once NZ Super starts.

Retirement Savings Shortfall Calculator NZ 2026/27

What is a retirement savings shortfall?

A retirement savings shortfall is the gap between the nest egg you are on track to have at retirement, based on your current balance and contributions, and the nest egg you actually need to fund your target retirement income. It is calculated as your target retirement number minus your projected balance at retirement.

How is the extra monthly contribution worked out?

The calculator solves the future value of annuity formula for the extra annual contribution required, given the years remaining and your expected return, then divides by 12. In formula terms, extra annual contribution equals the shortfall multiplied by the return rate, divided by ((1 plus the return rate) to the power of the years remaining, minus 1).

Where does the target retirement number come from?

You can enter your own target directly. If you are not sure what yours should be, use our Retirement Number Calculator, which works out a target from your desired annual income in retirement, the NZ Superannuation you expect, and a safe withdrawal rate. The default figure here, $903,305, matches that calculator's own worked example of a $65,000 target income for someone living alone on NZ Super at a 4% withdrawal rate.

Does this include the KiwiSaver government contribution?

Yes. The government contributes 25 cents for every dollar you personally contribute, up to a maximum of $260.72 a year, which requires $1,042.86 of your own contributions in the year to 30 June. From 1 July 2025 the government contribution is removed entirely once your income exceeds $180,000. The calculator applies all three rules automatically from your salary and contribution rate.

What return should I use for my KiwiSaver fund?

Use a realistic long-run figure net of fees and tax, not a single strong year. As a general guide, Conservative or Defensive funds average around 2.5% a year, Balanced funds around 3.5%, Growth funds around 4.5%, and Aggressive funds around 5.5%, net of fees and after a 28% prescribed investor rate. These are broad planning assumptions, not a forecast or a guarantee, and actual fund performance varies by provider.

What if I am already on track and there is no shortfall?

If your projected balance already meets or exceeds your target, the calculator shows a surplus instead of a shortfall and the extra monthly contribution needed is $0. That does not guarantee the outcome, since it still depends on your assumed return actually being achieved, but it means your current contribution rate is consistent with reaching your goal on paper.

Does this calculator account for inflation?

No. Both the projected balance and the target retirement number are treated as being in the same set of dollars, so the comparison between them is fair, but neither figure is separately adjusted for inflation between now and retirement. If your target number is in today's dollars, remember the actual balance you need to accumulate by retirement may need to be larger again once inflation is added on top, particularly over a horizon of 20 years or more.

Can I use this for savings outside KiwiSaver?

Yes. Set the employer contribution rate to 0% if there is no employer match, and enter your own regular contribution through the salary and contribution rate fields, or treat the salary field as your annual savings amount with the rate field set to 100%. The government contribution only applies to KiwiSaver, so it will be $0 if your salary or contribution rate fields are set to reflect non-KiwiSaver savings such as a managed fund or term deposit ladder.

Retirement Withdrawal Sequencing Calculator NZ 2026/27

Which account should I draw from first in retirement?

In New Zealand the answer matters far less than overseas guidance implies. On the worked example the marginal rate on interest is 17.50% and the PIR on PIE income is also 17.50%, so the tax difference between drawing from savings or from a fund is 0.00%. The order becomes worth thinking about only once drawings push taxable income above $53,500.

Why does withdrawal order matter less in New Zealand?

Because there is no general capital gains tax and PIE income is taxed on attribution rather than on withdrawal. Overseas sequencing advice is built around tax-deferred accounts where withdrawing triggers a tax event, and New Zealand has no equivalent. Withdrawing from a PIE fund is not itself a taxable event, so shifting spending between accounts moves very little.

What PIR should I use in retirement?

Usually a lower one than you used while working, and this is the single most valuable thing on this page. On the worked example the correct PIR is 17.50%, not the 28% many people carry over from their working years. That difference is worth $2,520.00 a year, which compounds to $87,492.51 over 20 years at 5.00%.

How is the PIR worked out?

