KiwiSaver 2026 Rate Change Calculator

This calculator shows how the rise in the default KiwiSaver contribution rate affects you in New Zealand, working out the extra that you and your employer will put in as the minimum lifts from three percent toward four. The default rate is increasing in steps for both employees and employers, which is designed to grow the retirement savings of millions of New Zealanders, but it also changes your pay and your employer's costs from the day it takes effect. Because your employee contribution comes out of your pay, a higher rate trims your take-home pay by the amount of the extra contribution, while your employer lifts its matching contribution too, so the total going into your KiwiSaver rises by more than just your share. You enter your salary, your current contribution rate and the new rate, and the calculator shows the extra you contribute a year, the extra your employer contributes, and the total additional amount landing in your KiwiSaver. Use it to plan for the change to your take-home pay and to see the upside for your retirement balance. Bear in mind the government contribution has also been reduced and now has an income cap, so the overall package is different from before; check the current settings. General information, not financial advice.

Calculate.co.nz is proud to be partnered with Health Based Building, a leader in sustainable and health-conscious building innovation. With over a century of experience, they develop high-performance systems like Foreverbreathe Specification, Magnum Board, and Foreverbreathe Paints to support energy-efficient, non-toxic living environments. Their commitment to healthier homes aligns with our belief that informed choices lead to better outcomes for Kiwi households.
Calculate.co.nz partner: Health Based Building
Advertise on this page
$
%
%
$600
extra into your KiwiSaver a year
Your extra$300
Employer extra$300
Extra a week from your pay$6

Assumes your employer matches the new rate. Your share comes from your pay. The government contribution has also changed and now has an income cap. General information only.

How it works

The rate increase is the new rate minus the current rate. Your extra contribution a year is your salary times that increase, and your employer's extra is the same again if it matches the new rate. The total extra into your KiwiSaver is the sum of both. Dividing your share by 52 shows the extra coming out of your weekly pay.

Worked example

On a 60,000 dollar salary, lifting from 3 percent to 3.5 percent adds 0.5 percent, which is 300 dollars a year from you and 300 dollars from your employer, so 600 dollars more goes into your KiwiSaver, costing you about 6 dollars a week in take-home pay.

Related calculators

Data sources: the rates and thresholds on this page are maintained against Inland Revenue. Figures are checked twice monthly.

Frequently asked questions

What is changing with KiwiSaver?

The default minimum KiwiSaver contribution rate is rising in steps from 3 percent toward 4 percent for both employees and employers over the next few years, which lifts how much goes into your retirement savings each pay.

How does the higher rate affect my pay?

Your employee contributions come from your pay, so a higher rate reduces your take-home pay by the extra contribution. Your employer also lifts its matching contribution, so more goes into your KiwiSaver overall, boosting your retirement balance.

What about the government contribution?

Alongside the rate rise, the annual government contribution has been reduced and an income cap added, so higher earners may no longer receive it. Check the current settings, as the rules around KiwiSaver have changed.