KiwiSaver Act 2006 No 40 (as at 01 October 2011), Public Act

Reprint
as at 1 October 2011

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

KiwiSaver Act 2006

Public Act2006 No 40
Date of assent6 September 2006
Commencementsee section 2

Note

Changes authorised by section 17C of the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989 have been made in this reprint.

A general outline of these changes is set out in the notes at the end of this reprint, together with other explanatory material about this reprint.

This Act is administered by the Inland Revenue Department and the Ministry of Economic Development.


Contents

1 Title

2 Commencement

Part 1
Preliminary provisions

3 Purpose

4 Interpretation

5 Meaning of provider

6 Application

7 Act binds the Crown

8 Outline

Part 2
Membership of overall KiwiSaver scheme

Subpart 1Becoming members of overall KiwiSaver scheme

9 Outline of how people become members of overall KiwiSaver scheme

Automatic enrolment rules

10 Who automatic enrolment rules apply to

11 Meaning of new employment and secondee

12 Temporary employment

13 Employment in schools [Repealed]

14 Other situations when automatic enrolment rules do not apply

15 Effect of automatic enrolment

16 Time limit for opting out

17 How to opt out

18 Extension of opt-out period

19 Commissioner must give notice to employer of opting out

20 Effect of opting out

21 Opt-out only applies to employment that triggered automatic enrolment rules

Notice requirements for employees and employers

22 Employees giving information to employers

23 Employers must give information to Commissioner

23A PAYE intermediaries

Exempt employers

24 Purpose of being exempt employer

25 Eligibility to be exempt employer

26 How 4% minimum amount may be calculated for exempt employer defined contribution schemes

27 Eligibility of employers who provide access to more than 1 scheme

28 Eligibility of employers who have schemes established under master trusts

29 How to apply to be exempt employer

30 How applications to be exempt employer must be dealt with

31 Revocation of exempt employer approval

32 FMA must give notice to Commissioner of exempt employers

Opting in

33 Certain persons may opt in

34 Opting in by person 18 years or more

35 Opting in by persons under 18

36 Effect of opting in by employees

37 Effect of opting in by persons other than employees

Information about people who contract directly with providers

38 Providers must give notice to Commissioner if they contract directly with members

39 Commissioner must give notice to employer if provider gives notice that employee has opted in under section 38

Information about overall KiwiSaver scheme that must be provided

40 Commissioner must supply information pack

41 What information pack must contain

42 Employer must supply information pack to certain employees

43 Employer must also supply investment statement for employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme (if any)

Subpart 2Allocation of people to KiwiSaver schemes

44 Outline of how people are allocated to KiwiSaver schemes under subpart

People may choose their own KiwiSaver scheme

45 People may choose their own KiwiSaver scheme

Employer choice of KiwiSaver scheme

46 Employer may choose scheme for employees

47 When employer choice of KiwiSaver scheme is effective

48 Effect of employer choice of KiwiSaver scheme

49 Effect on existing members of change, etc, in employer chosen scheme

Default KiwiSaver schemes

50 Commissioner provisionally allocates certain people to default KiwiSaver schemes and sends investment statement

51 Completion of allocation to default KiwiSaver scheme if person does not choose his or her own KiwiSaver scheme

52 Effect of completion of allocation

Miscellaneous provisions

53 Person may be member of only 1 KiwiSaver scheme at any one time

Subpart 3Transfers between KiwiSaver schemes and between complying superannuation fund and KiwiSaver scheme

54 Application

Voluntary transfers

55 People may transfer between KiwiSaver schemes and between complying superannuation fund and KiwiSaver scheme

56 Notification of transfers and requirement to transfer funds and information

Involuntary transfers

57 Involuntary transfers

58 Information if employee ceases to be eligible to be member of employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme

59 Commissioner must send information to involuntary transferees

Subpart 4Initial and confirmed back-dated validation of invalid membership

59A When this subpart applies

59B Initial back-dated validation

59C Confirmed back-dated validation

59D What happens when initial back-dated validation ends, with no confirmed back-dated validation?

Part 3
KiwiSaver contributions

Subpart 1Deductions of contributions from salary or wages

Payments of salary or wages to which deduction rules apply

60 Application of subpart

61 Commissioner may give notice

62 When subpart does not apply

63 Part also applies to PAYE intermediaries

63A How subpart applies to private domestic workers

Deduction rules

64 Contribution rate

65 Contribution rates may be changed by Order in Council

66 Obligation to make deductions: general rule

66A Obligation to make deductions: transitional rule [Repealed]

67 PAYE rules apply to deductions

68 Money paid for things other than retirement benefits does not count as contribution under this Act

69 Unremitted deductions made by employers

70 Unexplained remittances of deductions received from employers

71 Time at which unexplained remittances deemed to be received

Subpart 2Miscellaneous provisions relating to contributions

Inland Revenue KiwiSaver Holding Account

72 Inland Revenue KiwiSaver Holding Account

73 Deductions entered in and paid out of holding account

74 Other contributions entered in and paid out of holding account

75 Initial contributions stay in holding account for 3 months

76 Employer contributions may stay in holding account until deducted contributions paid

77 Small amounts of contributions may be held until big enough to be on-paid

78 Treatment of unremitted deductions in holding account

79 Information that Commissioner must supply to providers when paying contributions

80 Refund by Commissioner of amounts paid in excess of required amount of deduction or if employee opts out

81 Refund by provider of amounts paid in excess of required amount of contribution

81B Residual refunds

82 Trustee investment rules do not apply to contributions in holding account

83 Unclaimed money held by Commissioner

Interest on contributions

84 Interest on money in holding account

85 Time when contributions treated as received for interest purposes

86 Interest rate

87 Amount of interest payable

88 How and when interest is paid on on-payments

89 How and when interest is paid on refunds

90 Position if Commissioner’s paying rate changes

91 Overpaid interest

Subpart 3Contributions other than deductions from salary or wages

92 Application of this subpart

92A How subpart applies to private domestic workers

93 Employer contributions paid via Commissioner

94 Employer must give notice that employer contributions to be paid via Commissioner [Repealed]

95 Contributions from persons other than employers may be paid via Commissioner

96 What Commissioner must do with contributions received under this subpart

97 Commissioner must give notice if employer contributions not remitted

98 Short payments by employers if not enough money remitted to Commissioner to cover all of employees’ deductions and employer contributions

98A Quantifying short payments for the purposes of Income Tax Act 2007 and Tax Administration Act 1994

99 Short payments if not enough employer contribution remitted to cover all employees

100 Refunds of employer contribution by Commissioner if employee opts out

101 Refunds of employer contribution by provider

Subpart 3ACompulsory employer contributions to KiwiSaver schemes and complying superannuation funds

101A General

101B Compulsory contributions must be paid on top of gross salary or wages except to extent that parties otherwise agree after 13 December 2007

101C Employee’s requirements

101D Compulsory employer contribution amount: general rule

101E Payment: allocation between schemes and funds

101F Payment rules: employers

101FB Grace periods: employers

101FC De minimis: other contributions and hybrid schemes amount

101G Rules: providers

Complying superannuation funds

101H Failure to pay: provider notice

101I Failure to pay: FMA's duties

101J Failure to pay: Commissioner

101K Recovered amounts

Subpart 4Contributions holiday

Applications for contributions holiday

102 Who may apply for contributions holiday

103 How to apply for contributions holiday

104 Granting of contributions holiday

105 Commissioner must give notice of grant of contributions holiday

106 When deductions stop at start of contributions holiday

107 Employers to whom contributions holiday applies

108 Contributions holidays have 3-month minimum life

End of contributions holiday

109 Commissioner must give notice before contributions holiday ends

110 Commissioner must give notice to employer of end of contributions holiday

111 When deductions start at end of contributions holiday

Revocation and reinstatement of contributions holiday

112 Revocation and reinstatement of contributions holiday

113 Refund of initial contributions

114 Refunds if employee loses, etc, contributions holiday notice

Part 4
KiwiSaver schemes

Subpart 1Preliminary provisions

115 Interpretation

Subpart 2Main features of KiwiSaver schemes

116 Schemes eligible to be KiwiSaver scheme

116A Requirements for restricted KiwiSaver schemes

116B  Requirements for managers of KiwiSaver schemes

116C Duty of manager with respect to money received

116D Requirements for trustees of KiwiSaver schemes other than restricted schemes

116E Removal of trustees of KiwiSaver schemes other than restricted schemes

116F Manager and trustee must be independent

116G Investments and property of KiwiSaver schemes

116H Nomination of person

116I Appointment of nominee by nominated person

116J Trust deed or other instrument must not exempt trustees, managers, or investment managers from liability

116K Trustees of KiwiSaver schemes other than restricted schemes may apply to High Court for order relating to scheme

117 Additional duty of independent trustees

117A Restrictions on transactions

Application of Superannuation Schemes Act 1989 to KiwiSaver scheme

[Repealed]

118 KiwiSaver scheme must be treated as registered superannuation scheme for most purposes

Trust deeds

119 Content of trust deeds

119A Implied provision as to amendments reducing accrued benefits, etc

119B Application of sections 119C to 119I

119C Implied provision as to transfer of members, etc

119D Procedural requirements in case of certain transfers

119E When requirements of section 119D not met

119F Information required in case of transfer under section 119D

119G When FMA may approve section 119D transfers without consent of members

119H How approval under section 119G may be granted

119I FMA may exempt trustees and managers from requirement to obtain written consent of members

119J Application and enforcement of implied provisions

Prospective members' rights to information

119K Prospective members' rights to information

Members' rights to information

119L Members' rights to information

120 Application of sections 8 to 11 of Superannuation Schemes Act 1989 [Repealed]

121 Further modifications to application of sections 8 to 11 of Superannuation Schemes Act 1989 [Repealed]

122 Application of other provisions of Superannuation Schemes Act 1989 [Repealed]

123 Requirement for annual report

124 Annual report in case of KiwiSaver scheme established under umbrella trust

125 Requirement for annual return

125A Requirement for annual personalised statement of contributions and accumulations for members

Other implied provisions

126 KiwiSaver scheme rules are implied in trust deeds establishing KiwiSaver scheme

127 Exercise of functions by FMA relating to clause 2 of KiwiSaver scheme rules

128 Participation agreements executed before registration [Repealed]

128A Terms relating to members’ tax credits implied into trust deed

128B Terms relating to back-dated validation implied into trust deed

128C Terms relating to lump sum payments by complying superannuation funds

128D Terms relating to compulsory employer contributions implied into trust deed

128E Provisions implied in trust deeds by regulations

Amending trust deed in relation to KiwiSaver scheme

129 Amendment of trust deed or participation agreement governing KiwiSaver scheme

129A Implied provision as to alterations to scheme

Reversion of scheme assets to employer

129B Implied provision as to reversion of scheme assets to employer

130 Consent to reversion of assets to employer

Subpart 3Registration of KiwiSaver schemes

Application to register new scheme as KiwiSaver scheme

131 Applications for registration of scheme governed by trust deed

132 Application for registration of scheme constituted under Act of Parliament [Repealed]

133 Matters required to be specified in application

134 Registration of scheme

Conversion of registered superannuation scheme

[Repealed]