Two tests must both be satisfied, applied to whichever of the last two income years gives the lower rate. Your PIR is 10.5% if taxable income excluding PIE income is $15,600 or less and total income including PIE income is $53,500 or less. It is 17.5% if income excluding PIE is $53,500 or less and the total is $78,100 or less. Otherwise it is 28%.

Is NZ Super taxable?

Yes, and it counts towards both PIR tests. It is normally paid net of tax at the M code, so the amount arriving in your account is already after tax. The gross figure is what matters for the thresholds, and on the worked example about $33,667.64 of gross Super produces the published net rate for a single person living alone.

What happens if my PIR is too high?

Inland Revenue includes PIE income in your end-of-year assessment, so tax paid at a PIR above your correct rate is refundable. That was not always the case, and it means an overpayment is recoverable rather than lost. It is still better to fix the rate than to reclaim it each year.

Can a large one-off withdrawal affect my PIR?

It can, and the effect lasts longer than people expect. The PIR tests look at both of the last two income years, so a year with unusually high income can raise your rate for a following year as well. Splitting a large drawing across two tax years sometimes avoids crossing a threshold at all.

Is selling shares to fund retirement taxable?

For a long-term investor selling to fund living costs, gains on New Zealand and Australian shares are generally not taxed, because New Zealand has no general capital gains tax. This is not universal: trading patterns, an intention to resell, and the foreign investment fund rules for most overseas holdings all change the answer, so it is worth confirming your own position.

What Retirement Actually Costs to Live

How much does a retired couple spend a week in New Zealand?

Stats NZ does not publish spending by age, so the honest starting point is the two person household: across the categories published without suppression in the 2023 Household Economic Survey, average two person household spending sums to about $1,527.80 a week. Most retired households are one or two people, but these figures cover working-age one and two person households too, so treat the figure as a starting point to adjust, not a measurement of retirees.

Does one person live for half the cost of a couple?

On the published averages a one person household spends about $817.70 a week against a couple's $1,527.80, around 54 per cent. But one person households are not couples cut in half: they are more often older, renting and carless. A surviving partner who keeps the house and the car should plan on needing well over half the couple's budget, with the one person average as the floor of that range rather than the estimate.

Are these figures averages or medians?

Averages, which is what Stats NZ publishes for this survey, and averages are pulled upward by high spenders. A typical household spends somewhat less than the average figure in most categories. The survey is also triennial: these figures were collected in 2023 and prices have moved since.

What do these figures leave out for a retirement budget?

Two big things. Health spending rises with age in a way an all-ages average understates. And housing depends almost entirely on whether the mortgage is finished: the housing figures here include households still paying rent, so a mortgage-free retiree spends materially less on housing than the published average, while a retiree renting spends more.

Annuity Payout Calculator

How is an annuity payout calculated?

The payout is the fixed amount that draws a lump sum down to zero over the term while the balance earns interest. It uses the annuity payment formula: payout equals the lump sum times the period rate, divided by one minus one plus the rate to the power of minus the number of payments. This calculator applies that formula for you.

What is the difference between an annuity payout and drawdown?

An annuity payout here is a level, calculated amount that exactly exhausts the balance over a set term at a fixed return. Drawdown is more flexible: you choose how much to take and the balance can last longer or shorter, and can leave money behind, depending on returns and your withdrawals.

Does a higher interest rate increase the payout?

Yes. The more the balance earns while it is being paid out, the larger each payment can be for the same lump sum and term. A longer term lowers each payment because the same lump sum is spread over more payments, while a shorter term raises it.

Annuity vs Drawdown Calculator NZ

What is the difference between an annuity and drawdown?

An annuity-style product pays a steady, guaranteed income for life or a set term in exchange for your lump sum. Drawdown keeps your money invested and you withdraw from it yourself, with more flexibility and the chance of growth, but the risk it runs out.

Which is better, an annuity or drawdown?

Neither is always better. An annuity gives certainty and removes the worry of running out, while drawdown offers flexibility, potential growth and the chance to leave a balance behind. The right choice depends on your need for certainty and your other income.

