Do you have super funds in Australia that you would rather have invested here in your NZ scheme?  

Currently, for those people who have the right to return to Australia to live or work (broadly this means Australian and NZ citizens), your super funds have to stay in Australia. Special provisions already exist for "temporary work visa" residents.

However, the New Zealand and Australian governments have signed an arrangement agreeing, in principle, to allow portability of funds between Australian complying super schemes and NZ KiwiSaver schemes. This arrangement is now with the legislators in the two countries to draw up the detailed rules/regulations for such transfers. New Zealand has passed its legislation and we expect the details from Australia will probably not be available until mid 2011. Australian funds will be able to be transferred to NZ KiwiSaver schemes only (i.e. the funds will still be locked-in) and will not be available for first home withdrawals.

The agreement between the two governments will eventually provide for transfers of super savings from Australia to NZ KiwiSaver schemes.  You will be able to transfer your Australian super money to New Zealand, where you can keep track of it more easily.  SuperLife's KiwiSaver scheme is ideal for investing lump sum payments as it has a wide range of investment options with very low investment fees that don’t erode the value of your super.  Details of the transfer rules and procedures will be put on our website when they become available, and we will be able to help you through the process if you require - just send us an email with your contact details to register your interest. 

Australian “temporary work visa” residents

If you were in Australia on a temporary work visa and you are not a Kiwi or Australian, you may be able to immediately access any super held for you in Australia.

If you left Australia more than 6 months ago and you were the holder of a temporary work visa for Australia, which has now expired, and are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian resident, you can apply to withdraw your funds or have them transferred to NZ - contact us to help you.

Lost track of your funds in Australia?  

There’s billions of dollars tied up in Aussie super schemes because they have lost track of the contributors.  If you’ve lost track of your super funds, that is you can’t remember what Super Fund they are in, we can help - send us an email.