135 Trustees may submit proposal to convert superannuation scheme [Repealed]

136 Form of proposal [Repealed]

137 FMA must provisionally register scheme as KiwiSaver scheme if satisfied of certain matters [Repealed]

138 Trustees must provide evidence of consents, and information, to Commissioner [Repealed]

139 Exceptions to requirements under section 138 [Repealed]

140 Process for obtaining consents and evidence to be provided to FMA [Repealed]

141 FMA must register scheme as KiwiSaver scheme if certain conditions met [Repealed]

142 Date of registration and conversion [Repealed]

143 Trust deed must be treated as having been amended in accordance with registration proposal [Repealed]

144 Effect of conversion of registered superannuation scheme to KiwiSaver scheme [Repealed]

145 Status of contracts and other instruments [Repealed]

146 References to scheme in existing instruments [Repealed]

147 Continuation of legal and other proceedings [Repealed]

Establishment of KiwiSaver scheme under umbrella trust that also governs registered superannuation scheme

[Repealed]

148 Trustees may submit proposal to establish KiwiSaver scheme under umbrella trust that also governs registered superannuation scheme [Repealed]

149 Form of proposal [Repealed]

150 FMA must register KiwiSaver scheme if satisfied of certain matters [Repealed]

151 Date of registration [Repealed]

152 Trust deed must be treated as having been amended in accordance with registration proposal [Repealed]

153 Effect of registration of KiwiSaver scheme under section 150 [Repealed]

154 Advice of right of election must be included in annual report provided under Superannuation Schemes Act 1989 [Repealed]

155 Right of election of members of registered superannuation scheme [Repealed]

Subpart 4KiwiSaver schemes register

156 Register of KiwiSaver schemes

157 Operation of register

158 Purpose of register

159 FMA is Registrar of register

160 Contents of register in relation to KiwiSaver schemes

161 Additional contents of register

162 FMA may refuse access to or suspend operation of register, or omit or remove, or restrict public access to, information and documents in register

163 Amendments to register

164 Duty to notify changes to FMA

165 Form of notice under section 164

Subpart 5Cancellation of registration and winding up

Cancellation of registration and winding up of KiwiSaver schemes

166 This subpart overrides provisions to contrary in trust deed

167 Meaning of winding up in relation to KiwiSaver scheme established under umbrella trust

168 Cancellation of registration and order to wind up KiwiSaver scheme

168A Scheme may cease to be restricted scheme

169 Powers of FMA in event of scheme operating in contravention of this Act, etc

170 FMA must remove scheme from register on cancellation of registration

171 Implied terms continue to be implied on cancellation of registration

172 Receiver or liquidator to designate or appoint independent trustee if required

Winding up

173 Initial steps in winding up of KiwiSaver scheme

174 Winding up report

174A Registration deemed to be cancelled when assets distributed

175 Time for doing certain things may be extended

176 Member’s right to information

Subpart 6Default KiwiSaver schemes

177 Appointment of default providers

178 Provisions of instrument of appointment to prevail over provisions of trust deed

179 Effect of appointment under section 177

180 Appointment must be notified to FMA and Commissioner

181 Availability of instrument of appointment

182 Minister not required to appoint maximum number of persons

183 Power of High Court to act in respect of terms and conditions of appointment as default KiwiSaver scheme and regulations relating to default KiwiSaver schemes

184 Revocations, etc, of instruments of appointment

185 Duration of obligations as default provider after terminating event

Subpart 7Miscellaneous

186 Right of appeal against certain decisions of FMA

187 Power of Government Actuary to delegate [Repealed]

188 Sharing of information and documents with Commissioner for purpose of administering KiwiSaver schemes

189 Conditions that may be imposed on providing information, documents, or evidence to Commissioner

189B Duty to give notice to FMA about fee increases

189C Powers of High Court in relation to unreasonable fees

190 Secrecy [Repealed]

191 Duty of certain persons to disclose information to FMA

192 Protection of administration managers, investment managers, and auditors

193 Personal liability [Repealed]

194 Annual report by FMA

195 Unclaimed money held by trustees of KiwiSaver scheme

196 Member’s interest in KiwiSaver scheme not assignable

197 Offence to fail to provide information under this Part

198 Other offences under this Part

199 Criminal penalties for offences under this Part

200 FMA may decline to take action if fees not paid

201 Trustees not in breach of obligations, etc

202 Application of section 13G of Trustee Act 1956 if power of investment exercised in relation to member allocated to scheme under sections 50 to 52

203 General application of Financial Transactions Reporting Act 1996

204 Application of Financial Transactions Reporting Act 1996 to default allocation of members to KiwiSaver schemes

Part 5
General provisions

205 No Crown guarantee of KiwiSaver schemes or products

205A Investment statements must contain responsible investment statement

206 Factual description of, or transmission of information about, KiwiSaver scheme not financial adviser service

207 Unique identifiers

208 Information held by Commissioner in respect of person who has opted out or who should not have been allocated to overall KiwiSaver scheme

Interface with securities law

209 Application of Securities Act 1978

210 Certain sections of Securities Act 1978 modified in relation to KiwiSaver scheme

211 Duty of Commissioner under section 50 modified in certain cases in which section 210 applies

Disputes under Parts 2 and 3

212 Persons may request reconsideration of certain decisions of Commissioner

213 Reconsideration of other decisions

Penalties

214 Application of section 215

215 Penalty for employer to fail to provide information

216 Penalty for employer to fail or incorrectly make deductions, or to short pay compulsory employer contributions [Repealed]

Giving of notices

217 Giving of notices by and to Commissioner

218 Giving of notices to other persons

219 Consent to electronic transactions

220 Special rules about giving of investment statements

220B Information sharing

Miscellaneous provisions

221 Refunds made by direct credit to bank account

222 Role of Commissioner under this Act

223 Use of information by Commissioner obtained under this Act and other Inland Revenue Acts

224 Administration of Act

225 Fee subsidies

226 Crown contribution

227 Status of Crown contribution and fee subsidy for tax purposes

228 Regulations

229 Regulations relating to mortgage diversion facility

230 Regulations relating to default KiwiSaver providers

230A Regulations relating to compulsory employer contributions

231 Amendments to other Acts

232 Transitional provision requiring all KiwiSaver contributions to be paid to Commissioner in first 3 months

233 Transitional provision: pre-1 July 2007 securities law documentation

234 Protection from non-compliance: Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007

235 Protection from non-compliance: Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008

236 Protection from non-compliance: Taxation (Budget Tax Measures) Act 2009

237 Protection from non-compliance: Taxation (Annual Rates and Budget Measures) Act 2011

Schedule 1
KiwiSaver scheme rules

Schedule 2
Matters to be specified in application for registration or registration proposal

Schedule 3
Amendments to other Acts

Schedule 4
Transitional rates for employers and employees

[Repealed]


1 Title
  • This Act is the KiwiSaver Act 2006.

2 Commencement
  • (1) This Act comes into force on a date to be appointed by the Governor-General by Order in Council.

    (2) One or more Orders in Council may be made bringing different provisions into force on different dates.

    Section 2: KiwiSaver Act 2006 (except sections 10–21, 22, 23, 33–39, 40–43, 45, 66, and so much of Schedule 3 as relates to section NE 3(2)–(6) of the Income Tax Act 2004) brought into force, on 1 December 2006, by the KiwiSaver Act Commencement Order 2006 (SR 2006/357).

    Section 2: sections 10–21, 22, 23, 33–39, 40–43, 45, 66, and so much of Schedule 3 as relates to section NE 3(2)–(6) of the Income Tax Act 2004 brought into force, on 1 July 2007, by the KiwiSaver Act Commencement Order 2006 (SR 2006/357).

Part 1
Preliminary provisions

3 Purpose
  • (1) The purpose of this Act is to encourage a long-term savings habit and asset accumulation by individuals who are not in a position to enjoy standards of living in retirement similar to those in pre-retirement. The Act aims to increase individuals’ well-being and financial independence, particularly in retirement, and to provide retirement benefits.

    (2) To that end, this Act enables the establishment of schemes (KiwiSaver schemes) to facilitate individuals’ savings, principally through the workplace.

4 Interpretation
  • (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    address, in relation to a person, means all or any of the following:

    • (a) the person’s last known street address or post office box number:

    • (b) the person’s last known electronic address, if the person consents to notices under this Act being given to the person’s electronic address

    administration manager,—

    • (a) in relation to a restricted KiwiSaver scheme, means a person to whom the trustees have contracted some or all of the administration of the scheme; and

    • (b) in relation to any other KiwiSaver scheme, means a person to whom the manager has contracted some or all of the administration of the scheme

    automatic enrolment rules means sections 10 to 21

    benefit means a lump sum, allowance, refund, or other payment arising from membership of a KiwiSaver scheme

    Commissioner means the Commissioner of Inland Revenue as defined in section 3(1) of the Tax Administration Act 1994

    complying superannuation fund has the same meaning as in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007

    contribution means any contribution to a KiwiSaver scheme, including an employer contribution and a Crown contribution

    contribution rate, in relation to an employer and a particular employee, has the meaning given by section 64

    contributions holiday, in respect of an employee, means a period in respect of which the deduction of contributions is not required to be made from his or her salary or wages in accordance with subpart 4 of Part 3

    court means, in relation to any matter, the court, tribunal, or arbitral tribunal by or before which the matter falls to be determined

    Crown, for the avoidance of doubt, includes a Minister of the Crown, a government department, and the Commissioner

    Crown contribution means—

    • (a) the contribution made by the Crown under section 226:

    • (b) the amount of tax credit under section MK 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007 that is treated as a Crown contribution for a member under section MK 5 of that Act

    deduction rate means the rate at which deductions must be made under section 66 or 66A, as the case may be

    default investment product, in relation to a default KiwiSaver scheme, means the investment product specified as the default investment product of the scheme under an instrument of appointment to which section 177 applies

    default KiwiSaver provider means a manager that is appointed under section 177 as the provider of a default investment product of a default KiwiSaver scheme

    default KiwiSaver scheme means a scheme specified as the default KiwiSaver scheme under an instrument of appointment to which section 177 applies

    defined benefit scheme member means an employee in relation to whom the employer pays, credits, or provides for amounts (defined benefit contributions), and—

    • (a) the defined benefit contributions are employer’s superannuation contributions made to, or amounts credited from within, a registered superannuation scheme (the contributions scheme) to fund the agreed benefits for the employee, and—