Can I combine the two?

Yes, many people use a mix, covering essential spending with a guaranteed income and keeping the rest in drawdown for flexibility. Comparing the two incomes here helps you decide how much to allocate to each.

Drawdown Calculator NZ

How long will my retirement savings last?

It depends on how much you withdraw each year, the return your savings earn and inflation. Drawing more than your savings earn means the balance falls and eventually runs out; drawing less can let it last indefinitely. This calculator estimates the years your lump sum lasts.

What is a safe withdrawal rate?

A commonly cited guide is around 4% a year, adjusted for inflation, though the right rate depends on your returns, how long you need the money and your tolerance for risk. Lower withdrawals make savings last longer.

Does this account for NZ Super?

This calculator looks at your own lump sum and withdrawals. NZ Super provides a separate base income on top, so your savings often only need to top that up, which means your lump sum may last longer than the raw numbers suggest.

FIRE Number Calculator NZ

What is a FIRE number?

Your FIRE number is the amount you need invested so you can live off the portfolio without working. It is your annual spending divided by a safe withdrawal rate, so lower spending or a higher withdrawal rate means a smaller number.

What withdrawal rate should I use?

A figure around 4% is a common starting point, meaning a portfolio 25 times your annual spending. It is debated and depends on your timeframe and risk, so the calculator lets you set your own rate.

Does this include NZ Super?

No. NZ Super would reduce the portfolio you need from your own savings in retirement, so your FIRE number from investments alone is a conservative target.

Future Value of Annuity Calculator

What is the Future Value of Annuity Calculator?

Calculate the future value of any annuity. Enter regular payment, interest rate, and number of years to see what your regular payment stream will be worth at a future date.

Is the Future Value of Annuity Calculator free to use?

Yes. The Future Value of Annuity Calculator is free to use on Calculate.co.nz, with no sign-up, paywall or account required.

Is the Future Value of Annuity Calculator made for New Zealand?

Yes. It is built for New Zealand and uses current New Zealand rules and rates where they apply. Results are indicative estimates and not financial advice.

Lump Sum vs Annuity at Retirement Calculator NZ

What is the lump sum versus annuity choice?

At retirement you may be able to take a lump sum and manage it yourself, or convert it to an annuity that pays a guaranteed income for a set period or for life. The lump sum offers control and potential growth; the annuity offers certainty.

Which gives more money?

If your investments do well, drawing down a lump sum yourself can leave money over after matching the annuity income, and you keep control of the capital. But if returns are poor or you live a long time, an annuity protects against running out.

Are annuities common in New Zealand?

Traditional lifetime annuities are less common in New Zealand than overseas, with most people drawing down KiwiSaver and savings themselves. Some variable annuity products exist. This tool compares the income and leftover capital to help you think it through.

Present Value of Annuity Calculator

What is the Present Value of Annuity Calculator?

Calculate the present value of any annuity. Enter the regular yearly payment, number of years, and interest rate to find what a future stream of equal payments is worth in today's dollars.

Is the Present Value of Annuity Calculator free to use?

Yes. The Present Value of Annuity Calculator is free to use on Calculate.co.nz, with no sign-up, paywall or account required.

Is the Present Value of Annuity Calculator made for New Zealand?

Yes. It is built for New Zealand and uses current New Zealand rules and rates where they apply. Results are indicative estimates and not financial advice.

Progress Payment Build Drawdown Calculator NZ

How do progress payments work on a build?

The bank releases your build loan in stages as work is completed, such as at foundations, closed-in, and completion. You pay interest only on the amount drawn down so far, so your interest bill starts small and grows as the build progresses.

Why do I pay interest during the build?

Once money is drawn down to pay the builder, it is borrowed and accrues interest, usually on an interest-only basis during construction. Because the balance rises over the build, the average amount you pay interest on is roughly half the total by the end.

How can I reduce build interest?

A shorter build, a lower rate, and using your own cash for early stages all cut the interest. Delays are costly because every extra month adds interest on a large drawn balance, so keeping the build on schedule matters.

