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Do you have a spouse/partner who is not in paid employment? Are they under 65 and have the right to stay in New Zealand permanently?

This may include stay-home parents, the self-employed, beneficiaries and other people, currently outside the paid workforce.

If the answer is “yes”, they should consider joining KiwiSaver. You do not have to be an employee to join KiwiSaver. One way they can make KiwiSaver work for them is:

1. Join KiwiSaver and in particular SuperLife¹ as soon as possible.

• The government then pays a $1,000 kick-start three months later. This is tax free. Joining is all they have to do to get the $1,000 – they do not have to save.

But, if you or they can afford to save, and they are 18 or older, then:

2. Save the equivalent of $87 a month ($1,043 a year i.e. $20 a week).

• The government then pays in July/August, each year, an amount equal to half this level.

Do they have to save $87 a month?

No. They (you) can save less than $87 a month, including saving nothing – it is up to them. SuperLife has no minimum or maximum. You decide how much to save and when to save, and simply tell us.

$87 a month maximises the government’s $1 for $2 annual MTC payments. Also, you can save each month by direct debit or internet banking, or simply save a lump sum, once or twice a year.

What if they become an employee?

If they become an employee, the standard employee provisions apply. This requires the contribution rate to be the 2% minimum of their total gross taxable pay (increasing to 3% from 1 April 2013). For more details see the summary KiwiSaver overview – employees or the investment statement.

Why join now?

The sooner they join, the sooner they get the $1,000 kick-start. Also, the sooner they can get the $1 for $2 MTC subsidy, up to $521 a year. Note: a proportionate payment is paid in the first and last years.

It therefore makes sense to join as soon as possible and get $1,000 kick-start and then decide how much they can afford to save, or should save.

How do they join?

To join SuperLife, phone 0800 27 87 37 and ask for an investment statement or check out our KiwiSaver section – you can join online.

To find out more about KiwiSaver, read the SuperLife booklet and investment statement. An investment statement under the Securities Act 1978 and a disclosure statement are available from SuperLife free of charge.

¹ “SuperLife” is SuperLife's KiwiSaver scheme, an approved KiwiSaver scheme (KS/10022).