      • (i) the contributions scheme was registered before 17 May 2007, or the contributions scheme is one (a succeeding scheme) for which there is, due to all relevant members transferring to the succeeding scheme by virtue of section 9BAA of the Superannuation Schemes Act 1989, a prior registered superannuation scheme (a prior scheme) and that prior scheme or another prior scheme for the contributions scheme were registered before 17 May 2007; and

      • (ii) the employer provided access to eligible employees to the contributions scheme or a prior scheme for the contributions scheme before 17 May 2007; and

      • (iii) the employee—

        • (A) is employed by the employer before 1 April 2008, and the employer makes or has agreed with the employee before 1 April 2008 to make defined benefit contributions to the contributions scheme or a prior scheme for the contributions scheme; or

        • (B) is covered by a collective agreement that is in force before 17 May 2007 and expires after 1 April 2008 under which the employer is required to make defined benefit contributions to the contributions scheme or a prior scheme for the contributions scheme; or

        • (C) has had defined benefit contributions paid or credited to the contributions scheme or a prior scheme for the contributions scheme by a previous employer, and those contributions met the requirements of this definition; and

    • (b) the defined benefit contributions are made in respect of a retirement benefit for the employee that is calculated by reference to their salary or wages; and

    • (c) the employer is required to make the defined benefit contribution by statute, trust deed, or under an employment contract (including a collective agreement)

    defined contribution scheme means a scheme in which contributions are allocated to members on an individual basis

    department means the department of State that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for the administration of Part 4 and Schedules 1 and 2

    employee means a natural person who receives, or is entitled to receive, salary or wages

    employer means,—

    • (a) in relation to a person (person A) who is not a private domestic worker, the person (person B) who pays, or is liable to pay, salary or wages to person A:

    • (b) for the purposes of subparts 1 and 3 of Part 3, in relation to a private domestic worker who is liable to pay tax to the Commissioner under section RA 8, RA 10, or RD 4(2) of the Income Tax Act 2007, the private domestic worker, not person B:

    • (c) for the purposes of subpart 3A of Part 3, in relation to a private domestic worker who is liable to pay tax to the Commissioner under section RA 8, RA 10, or RD 4(2) of the Income Tax Act 2007, the private domestic worker, not person B, if the worker chooses to be the employer by applying subpart 3A of Part 3

    employer contribution

    • (a) means an employer’s superannuation contribution made by an employer for an employee’s KiwiSaver scheme or complying superannuation fund; and

    • (b) includes a compulsory employer contribution under subpart 3A of Part 3; and

    • (c) does not include—

      • (i) an amount that does not count as a contribution under section 68(2); and

      • (ii) for the purposes of section 99, a compulsory employer contribution to the extent provided by that section

    employer contributor, in relation to a KiwiSaver scheme, means an employer who—

    • (a) contributes in respect of some or all of the employees of the employer who are members of the scheme; or

    • (b) pays any of the administration costs or costs in relation to benefits to be provided under the scheme in respect of the employees of the employer who are members of the scheme

    employer monthly schedule has the same meaning as in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007

    employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme means a KiwiSaver scheme chosen by an employer under section 47 to be the scheme of which the employer’s employees will become members if the employees do not choose their own KiwiSaver schemes

    employer’s superannuation contribution has the same meaning as in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007

    employment means employment (including the activities referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of that term in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007) for which salary or wages is payable

    ESCT rules has the same meaning as in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007

    exempt employer means an employer who has been approved under section 30 as an exempt employer

    fee

    • (a) means a fee charged directly or indirectly in respect of a member’s membership of a KiwiSaver scheme; and

    • (b) includes a fee charged to a member’s account for—

      • (i) administration of the member’s account:

      • (ii) management of the member’s funds in the KiwiSaver scheme:

      • (ii) the transfer of the member’s account or the member’s funds in the KiwiSaver scheme to different sections of the KiwiSaver scheme or to a different KiwiSaver scheme; and

    • (c) includes any other fee or charge prescribed to be a fee for the purposes of this Act; but

    • (d) does not include a fee referred to in section 200 or charged under regulations made under section 228(c) except in the context of those provisions

    fee subsidy means a Crown subsidy for fees that are payable by a member or a class of members of a KiwiSaver scheme as prescribed under section 228(n) or (o)

    FMA means the Financial Markets Authority established under Part 2 of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011

    gross salary or wages means salary or wages before the deduction of tax (as tax is defined in section 3(1) of the Tax Administration Act 1994)

    guardian has the same meaning as in the Care of Children Act 2004

    holding account means the Inland Revenue KiwiSaver Holding Account established by the Commissioner under section 72

    inactive account, in relation to a member of a KiwiSaver scheme, means a member’s account in respect of which no contribution has been received for at least 2 years

    independent trustee, in relation to a restricted KiwiSaver scheme, means—

    • (a) a trustee, including a corporate trustee that is not a trustee corporation, that—

      • (i) is not a promoter of the scheme; and

      • (ii) is not a related company of a corporate trustee that is an investment manager, promoter, or another trustee of the scheme; and

      • (iii) [Repealed]

      • (iv) is not a director of, employee of, or shareholder in, any of the persons referred to in subparagraphs (i) to (iii); and

      • (v) is not a member of the scheme; and

      • (vi) is not a representative in any capacity of an organisation (such as a trade union) that represents the interests of 1 or more members of the scheme; and

      • (vii) is not a representative in any capacity of an organisation that represents the interests of 1 or more employer contributors to the scheme; and

      • (viii) in the case of a corporate trustee, has no director that would fail to meet any of the requirements described in subparagraphs (i) to (vii) if that person were a trustee; or

    • (b) a trustee corporation that has a director that would meet any of the requirements described in paragraph (a)(i) to (vii) if that person were a trustee

    information pack means an information pack that is supplied by the Commissioner under section 40 and contains the matters required by section 41

    investment manager,—

    • (a) in relation to a restricted KiwiSaver scheme, means a person to whom the trustees have contracted the investment of some or all of the funds of the scheme; and

    • (b) in relation to any other KiwiSaver scheme, means a person to whom the manager has contracted the investment of some or all of the funds of the scheme

    investment statement, in relation to a KiwiSaver scheme, has the meaning given to it by section 38C of the Securities Act 1978

    KiwiSaver deduction notice means a notice given by an employee to his or her employer under section 22 or 34 that requires deductions of contributions to be made from his or her salary or wages

    KiwiSaver scheme means a scheme that is registered in the KiwiSaver schemes register but does not include a scheme that is included in the register only under section 161

    KiwiSaver scheme rules means the provisions implied in the trust deed of a KiwiSaver scheme under section 126 and Schedule 1

    KiwiSaver schemes register means the register established under section 156

    manager means the person designated or appointed under the trust deed as manager of a KiwiSaver scheme other than a restricted scheme

    member, in relation to a scheme, means a natural person who has been admitted to membership of the scheme and who is, or may become, entitled to benefits under the scheme

    member’s account, in relation to a member of a KiwiSaver scheme, includes any account held by that member in the KiwiSaver scheme

    member’s accumulation, in relation to a member of a KiwiSaver scheme or a member of a registered superannuation scheme, means the net value of the total of—

    • (a) the member’s contributions; and

    • (b) any vested employer contributions in respect of the member; and

    • (c) any fee subsidies paid in respect of the member; and

    • (d) the Crown contribution paid in respect of the member

    member’s interest, in relation to a member of a KiwiSaver scheme or a member of a registered superannuation scheme, means the net value of the total of—

    • (a) the member’s accumulation; and

    • (b) any unvested employer contributions

    Minister means—

    • (a) the Minister of the Crown who, under the authority of any warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister, is for the time being responsible for the administration of Part 4 and Schedules 1 and 2; or

    • (b) for the purposes of sections 177 to 182, the Minister of the Crown who, under the authority of any warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for making an appointment under section 177 (or, if more than 1 Minister is authorised to act jointly, the Ministers who are jointly responsible for making an appointment under section 177)

    net value means,—

    • (a) in relation to contributions, the values of the contributions once appropriate debits and credits have been made for positive and negative returns; and

    • (b) in relation to a member’s accumulation, or a member’s interest, means the value of the member’s accumulation or member’s interest (as applicable) once any other appropriate debits and credits have been made to account for things like fees, permitted withdrawals, and positive and negative returns

    new employment has the meaning given to it by sections 11 to 14

    New Zealand resident means a person resident in New Zealand under section YD 1 or YD 2 (excluding section YD 2(2)) of the Income Tax Act 2007

    New Zealand superannuation qualification age means the age specified in section 7(1) of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, irrespective of whether or not the particular person qualifies for New Zealand superannuation at that or any other age

    nominated person, in relation to trustees, means a person nominated by the trustees and eligible to act as a nominated person under section 116H

    nominee, in relation to a nominated person, means a person appointed by the nominated person and eligible to act as a nominee under section 116I

    opt in means to opt in to the overall KiwiSaver scheme as provided in sections 33 to 39

    opt out means to opt out of the overall KiwiSaver scheme as provided in sections 16 to 21

    opt-out notice means a notice given under section 17

    participation agreement means an agreement or any instrument in writing related to an arrangement between an employer and a provider of a scheme that determines some of the conditions on which the employer’s employees may be members of the scheme as amended from time to time

    pay period has the same meaning as in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007

    PAYE period means, as applicable, a first payment period as defined in the Income Tax Act 2007, a second payment period as defined in that Act, or a month in which PAYE is withheld in relation to an employee

    PAYE rules has the same meaning as in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007

    permitted withdrawal means a withdrawal that is permitted under the KiwiSaver scheme rules

    personal information has the same meaning as in the Privacy Act 1993

    personal representative, in relation to a deceased person, means a person to whom probate of the will of the deceased person, letters of administration of the estate of the deceased person, or any other similar grant, has been granted, whether in New Zealand or anywhere else

    private domestic worker has the same meaning as in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007

    promoter has the same meaning as in the Securities Act 1978

    provider has the meaning given by section 5

    provisionally allocated means provisionally allocated to a KiwiSaver scheme under section 50

    registered superannuation scheme means a superannuation scheme registered under the Superannuation Schemes Act 1989

    related company has the same meaning as in the Companies Act 1993

    remittance certificate means a PAYE payment form as defined in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007

    restricted KiwiSaver scheme or restricted scheme means a KiwiSaver scheme identified as a restricted scheme on the KiwiSaver schemes register

    salary or wages, in relation to any person, means salary or wages as defined in section RD 5(1)(a) to (c) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (whether the salary or wages are primary or secondary employment earnings) except that, in this Act,—

    • (a) it excludes—

      • (ib) [Repealed]

      • (iii) expenditure on account of an employee and allowances calculated by reference to reasonable actual costs, if the expenditure or allowances are for accommodation overseas or other costs of living overseas; and