Retirement Bucket Strategy Calculator NZ

What is the bucket strategy?

It divides retirement savings into a cash bucket for the next year or two of spending, an income bucket of stable assets for the medium term, and a growth bucket of shares for the long term. You spend from cash and top it up from the others over time.

Why use buckets?

Holding a couple of years of spending in cash means you are not forced to sell shares after a market fall, which protects against sequence-of-returns risk. The growth bucket has time to recover before you need it.

How big should each bucket be?

A common approach is one to two years of spending in cash and several more years in income assets, with the rest in growth. The calculator sizes the buckets from the years you choose and your annual spending.

Retirement Calculator NZ 2026

What is the Retirement Calculator NZ 2026?

Calculate the projected value of your NZ retirement nest egg at any target age. Models savings, KiwiSaver contributions, investment returns, and inflation to show your retirement readiness.

Is the Retirement Calculator NZ 2026 free to use?

Yes. The Retirement Calculator NZ 2026 is free to use on Calculate.co.nz, with no sign-up, paywall or account required.

Is the Retirement Calculator NZ 2026 made for New Zealand?

Yes. It is built for New Zealand and uses current New Zealand rules and rates where they apply. Results are indicative estimates and not financial advice.

Retirement Healthcare Cost Estimator NZ

Is healthcare free in retirement in New Zealand?

Public healthcare covers much of the cost, but retirees still pay for GP visits, prescriptions, dental, optical, hearing and many other costs out of pocket, which add up over a long retirement, especially as health needs grow with age.

What about aged residential care?

Residential care is expensive, though it is income and asset tested, so a government subsidy may cover much of it depending on your means. Those above the asset threshold pay the capped contribution themselves. This tool lets you include an estimate of care costs.

Why allow for inflation?

Healthcare costs tend to rise faster than general prices, and over a 20 to 30 year retirement that compounding makes a big difference. Growing the yearly cost by an inflation rate gives a more realistic lifetime total than simply multiplying.

Retirement: How Long Will My Money Last Calculator NZ

How long will my retirement savings last?

It depends on your pot, how much you draw each year, and the return on the money still invested. The calculator works out the years until the balance reaches zero, accounting for the growth the remaining balance earns along the way.

Can my money last forever?

If the amount you draw each year is less than or equal to the return your pot earns, the balance never falls and the money lasts indefinitely. Drawing more than the return slowly eats into the capital until it runs out.

What about inflation and NZ Super?

This tool focuses on your savings drawdown. NZ Super provides income on top that this does not include, which extends how long you can rely on your savings. Inflation will lift your spending needs over time, so review your drawdown regularly.

Retirement Village vs Stay Calculator NZ

How does a retirement village occupation right cost work?

You usually buy an occupation right at an entry price, pay a weekly fee while you live there, and on leaving the operator keeps a deferred management fee, often 20 to 30% of the entry price, and you generally do not share in capital gains. This calculator estimates the total cost over your years there.

Is a retirement village cheaper than staying home?

It depends on the entry price, the deferred fee, the weekly fees and how long you stay, against the cost of running the family home. The deferred management fee is the big one; over a longer stay it can make a village more expensive than staying put on the numbers.

What else matters besides cost?

Villages offer community, security, maintenance-free living and care options, which have real value beyond money. The financial comparison is one input; lifestyle, health and support needs matter just as much.

Transition to Retirement Income Planner NZ

What is transition to retirement?

It is easing out of full-time work gradually, often by dropping to part-time and topping up your income by drawing on savings, rather than stopping all at once. It can bridge the years before NZ Super starts at 65, or supplement it after.

How do I bridge the income gap?

Combine your reduced work income with a regular drawdown from your savings or KiwiSaver to reach the income you need. The key risk is drawing down too fast, so check how many years your savings would last at the drawdown you choose.

When does NZ Super start?

NZ Super is paid from age 65, regardless of whether you are still working. If you are transitioning before 65, your savings drawdown carries more of the load; after 65, NZ Super adds to your income and eases the drawdown.