      • (iv) for the purposes of contributions to complying superannuation funds, bonuses, commissions, and other amounts not included in an employee’s gross base salary or wages by the relevant complying superannuation fund; and

      • (v) for the purposes of subpart 3A of Part 3 of this Act,—

        • (B) payments of weekly compensation, as defined in the Accident Compensation Act 2001, made by an employer, unless the employer chooses to not exclude the payments from this definition of salary or wages:

    • (b) it includes extra pay (as defined in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007), unless—

      • (i) otherwise excluded under paragraph (a) of this definition; or

      • (ii) the amount is a redundancy payment (as defined in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007)

    tax file number has the same meaning as in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007

    trust deed, in relation to a KiwiSaver scheme or a registered superannuation scheme,—

    • (a) means the trust deed that sets out the trusts governing the scheme, as amended from time to time; and

    • (b) includes a participation agreement and any other document that, under the terms of the relevant trust deed, forms part of or determines a term of the trust deed

    trustee corporation

    • (a) means the Public Trust or the Maori Trustee or any corporation authorised by any Act of the Parliament of New Zealand to administer the estates of deceased persons and other trust estates; and

    • (b) includes any wholly-owned subsidiary of the trustee corporation that is guaranteed by the trustee corporation

    trustees,—

    • (a) in relation to a restricted KiwiSaver scheme, means the independent trustee referred to in section 116A and any other trustee who is designated or appointed as trustee of the scheme under the trust deed or the successor of that person; and

    • (b) in relation to any other KiwiSaver scheme, means the person who is designated or appointed as trustee of the scheme under the trust deed or the successor of that person; and

    • (c) in relation to any other superannuation scheme, has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Superannuation Schemes Act 1989

    umbrella trust, in relation to a KiwiSaver scheme, or a registered superannuation scheme, means an umbrella trust of the type referred to in section 148 as in force immediately before its repeal by section 35 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011.

    (2) References in a provision to a period after the Commissioner receives the first contribution in respect of a person are references to the expiry of the relevant number of days or months after the date on which the first amount of contribution is received, or treated as received, by the Commissioner for the person in the current context of the provision, ignoring any earlier contribution received in a prior context (for example, a prior automatic enrolment and opt out of the person).

    (3) References in this Act to 3 months are references to a period of 92 days.

    (4) An outline provision in this Act is only a guide to the general scheme and effect of the part of the Act that it describes.

    Section 4(1) administration manager: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(7) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) benefit: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(7) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) complying superannuation fund: inserted, on 1 July 2007, by section 221 of the Taxation (Savings Investment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (2006 No 81).

    Section 4(1) complying superannuation fund: amended, on 1 April 2008, pursuant to section ZA 1(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 4(1) Crown contribution: substituted, on 1 July 2007, by section 58 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

    Section 4(1) Crown contribution paragraph (b): amended (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 6 October 2009, by section 715(2)(a) of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

    Section 4(1) Crown contribution paragraph (b): amended (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 6 October 2009, by section 715(2)(b) of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

    Section 4(1) deduction rate: substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section 27(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) default KiwiSaver provider: amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(1) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) defined benefit scheme member: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 27(3) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) employer: substituted (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 27(4) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) employer paragraph (b): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section 27(5)(a) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) employer paragraph (c): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section 27(5)(b) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) employer contribution: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 27(6) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) employer monthly schedule: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 4(1) employer’s superannuation contribution: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 27(7) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) employment: substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 4(1) ESCT rules: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 4(1) FMA: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 82 of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 4(1) Government Actuary: repealed, on 1 May 2011, by section 82 of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 4(1) guardian: inserted, on 7 September 2010, by section 176(2) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 4(1) independent trustee: amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(2) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) independent trustee paragraph (a)(i): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 27(8)(a) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) independent trustee paragraph (a)(ii): substituted, on 19 December 2007, by section 27(8)(b) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) independent trustee paragraph (a)(iii): repealed, on 19 December 2007, by section 27(8)(b) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) independent trustee paragraph (a)(viii): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 27(8)(c) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) independent trustee paragraph (b): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 27(8)(d) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) investment manager: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(7) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) KiwiSaver scheme: amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(3) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) KiwiSaver scheme: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section 27(9) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) manager: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(7) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) New Zealand resident: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(7) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) nominated person: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(7) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) nominee: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(7) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) pay period: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 4(1) PAYE period: substituted (with effect on 1 April 2009), on 6 October 2009, by section 715(4) of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

    Section 4(1) PAYE rules: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 4(1) private domestic worker: substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section 27(12) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) remittance certificate: substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 4(1) restricted KiwiSaver scheme or restricted scheme: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(7) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) salary or wages: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 4(1) salary or wages paragraph (a): substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section 27(13)(b) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) salary or wages paragraph (a)(i): amended (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 29 August 2011, by section 210(a) of the Taxation (Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Act 2011 (2011 No 63).

    Section 4(1) salary or wages paragraph (a)(ib): repealed (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 29 August 2011, by section 210(b) of the Taxation (Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Act 2011 (2011 No 63).

    Section 4(1) salary or wages paragraph (a)(v)(B): amended, on 21 December 2010, by section 189 of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

    Section 4(1) salary or wages paragraph (b): substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section 27(13)(b) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 4(1) SSCWT rules: repealed, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 4(1) tax file number: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 4(1) trust deed: substituted, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(4) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) trustees: substituted, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(5) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(1) umbrella trust: amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 4(6) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 4(2): substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section 27(14) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

5 Meaning of provider
  • (1) For the purpose of anything that must or may be done by or to or in relation to a provider of a restricted KiwiSaver scheme or a complying superannuation fund under this Act, provider, unless the context otherwise requires, means—

    • (a) the trustees of the scheme; or

    • (b) in a case in which the trustees of the scheme have made a lawful delegation to do any thing to another person (for example, an administration manager), that person.

    (1A) For the purpose of anything that must or may be done by or to or in relation to a provider of any other KiwiSaver scheme under this Act, provider, unless the context otherwise requires, means the manager of the scheme.

    (2) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply if a person who may or must do something to or in relation to a provider has not been given notice of, and could not reasonably be expected to know about, the delegation.

    Section 5(1): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 5(1) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 5(1): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 28 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 5(1A): inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 5(2) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

6 Application
  • (1) This Act applies to an employee or other natural person only if, at the time when the person becomes subject to the automatic enrolment rules or opts in, the person—

    • (a) is, or normally is, living in New Zealand, or is an employee of the State services (within the meaning of the State Sector Act 1988) who is—

      • (i) serving outside New Zealand; and

      • (ii) employed on New Zealand terms and conditions; and

      • (iii) serving in a jurisdiction where offers of KiwiSaver scheme membership are lawful; and

    • (b) is a New Zealand citizen or is entitled, in terms of the Immigration Act 2009, to be in New Zealand indefinitely.

    (2) This Act applies to an employer only if—

    • (a) the employer is a New Zealand resident; or

    • (b) the employer carries on a business from a fixed establishment in New Zealand (within the meaning of section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007); or

    • (c) the employer does not meet the requirements in subsections (a) and (b), and the employer chooses to apply this Act.

    (3) This Act applies to an employer only in respect of the employer’s employees who are referred to in subsection (1).

    Section 6(1)(a): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section 29(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 6(1)(a): amended, on 21 May 2007, by section 59 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

    Section 6(1)(a)(i): added, on 21 May 2007, by section 59 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

    Section 6(1)(a)(ii): added, on 21 May 2007, by section 59 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

    Section 6(1)(a)(iii): added, on 21 May 2007, by section 59 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

    Section 6(1)(b): amended, at 2 am on 29 November 2010, by section 406(1) of the Immigration Act 2009 (2009 No 51).

    Section 6(2)(a): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 6 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 6(2)(a): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 6(2)(b): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section 29(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 6(2)(b): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 6(2)(c): added, on 1 April 2008, by section 29(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

7 Act binds the Crown
  • This Act binds the Crown.

8 Outline
  • (1) Part 2 provides for employees and other persons to become members of a KiwiSaver scheme.

    (2) Part 3 provides for the deduction and treatment of KiwiSaver contributions.

    (3) Part 4 regulates KiwiSaver schemes.

    (4) Schedule 1 sets out the KiwiSaver scheme rules. These are some of the main terms and conditions of KiwiSaver schemes, and are implied in the trust deeds of those schemes.

    (5) Part 5 and Schedules 2 and 3 contain miscellaneous provisions.

    (6) This Act also contains some of the rules that apply to complying superannuation funds. However, other rules about those funds are contained in the Income Tax Act 2007 and the Superannuation Schemes Act 1989.

    Section 8(6): added, on 1 April 2008, by section 30 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

Part 2
Membership of overall KiwiSaver scheme

Subpart 1Becoming members of overall KiwiSaver scheme

9 Outline of how people become members of overall KiwiSaver scheme
  • (1) This subpart provides for employees and other persons to become members of the overall KiwiSaver scheme by—

    • (a) the operation of the automatic enrolment rules when an employee starts new employment, with the effect that a person becomes subject to automatic deductions from his or her salary or wages, but may opt out within specified time limits; or

    • (b) opting in (whether as an employee who becomes liable for automatic deduction of contributions from his or her salary or wages or otherwise).

    (2) This subpart also provides for employers to be exempt employers, with the effect that the automatic enrolment rules will not apply to their employees when they start new employment.

Automatic enrolment rules

10 Who automatic enrolment rules apply to
  • The automatic enrolment rules apply to every employee who is not a secondee and—

    • (a) starts new employment with an employer that is not an exempt employer; and

    • (b) is aged 18 or over, but less than the New Zealand superannuation qualification age, when he or she starts that new employment.

    Section 10: amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 31 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

11 Meaning of new employment and secondee
  • (1) New employment means any employment that is started on or after the date of commencement of the automatic enrolment rules, but—

    • (a) does not include temporary employment (except as provided in section 12); and

    • (b) does not include employment in respect of which the employee remains on the same payroll as the payroll that he or she was on immediately before starting that employment; and

    • (c) does not include employment with an employer that carries on the same business as the business in which the employee was employed immediately before starting the employment; and

    • (d) does not include employment, at the end of a secondment, by the employer from which a secondee was seconded.

    (2) Same business means a business that, in substance, carries on the same or a similar role (regardless of whether or not the legal entity carrying on the business changes), and includes, without limitation,—

    • (a) a company that results from, or continues after, an amalgamation under the Companies Act 1993 involving the company by which the employee was employed immediately before that employee started the employment; and

    • (b) a business that takes over as a going concern the business in which the employee was employed immediately before that employee started the employment.

    (2B) Secondee means an employee seconded from an employer to the employment of another employer (employer B), in respect of which the employee is on employer B’s payroll.

    (3) However, subsection (1)(c) applies only if an employer has given to the Commissioner the notice (if any) that is required by the Commissioner for the purposes of the administration of this section.

    Section 11 heading: amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 32(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 11(1)(c): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 32(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 11(1)(d): added, on 19 December 2007, by section 32(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 11(2B): inserted, on 19 December 2007, by section 32(3) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

12 Temporary employment
  • (1) Employment is temporary, and the automatic enrolment rules do not apply, if—

    • (a) the employment is as a casual agricultural worker within the meaning of section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007; or

    • (b) the employment is under a contract of service that is for a period of 28 continuous days or less; or

    (2) However, employment ceases to be temporary, and the automatic enrolment rules then apply (as if the employee then started new employment)—

    • (a) on the day after the date on which the employee ceases to be a casual agricultural worker within the meaning of section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007; or

    • (b) in the case of employment which was temporary under subsection (1)(b), on the 28th day after the employee started the employment.

    Section 12(1)(a): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 12(1)(b): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section 33(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 12(1)(c): added, on 1 April 2008, by section 33(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 12(2)(a): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 12(2)(b): substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section 33(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

13 Employment in schools
  • [Repealed]

    Section 13: repealed, on 6 October 2009, by section 716 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

14 Other situations when automatic enrolment rules do not apply
  • (1) Despite sections 10 to 13, the following are not new employment, and the automatic enrolment rules do not apply:

    • (a) if the person is an employee only because they are in receipt of payments of salary or wages of a type referred to in any of the following sections in the Income Tax Act 2007:

      • (iii) section RD 5(7) (which relates to parental leave payments paid under Part 7A of the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987):

    • (b) if the new employment is as an election day worker or a private domestic worker as those terms are defined in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007:

    • (c) if the employee is not required to have tax deductions made from his or her salary or wages under the PAYE rules:

    • (d) if amounts are withheld for an employee under the PAYE rules solely because section YD 1(7) of the Income Tax Act 2007 applies to them.

    (2) Despite sections 10 to 13, the automatic enrolment rules do not apply if the employee is already a member of a KiwiSaver scheme.

    Section 14(1)(a): substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 14(1)(a)(iib): inserted, on 1 April 2011, by section 172 of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

    Section 14(1)(b): substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 14(1)(c): amended, on 21 May 2007, by section 60 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

    Section 14(1)(d): added, on 21 May 2007, by section 60 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

    Section 14(1)(d): amended (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 6 October 2009, by section 717 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

15 Effect of automatic enrolment
  • (1) An employee who is subject to the automatic enrolment rules—

    • (a) becomes liable in accordance with subpart 1 of Part 3 to automatic deduction of contributions—

      • (i) from the salary or wages paid in respect of the new employment that triggered the automatic enrolment rules; and

      • (ii) from the salary or wages paid in respect of any other new employment that the employee starts after becoming subject to the automatic enrolment rules; and

    • (b) must become a member of a KiwiSaver scheme under subpart 2 of this Part.

    (2) The employee must continue to be a member of a KiwiSaver scheme until the earliest of—

    • (a) an opt-out notice taking effect; or

    • (b) the KiwiSaver end payment date referred to in clause 4 of the KiwiSaver scheme rules (which relates to lock-in of funds); or

    • (c) the provider terminating the employee’s membership of a KiwiSaver scheme under clause 4(5) of the KiwiSaver scheme rules (which relates to zero account balances); or

    • (d) the date of withdrawal or transfer to a foreign scheme in the case of permanent emigration under clause 14 of the KiwiSaver scheme rules.

    (3) The employee continues to be liable for automatic deduction of contributions in accordance with subsection (1)(a) in respect of salary or wages until the earliest of—

    • (a) the dates referred to in subsection (2); or

    • (b) the date on which section 62 otherwise applies to that payment of salary or wages.

16 Time limit for opting out
  • Every employee to whom the automatic enrolment rules apply when starting new employment may opt out at any time in the period beginning on the 13th day after the date on which the person started the new employment and ending on the close of the 55th day after the date on which the person started the new employment.

17 How to opt out
  • (1) Every employee who wishes to opt out must, within the time limit in section 16, give an opt-out notice either—

    • (a) to the Commissioner; or

    • (b) to the employer in respect of the new employment that triggered the automatic enrolment rules.

    (2) An opt-out notice must be—

    • (a) given in the form of the opt-out notice in an information pack; or

    • (b) given in any other form and manner permitted by the Commissioner.

    (3) In order to be effective, an opt-out notice must contain the information required by that form or by the Commissioner, as the case may be.

    (4) An opt-out takes effect on the later of—

    • (a) the 13th day after the date on which the person started the new employment that triggered the automatic enrolment rules; and

    • (b) the date on which the opt-out notice is—

      • (i) accepted by the Commissioner, in the case of a notice given to the Commissioner; or

      • (ii) received by the employer, in the case of a notice given to the employer.

    (5) An employer who receives an opt-out notice must give notice of that opt-out to the Commissioner no later than the time that the next employer monthly schedule is required to be delivered to the Commissioner under sections RA 5, RA 20, RD 2(3), RD 4(1), and RD 22 of the Income Tax Act 2007 and sections 24J and 24P of the Tax Administration Act 1994.

    (6) For the purposes of sections 17 to 20, a PAYE intermediary (within the meaning of section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007) acting under sections RP 2 and RP 6 to RP 16 of that Act is treated as an employer.

    Section 17(5): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 17(6): substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section 34(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

18 Extension of opt-out period
  • (1) This section applies if—

    • (a) an employee gives an opt-out notice outside the time limit in section 16; and

    • (b) 1 or more of the following applies:

      • (i) the employer did not supply the employee with an information pack within 7 days of the employee starting new employment with the employer; or

      • (ii) the Commissioner did not send an investment statement under section 50(3)(c); or

      • (iii) the employer did not supply an investment statement under section 43 (if an employer’s choice of KiwiSaver scheme is effective); or

      • (iv) events outside the control of the employee meant that the opt-out notice could not be given within the time limit and, in the opinion of the Commissioner, it is reasonable that a late opt-out notice be accepted; or

    (2) The Commissioner may accept the opt-out notice, if it is received by the Commissioner or the employer in the period that ends 3 months after the date on which the Commissioner receives the first contribution in respect of the employee.

    (3) If an opt-out notice is received by the Commissioner outside the time limit in section 16, and the Commissioner does not exercise his or her discretion to accept it under this section, the Commissioner must treat the notice as if it were an application for a contributions holiday under section 102, if the person could have applied under that provision.

    Section 18(1)(b)(iv): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 35(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 18(1)(b)(v): added (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 35(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 18(2): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 35(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

19 Commissioner must give notice to employer of opting out
  • The Commissioner must, as soon as practicable after accepting an opt-out notice from an employee, give notice to the employee’s employer in respect of the new employment that triggered the automatic enrolment rules stating that—

    • (a) the employee has opted out; and

    • (b) the employer must not make any further deductions of contributions in respect of the employee, from the effective date of the opt-out.

20 Effect of opting out
  • (1) An employee who opts out ceases, on the date on which the opt-out takes effect under section 17(4), to be a member of any KiwiSaver scheme of which the employee might have become a member.

    (2) The employer must stop making deductions, with effect on the next payment of salary or wages that the employer calculates,—

    • (a) if the employee opts out by giving the opt-out notice to the employer, after the effective date of the opt-out notice under section 17(4); or

    • (b) if the employee opts out by giving the opt-out notice to the Commissioner, after the date on which the employer receives notice of the employee opting out under section 19.

    (3) The employer may refund any deduction to the employee, rather than pay it to the Commissioner.

21 Opt-out only applies to employment that triggered automatic enrolment rules
  • An opt-out notice given in respect of one employment terminates the application of the automatic enrolment rules only in respect of that one employment, and does not apply to any other new employment in respect of which the employee may become subject to the automatic enrolment rules in the future.

Notice requirements for employees and employers

  • Heading: amended, on 7 September 2010, by section 177(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

22 Employees giving information to employers
  • (1) Every person who starts new employment must give notice to the employer of—

    • (a) his or her name and address; and

    • (b) his or her tax file number; and

    • (c) whether or not he or she is already a member of a KiwiSaver scheme and, if that person is a member, must either—

      • (i) give to his or her employer a KiwiSaver deduction notice; or

      • (ii) give or show to his or her employer a copy of a notice given by the Commissioner under section 105 that grants a contributions holiday that has not yet ended.

    (2) That information must be given as soon as practicable after the person starts the new employment.

    (3) A person who is in temporary employment and who is a member of a KiwiSaver scheme may give their temporary employer a KiwiSaver deduction notice.

    Section 22 heading: amended, on 7 September 2010, by section 177(2) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 22(3): added, on 7 September 2010, by section 177(3) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

23 Employers must give information to Commissioner
  • (1) Every employer of a person who starts new employment must give notice to the Commissioner of the information referred to in section 22(1)(a) and (b) that the employee gives the employer, if the employer is satisfied that the employee is subject to the automatic enrolment rules.

    (2) That information must be given no later than the time that the employer is next required to deliver an employer monthly schedule to the Commissioner under sections RA 5, RA 20, RD 2(3), RD 4(1), and RD 22 of the Income Tax Act 2007 and sections 24J and 24P of the Tax Administration Act 1994 after the information is given to the employer.

    Section 23(2): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

23A PAYE intermediaries

Exempt employers

24 Purpose of being exempt employer
  • (1) A person who starts new employment with an exempt employer is exempt from the automatic enrolment rules.

    (2) For the avoidance of doubt, subsection (1)—

    • (a) does not prevent an employee of an exempt employer from opting in under this subpart; and

    • (b) does not prevent a person who is already a member of a KiwiSaver scheme from becoming liable for automatic deduction of contributions from the salary or wages paid in respect of employment with an exempt employer under section 15(1)(a)(ii) or 36(1)(a)(ii).

25 Eligibility to be exempt employer
  • (1) An employer is eligible to be approved as an exempt employer if the FMA is satisfied that the employer provides access to a superannuation scheme for its employees that complies with the following rules:

    • (a) every person who becomes, on or after the date of commencement of the automatic enrolment rules, a permanent employee (including a part-time employee) of that employer, and who is aged 18 or over but less than the New Zealand superannuation qualification age, must be eligible, in practice, at the time when the person so becomes an employee,—

      • (i) to become a member of the scheme; and

      • (ii) to transfer to the scheme the member’s accumulation in relation to other superannuation schemes (to the extent that transfers are available from those other superannuation schemes); and

    • (b) the scheme must be a registered superannuation scheme that is registered on or before 7 October 2009; and

    • (bb) [Repealed]

    • (c) the trust deed of the scheme must have the effect that each member who satisfies the scheme’s requirements for a withdrawal benefit, and who elects to withdraw from membership of the scheme, may transfer the member’s accumulation to another registered superannuation scheme or KiwiSaver scheme (to the extent that transfers are available to those other schemes); and

    • (d) the trust deed of the scheme must provide for an amount equal to at least 4% of annual gross base salary or wages to be contributed to, or otherwise credited within, the scheme in respect of each person who becomes, on or after the date of commencement of the automatic enrolment rules, a permanent employee of that employer and a member of the scheme.

    (2) However, subsection (1)(d) does not apply—

    • (a) to the extent that an employee is, in accordance with the terms of the scheme, temporarily relieved from contributions at that rate (for example, in the event of financial hardship); or

    • (b) if the scheme is a defined benefit scheme of a type that does not satisfy the 4% minimum amount rule in subsection (1)(d), and if the actuary of the scheme certifies, to the satisfaction of the FMA, that the value of each employee’s accrued benefits to be provided by the scheme is, as a matter of fact, increasing, during each membership period, by an amount at least equivalent to such minimum amount that would otherwise be required by this section and section 26.

    (3) In this section,—

    defined benefit scheme means a superannuation scheme that is not a defined contribution scheme

    permanent employees means employees—

    • (a) who are not employed in temporary employment (as described in section 12); and

    • (b) to whom the automatic enrolment rules would apply, but for the application of this section.

    Section 25(1): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 25(1)(b): substituted, on 6 October 2009, by section 718 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

    Section 25(1)(b): amended (with effect on 7 October 2009), on 7 September 2010, by section 178(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 25(1)(bb): repealed (with effect on 7 October 2009), on 7 September 2010, by section 178(2) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 25(2)(b): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 25(3) permanent employees: substituted, on 21 May 2007, by section 61 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

26 How 4% minimum amount may be calculated for exempt employer defined contribution schemes
  • (1) For the purposes of section 25(1)(d),—

    • (a) the minimum amount required by section 25(1)(d) may be made up—

      • (i) entirely of contributions by the employee; or

      • (ii) entirely of contributions by an employer; or

      • (iii) partially of contributions by the employee and partially of contributions by an employer; and

    • (b) the minimum amount required by section 25(1)(d) must be treated as satisfied if the sum of the following amounts is equal to at least 4% of annual gross base salary or wages:

      • (i) the minimum prescribed amount that the employee must contribute:

      • (ii) the maximum prescribed amount that the employer would be required to contribute if the member were to contribute the maximum prescribed amount:

    • (c) any amount contributed to the scheme by an employer in respect of an employee does not count towards the minimum amount required by section 25(1)(d) unless—

      • (i) the employee is legally entitled to require the employer to contribute that amount on his or her behalf; and

      • (ii) the trust deed of the scheme provides for the minimum amount required by section 25(1)(d) to vest completely in the employee no later than the time when the employee begins his or her sixth year as a member of the scheme; and

    • (d) any amount contributed to the scheme by an employer in respect of an employee must be calculated, for the purposes of the minimum amount required by section 25(1)(d), before any ESCT payable under the ESCT rules is deducted.

    (2) Subsection (1)(b) does not limit subsection (1)(c) or (d).

    Example

    Company A provides access to a superannuation scheme for its employees. The trust deed provides that employees, if they decide to become members, must contribute at either 1% or 3% of annual gross base salary. The employer is obliged to match the employee’s contributions (eg, if employee contributes 1%, company must contribute 1%).

    The scheme complies with the rule as to the 4% minimum contribution as follows:

    Minimum amount employee member must contribute

    1%

    Maximum amount that employer must contribute in respect of employee member

    3%

     

    4%

    Section 26(1)(d): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

27 Eligibility of employers who provide access to more than 1 scheme
  • An employer who provides access to more than 1 superannuation scheme for its employees is eligible to be approved as an exempt employer if the FMA is satisfied that, if all of those schemes were considered as a whole (as if they were 1 scheme), the rules in section 25 would be complied with.

    Section 27: amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

28 Eligibility of employers who have schemes established under master trusts
  • An employer who provides access to a superannuation scheme for its employees that is established under a master trust is eligible to be approved as an exempt employer if the FMA is satisfied that the rules in section 25 would be complied with if the FMA considered only—

    • (a) the master trust in so far as it relates to the employer’s scheme; and

    • (b) the participation agreement executed between the employer and the trustees of the master trust in relation to the membership of the employer’s employees in the scheme; and

    • (c) anything else that the FMA decides is relevant to evidencing compliance with the rules in section 25, in respect of the employer’s employees.

    Section 28: amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 28(b): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 37 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 28(c): added (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 37 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 28(c): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

29 How to apply to be exempt employer
  • (1) A person may make an application to the FMA for approval of an employer (the current employer) as an exempt employer if,––

    • (a) an application (the old application) was received by the Government Actuary on or before 19 November 2009; and

    • (b) as a result of the Government Actuary's consideration of that old application under section 30 an employer was approved as an exempt employer; and

    • (c) either that exempt employer is the current employer, or the current employer is a succeeding employer for that exempt employer.

    (2) The application must be accompanied by—

    • (a) information that satisfies the FMA that the scheme complies with the rules in section 25; and

    • (b) the names, addresses, and tax file numbers of each employer in respect of whom the application is made; and

    • (c) if the application is made in respect of an employer that is part of a group of companies, such details of the names, addresses, tax file numbers, and payroll arrangements of any other members of the group that the FMA may request.

    (3) In this section succeeding employer means, for an exempt employer,––

    • (a) an employer who succeeds the exempt employer due to a merger or acquisition of the exempt employer; and

    • (b) another employer who succeeds a succeeding employer for the exempt employer due to a merger or acquisition of that succeeding employer.

    Section 29(1): substituted (with effect on 7 October 2009), on 7 September 2010, by section 179(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 29(1): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 29(2)(a): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 29(2)(c): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 29(3): added (with effect on 7 October 2009), on 7 September 2010, by section 179(2) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

30 How applications to be exempt employer must be dealt with
  • (1) The FMA must, within 28 days after receiving an application that may be made under section 29(1) and the documents required under section 29(2) to accompany the application,—

    • (a) consider whether the FMA is satisfied that each employer in respect of whom the application is made is eligible to be approved as an exempt employer; and

    • (b) if so satisfied, approve the employer as an exempt employer and register the employer on the register of exempt employers.

    (2) The FMA must—

    • (a) give notice to the employer as soon as practicable after approving, or declining to approve, the employer as an exempt employer; and

    • (b) specify in that notice an effective date after which an employee who starts new employment with the employer will be exempt from the automatic enrolment rules (unless those rules do not otherwise apply).

    Section 30(1): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 82 of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 30(1): amended (with effect on 7 October 2009), on 7 September 2010, by section 180 of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 30(1)(a): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 82 of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 30(2): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 82 of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

31 Revocation of exempt employer approval
  • (1) The FMA may revoke an approval given under section 30 if—

    • (a) the FMA has given not less than 28 days’ notice to the employer that the FMA is considering whether to revoke the approval; and

    • (b) the FMA is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the employer no longer provides access to a scheme for its employees that complies with the rules in section 25.

    (2) The revocation may be on application by the employer or on the FMA's initiative.

    (3) The FMA must—

    • (a) give notice to the employer as soon as practicable after revoking the approval; and

    • (b) specify in that notice an effective revocation date after which an employee who starts new employment with the employer will be subject to the automatic enrolment rules (unless those rules do not otherwise apply); and

    • (c) remove the employer from the register of exempt employers.

    Section 31(1): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 31(1)(a): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 31(1)(b): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 31(2): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 82 of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 31(3): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

32 FMA must give notice to Commissioner of exempt employers
  • The FMA must give notice to the Commissioner as soon as practicable after an employer is approved under section 30 or an approval is revoked under section 31.

    Section 32 heading: amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 32: amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

Opting in

33 Certain persons may opt in
  • A person may opt in at any time provided—

    • (a) the person is less than the New Zealand superannuation qualification age; and

    • (b) the person is not already a member of a KiwiSaver scheme; and

    • (c) the person is not subject to the automatic enrolment rules.

34 Opting in by person 18 years or more
  • (1) A person who is 18 years or more and who wishes to opt in may do either or both of the following:

    • (a) contract directly with a provider of a KiwiSaver scheme to become a member of a KiwiSaver scheme:

    • (b) if the person is an employee, give his or her employer a KiwiSaver deduction notice.

    (2) A person who opts in by giving his or her employer a KiwiSaver deduction notice must give the employer—

    • (a) his or her name and address; and

    • (b) his or her tax file number.

    (3) The employer must give notice to the Commissioner of the information that the employee gives the employer under subsection (2), if the employer is satisfied that the employee is eligible to opt in under section 33.

    (4) That information must be given no later than the time that the employer is next required to deliver an employer monthly schedule to the Commissioner under sections RA 5, RA 20, RD 2(3), RD 4(1), and RD 22 of the Income Tax Act 2007 and sections 24J and 24P of the Tax Administration Act 1994.

    (5) For the purposes of sections 34 to 37, a PAYE intermediary (within the meaning of section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007) acting under sections RP 2 and RP 6 to RP 16 of that Act is treated as an employer.

    Section 34 heading: substituted, on 7 September 2010, by section 181(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 34(1): amended, on 7 September 2010, by section 181(2) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 34(4): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 34(5): substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section 38(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

35 Opting in by persons under 18
  • (1) A person who is less than 18 years may only opt in in accordance with this section.

    (2) A person who is less than 16 years may opt in if all their guardians contract directly with a provider, in the name of the person. If the provider accepts the person, then the person is treated as––

    • (a) contracting directly with the provider; and

    (3) A person who is 16 or 17 years old with a guardian may opt in if the person and 1 of their guardians jointly contract directly with a provider, in the name of the person. If the provider accepts the person, then the person is treated as––

    • (a) contracting directly with the provider; and

    (4) A person who is 16 or 17 years old with no guardian may opt in if the person contracts directly with a provider. If the provider accepts the person, then the person is treated as––

    Section 35(1): substituted, on 7 September 2010, by section 182 of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 35(2): substituted, on 7 September 2010, by section 182 of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 35(3): added, on 7 September 2010, by section 182 of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 35(4): added, on 7 September 2010, by section 182 of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 35 compare note: repealed, on 7 September 2010, by section 182 of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

36 Effect of opting in by employees
  • (1) An employee who opts in under section 34(1)(a) or (b)

    • (a) is liable in accordance with subpart 1 of Part 3 to deduction of contributions—

      • (i) from the salary or wages paid by the employee’s employer; and

      • (ii) from the salary or wages paid in respect of any other new employment that the employee starts after opting in; and

    • (b) must become a member of a KiwiSaver scheme under subpart 2 of this Part.

    (1B) If an employee to whom subsection (1)(a)(i) applies has more than 1 employer who pays salary or wages to them, then, despite subsection (1)(a)(i), they may choose 1 or more employers who must make deductions of contributions from salary or wages in accordance with subpart 1 of Part 3.

    (2) The employee must continue to be a member of a KiwiSaver scheme until the earliest of—

    • (a) the KiwiSaver end payment date referred to in clause 4 of the KiwiSaver scheme rules (which relates to lock-in of funds); or

    • (b) the provider terminating the employee’s membership of a KiwiSaver scheme under clause 4(5) of the KiwiSaver scheme rules (which relates to zero account balances); or

    • (c) the date of withdrawal or transfer to a foreign scheme in the case of permanent emigration under clause 14 of the KiwiSaver scheme rules.

    (3) The employee continues to be liable for automatic deduction of contributions in accordance with subsection (1)(a) in respect of salary or wages until the earliest of—

    • (a) the dates referred to in subsection (2); or

    • (b) the date on which section 62 (other than section 62(a)) otherwise applies to that payment of salary or wages.

    Section 36(1): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 39(a) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 36(1)(a): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 39(b)(i) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 36(1)(a): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 39(b)(ii) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 36(1)(a)(i): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 39(b)(iii) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 36(1B): inserted, on 19 December 2007, by section 39(c) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

37 Effect of opting in by persons other than employees
  • A person other than an employee who opts in must continue to be a member of a KiwiSaver scheme until the earliest of the events in section 36(2).

Information about people who contract directly with providers

38 Providers must give notice to Commissioner if they contract directly with members
  • (1) Every provider who contracts directly with a person (A) for membership of its KiwiSaver scheme must give notice to the Commissioner of that fact as soon as practicable after entering into the contract.

    (2) The notice must include all of the following information:

    • (a) A’s name and address; and

    • (b) A’s tax file number; and

    • (c) the date of the first contribution received by the provider in respect of A (if any); and

    • (d) if A is an employee,—

      • (i) the name and address of each of A’s employers in respect of whom deductions of contributions are to be made from salary or wages; and

      • (ii) the contribution rate in relation to each of those employers; and

    • (e) the name and address and tax file number of both the provider and the scheme; and

    • (f) any other information that the Commissioner requires.

39 Commissioner must give notice to employer if provider gives notice that employee has opted in under section 38
  • The Commissioner must, as soon as practicable after receiving a notice under section 38 in respect of an employee who has opted in, give notice to each of the person’s employers to whom the opt-in notice relates, stating—

    • (a) that the employer must start to make deductions of contributions from each payment of the person’s salary or wages that is calculated by the employer after the date on which the employer receives the notice under this section; and

    • (b) the contribution rate; and

    • (c) the person’s name and tax file number.

Information about overall KiwiSaver scheme that must be provided

40 Commissioner must supply information pack
  • (1) The Commissioner must initially supply to each employer the number of information packs that the Commissioner reasonably believes will be a sufficient number to enable the employer to meet the employer’s obligations to supply information packs under this Act.

    (2) The Commissioner must also supply 1 or more information packs, on any reasonable request, to any person who so requests.

    Section 40(1): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 40(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 40(2): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 40(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

41 What information pack must contain
  • Every information pack supplied by the Commissioner under this subpart must contain—

    • (a) a description of the overall KiwiSaver scheme; and

    • (b) a statement that membership of the overall KiwiSaver scheme, and of any individual KiwiSaver scheme, is at the member’s own risk; and

    • (c) a summary of what could happen under the default allocation rules or if an employer has a chosen KiwiSaver scheme; and

    • (d) a description of how to access information about KiwiSaver schemes; and

    • (e) a statement that people should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser (rather than an employer) if they want information in relation to—

      • (i) their personal financial circumstances; or

      • (ii) deciding whether to opt in or opt out or not; or

      • (iii) choosing a KiwiSaver scheme or investment product of a KiwiSaver scheme; or

      • (iv) the overall KiwiSaver scheme or its financial concepts; and

    • (f) an opt-out notice form; and

    • (g) a statement about collection of personal information that complies with principle 3 of the information privacy principles in the Privacy Act 1993; and

    • (h) any other prescribed information.

42 Employer must supply information pack to certain employees
  • (1) Every employer must supply an information pack to—

    • (a) each employee who starts new employment with the employer and to whom the automatic enrolment rules apply, within 7 days of the employee starting the new employment; and

    • (b) each employee who opts in under section 34(1)(b), within 7 days of the employee giving the employer the KiwiSaver deduction notice; and

    • (c) each employee who requests an information pack in contemplation of opting in.

    (2) An employer is not liable for a penalty for a failure to supply an information pack under this section if the employer proves that—

    • (a) the failure of the employer to supply the information pack was caused by the fact that the Commissioner had not given the employer enough information packs to enable the employer to meet its obligations under this Act; and

    • (b) the employer notified the Commissioner that the employer needed more information packs, as soon as practicable after realising that the employer did not have enough.

43 Employer must also supply investment statement for employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme (if any)
  • Every employer who supplies an information pack under section 42 must also, if an employer’s choice of KiwiSaver scheme is effective under section 47, supply to the employee at the same time—

    • (a) an investment statement for that scheme; and

    • (b) a statement that, if the employee does not choose his or her own KiwiSaver scheme, the employee will be allocated to the employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme (and not to one of the default KiwiSaver schemes by the Commissioner).

Subpart 2Allocation of people to KiwiSaver schemes

44 Outline of how people are allocated to KiwiSaver schemes under subpart
  • This subpart provides for people to be allocated to KiwiSaver schemes—

    • (a) by the person choosing his or her own KiwiSaver scheme; or

    • (b) if the person does not so choose, but if his or her employer has a chosen KiwiSaver scheme, by the person being allocated to the employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme; or

    • (c) in any other case, by the person being allocated to a default KiwiSaver scheme nominated by the Commissioner.

People may choose their own KiwiSaver scheme

45 People may choose their own KiwiSaver scheme
  • A person may, at any time, choose the KiwiSaver scheme of which he or she will be a member by contracting directly with the provider of the scheme to become a member of that scheme.

Employer choice of KiwiSaver scheme

46 Employer may choose scheme for employees
  • (1) An employer may, at any time, choose a KiwiSaver scheme of which the employer’s employees will become members if the employees do not choose their own KiwiSaver scheme.

    (2) However, an employer may choose a KiwiSaver scheme under this section only if all permanent employees of the employer are eligible to be members of the scheme (to the extent that this Act applies to the employees).

    (3) In this section, permanent employees means employees—

    • (a) who are not employed in temporary employment (as described in section 12); and

    • (b) to whom the automatic enrolment rules apply, or would apply but for the application of section 14.

    Section 46(2): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 41(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 46(3): substituted, on 21 May 2007, by section 62 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

    Section 46(3)(b): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 41(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

47 When employer choice of KiwiSaver scheme is effective
  • (1) The method by which an employer may choose a KiwiSaver scheme is—

    • (a) by agreeing with the provider that the provider will provide access to the scheme for the employer’s employees; and

    • (b) by giving notice to the Commissioner of—

      • (i) the name, address, and tax file number of the employer; and

      • (ii) the name, address, and tax file number of both the provider and the chosen KiwiSaver scheme.

    (2) The employer’s choice of KiwiSaver scheme is effective—

    • (a) as from the date on which the notice in subsection (1)(b) is accepted by the Commissioner, or on any later date specified in the notice; and

    • (b) until the effective date of the earliest of any of the following notices:

      • (i) notice given by the employer to the Commissioner of an alternative choice of scheme under subsection (1); or

      • (ii) notice given by the employer to the Commissioner stating that the employer no longer has a chosen KiwiSaver scheme; or

      • (iii) notice given by the Commissioner to the employer stating that the employer’s choice of KiwiSaver scheme has been revoked by the Commissioner on the grounds that the Commissioner is not satisfied that the scheme is eligible to be the employer’s chosen scheme under section 46.

48 Effect of employer choice of KiwiSaver scheme
  • (1) This section applies when—

    • (a) an employer’s choice of KiwiSaver scheme is effective under section 47; and

    • (b) an employee of the employer has not directly contracted to be a member of a KiwiSaver scheme with the provider of a scheme; and

    • (c) the employee is an employee—

      • (i) to whom the automatic enrolment rules apply; or

    • (d) more than 3 months have passed since the Commissioner received the first contribution in respect of the employee; and

    (2) On the first day that this section applies, the employee is treated as having—

    • (a) offered to be a member of the employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme; and

    • (b) subscribed for securities in that scheme.

    (3) The provider of the employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme must accept that offer and allot those securities.

    (4) The membership contract of the KiwiSaver scheme is binding on the employee and the provider, and enforceable as if it were a contract that was freely and voluntarily entered into.

    (5) The contract may be amended or replaced or otherwise terminated, and the allotment of any securities relating to the contract may be voided, in the same way as if the contract were freely and voluntarily entered into.

    (6) Subsection (5) is subject to section 220(3).

    (7) The Commissioner must, as soon as practicable, give notice to the provider of the scheme of the employee’s name, address, date of birth (if known to the Commissioner), tax file number, and any other personal information that the Commissioner considers relevant.

    Section 48(1): substituted (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 42 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 48(2): substituted (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 42 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

49 Effect on existing members of change, etc, in employer chosen scheme
  • (1) A notice under section 47(2)(b) does not affect any person who became a member of a KiwiSaver scheme while the scheme was the employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme.

    (2) However, subsection (1) does not limit section 119G (which provides for transfers without consent in certain circumstances).

    Section 49(2): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 7 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

Default KiwiSaver schemes

50 Commissioner provisionally allocates certain people to default KiwiSaver schemes and sends investment statement
  • (1) This section applies, in respect of a person who is an employee of an employer and their employment with that employer, when the Commissioner has received from the employer,—

    • (a) notice under section 23 of the person’s automatic enrolment; or

    • (b) notice under section 34(3) of a person’s opt-in under section 34(1)(b).

    (2) However, this section does not apply to a person referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b)—

    • (a) who is an employee of an employer whose chosen KiwiSaver scheme is effective under section 47; or

    • (b) who has opted out; or

    • (c) if the Commissioner has been notified by a provider that the person has become a member of a KiwiSaver scheme.

    (3) As soon as practicable, the Commissioner must, in respect of the person’s employment with the employer,—

    • (a) provisionally allocate, on a sequential basis, the person to a default investment product of a default KiwiSaver scheme that is nominated by the Commissioner; and

    • (b) give notice to the person of that allocation, including the name and address of the provider of the nominated default KiwiSaver scheme, and of the name of the default investment product of that scheme, to which the person has been provisionally allocated; and

    • (c) send to the person the investment statement relating to that product in that scheme; and

    • (d) give notice to the person of what will happen if the person does not choose his or her own KiwiSaver scheme.

    (4) Subsection (3) also applies, with necessary modifications, and as provided in section 57 in cases to which that section applies, to a person when—

    • (a) the Commissioner receives notice under section 58 of the person having ceased to be eligible to be a member of his or her employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme; or

    • (b) the Commissioner receives notice under section 173(1)(b) that the person must transfer to another scheme on a scheme's winding up and paragraph (bb) does not apply; or

    • (bb) a scheme winds up, if that winding up is after the Commissioner receives notice under section 173(1)(b) that the person must transfer to another scheme on the scheme's winding up; or

    • (d) the Commissioner receives notice of any other situation where a person is not, or is no longer, eligible to become or be a member of a certain KiwiSaver scheme and needs to be allocated to a KiwiSaver scheme under this section in order to comply with this Act.

    Section 50(1): substituted (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 43(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 50(3): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 43(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 50(4): amended, on 21 December 2010, by section 173(1) of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

    Section 50(4)(a): amended, on 21 December 2010, by section 173(2) of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

    Section 50(4)(b): substituted, on 21 December 2010, by section 173(3) of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

    Section 50(4)(bb): inserted, on 21 December 2010, by section 173(3) of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

    Section 50(4)(c): amended, on 21 December 2010, by section 173(4) of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

    Section 50(4)(d): amended, on 21 December 2010, by section 173(5) of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

51 Completion of allocation to default KiwiSaver scheme if person does not choose his or her own KiwiSaver scheme
  • (1) This section and section 52 apply, at the final allocation date specified in subsection (4), to a person (A) who has been provisionally allocated under section 50 if the Commissioner has not been notified by that date by a provider that A has applied to become a member of a KiwiSaver scheme.

    (1B) Despite subsection (1), subsections (4) and (5) do not apply if section 50(4)(b) or (bb) applies. Instead, the allocation under section 50(3) is treated as completed on the day on which it occurs.

    (2) The Commissioner must give notice to A that the allocation of A is now completed as per the provisional allocation.

    (3) The Commissioner must give notice to the provider of the default KiwiSaver scheme that A has been allocated to the scheme, and A’s name, address, date of birth (if known to the Commissioner), tax file number, and any other personal information that the Commissioner considers relevant.

    (4) The final allocation date is—

    • (a) in the case of a person referred to in section 50(1)(a) or (b), as soon as practicable after 3 months after the Commissioner receives the first contribution in respect of A:

    • (b) in the case of a person referred to in section 50(4)(a), (c), or (d), 3 months after the date on which the Commissioner receives that notice.

    (5) However, if a dispute in relation to Part 2 or 3 is underway under section 212 or 213 as at the date which would otherwise be the final allocation date, the final allocation date is the effective date of the notice given by the Commissioner to the effect that the dispute has been resolved or has otherwise been terminated.

    Section 51(1B): inserted, on 21 December 2010, by section 174(1) of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

    Section 51(4)(a): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 44(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 51(4)(b): amended, on 21 December 2010, by section 174(2) of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

    Section 51(5): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 44(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

52 Effect of completion of allocation
  • (1) A person whose allocation is completed under section 51 is treated as having offered to become a member of that default KiwiSaver scheme and as having subscribed for securities in that scheme.

    (2) The provider of the default KiwiSaver scheme to which the person has been allocated must accept that offer and allot those securities.

    (3) The membership contract of the default KiwiSaver scheme is binding on the person and the provider, and enforceable as if it were a contract that was freely and voluntarily entered into.

    (4) The contract may be amended or replaced or otherwise terminated, and any allotment relating to the contract may be voided, in the same way as if the contract were freely and voluntarily entered into.

    (5) Subsection (4) is subject to section 220(3).

Miscellaneous provisions

53 Person may be member of only 1 KiwiSaver scheme at any one time
  • (1) A person may be a member of only 1 KiwiSaver scheme at any one time.

    (2) This section does not limit subpart 3.

    (3) This section does not prevent people from having more than 1 account or investment product of any one KiwiSaver scheme.

Subpart 3Transfers between KiwiSaver schemes and between complying superannuation fund and KiwiSaver scheme

  • Subpart 3 heading: amended, on 1 July 2007, by section 222 of the Taxation (Savings Investment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (2006 No 81).

54 Application
  • (1) Sections 55 and 56 apply if a person wishes to transfer KiwiSaver schemes or to transfer from a complying superannuation fund to a KiwiSaver scheme (a voluntary transfer).

    (2) Sections 57 to 59 apply if a person has to transfer KiwiSaver schemes or to transfer from a complying superannuation fund to a KiwiSaver scheme (an involuntary transfer). An example of an involuntary transfer may be where a person ceases to be eligible to be a member of their current KiwiSaver scheme, or their complying superannuation fund.

    Section 54: substituted, on 1 July 2007, by section 223 of the Taxation (Savings Investment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (2006 No 81).

Voluntary transfers

55 People may transfer between KiwiSaver schemes and between complying superannuation fund and KiwiSaver scheme
  • (1) A person may, at any time, transfer from a KiwiSaver scheme or a complying superannuation fund (an old scheme) to a new KiwiSaver scheme (a new scheme) by contracting directly with the provider of the new KiwiSaver scheme to become a member of that scheme.

    (2) The transfer is effective in relation to the Commissioner’s functions under this Act only when the Commissioner receives notice of the transfer under section 56(1).

    Section 55 heading: amended, on 1 July 2007, by section 224(1) of the Taxation (Savings Investment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (2006 No 81).

    Section 55(1): amended, on 1 July 2007, by section 224(2) of the Taxation (Savings Investment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (2006 No 81).

56 Notification of transfers and requirement to transfer funds and information
  • (1) The provider of the new scheme must, as soon as practicable, give notice—

    • (a) to the Commissioner—

      • (i) that the person has transferred to the new scheme; and

      • (ii) of the person’s name, address, date of birth, and tax file number; and

      • (iii) of the new scheme’s name and tax file number; and

    • (b) to the provider of the old scheme—

      • (i) that the person has ceased to be a member of the old scheme and the effective date of the transfer; and

      • (ii) of the new scheme’s name and address; and

      • (iii) that the provider of the old scheme must transfer the funds and information required to be transferred in accordance with subsection (3).

    (2) The provider of the new scheme must also give evidence to the provider of the old scheme that the member wishes to transfer to the new scheme.

    (3) The provider of the old scheme that is given notice under subsection (1) must—

    • (a) transfer the member’s accumulation to the new scheme; and

    • (b) give notice to the member of the amount so transferred; and

    • (c) give notice to the provider of the new scheme—

      • (i) of the date on which the member first became a member of a KiwiSaver scheme, if the old scheme is a KiwiSaver scheme; and

      • (ii) as to whether the member has made a withdrawal for the purpose of the purchase of a first home under clause 8 of the KiwiSaver scheme rules; and

      • (iii) of any contribution holidays in force; and

      • (iv) as to whether the Crown contribution under section 226 is included in the member’s accumulation transferred to the new scheme.

      • (v) [Repealed]

      • (vi) of any information held by a provider of the old scheme that would be relevant to a provider of the new scheme making a claim under section 68C of the Tax Administration Act 1994, including information as to the periods for which claims have already been made.

    (4) The provider must comply with subsection (3) within 35 days of receiving that notice or any longer period agreed between the providers of the old and new schemes.

    (5) Despite subsections (3) and (4), in the circumstances described in subsection (6), the provider of the old scheme must not transfer the member’s accumulation to the new scheme other than by way of distributing the assets of the old scheme as the scheme is wound up.

    (6) The circumstances are that—

    • (a) the trustees (in the case of a restricted KiwiSaver scheme) have, or the manager (in the case of any other KiwiSaver scheme) has, under section 119D, notified members of the old scheme of a proposal to transfer all of the members of the old scheme to another scheme; or

    • (b) the trustees have, under section 173, lodged a copy of a winding-up order or resolution with the FMA (in the case of a restricted KiwiSaver scheme) or notified the manager of a winding-up order or resolution (in the case of any other KiwiSaver scheme).

    Section 56(3)(c)(i): amended, on 1 July 2007, by section 225 of the Taxation (Savings Investment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (2006 No 81).

    Section 56(3)(c)(iii): amended, on 1 July 2007, by section 63 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

    Section 56(3)(c)(iv): substituted, on 19 December 2007, by section 45 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 56(3)(c)(v): repealed, on 19 December 2007, by section 45 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 56(3)(c)(vi): added, on 1 July 2007, by section 63 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

    Section 56(5): added, on 1 May 2011, by section 8 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 56(6): added, on 1 May 2011, by section 8 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

Involuntary transfers

57 Involuntary transfers
  • (1) This section applies if a person has to transfer KiwiSaver schemes or from a complying superannuation fund to a KiwiSaver scheme, including if—

    • (a) the Commissioner has received a notice under section 58 that an employee has ceased to be eligible to be a member of an employer’s chosen scheme; or

    • (b) the Commissioner has received notice under section 173(1)(b) that the person must transfer to another scheme on a scheme's winding up and paragraph (bb) does not apply; or

    • (bb) a scheme winds up, if that winding up is after the Commissioner has received notice under section 173(1)(b) that the person must transfer to another scheme on the scheme's winding up; or

    • (c) the Commissioner has received a notice in respect of a member of a KiwiSaver scheme under section 210(2); or

    • (d) the Commissioner has received notice in accordance with clauses 4(a) and 5(a) in schedule 28 of the Income Tax Act 2007.

    (2) However, this section does not apply if section 119G applies.

    (3) The person must be allocated to a new scheme in accordance with the principles in section 44, but excluding section 44(b) (which relates to allocation to an employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme).

    (4) The Commissioner must take whatever steps the Commissioner thinks appropriate to ensure that, so far as practicable, the process for an involuntary transfer follows the process for a voluntary transfer under section 56.

    (5) Section 56(3) and (4) applies to an involuntary transfer, but as if the requirement in section 56(4) referred to 3 months instead of 35 days.

    (6) Sections 45 to 53 apply to an involuntary transfer with necessary modifications.

    (7) Subsections (5) and (6) do not limit subsection (4).

    Section 57(1): amended, on 1 July 2007, by section 226(a) of the Taxation (Savings Investment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (2006 No 81).

    Section 57(1)(b): substituted, on 21 December 2010, by section 175 of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

    Section 57(1)(bb): inserted, on 21 December 2010, by section 175 of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

    Section 57(1)(c): amended, on 1 July 2007, by section 226(b) of the Taxation (Savings Investment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (2006 No 81).

    Section 57(1)(d): added, on 1 July 2007, by section 226(c) of the Taxation (Savings Investment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (2006 No 81).

    Section 57(1)(d): amended (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 6 October 2009, by section 719 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

    Section 57(2): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 9 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 57(3): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 46 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

58 Information if employee ceases to be eligible to be member of employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme
  • The employer must give notice to the employee and the Commissioner if, under the terms of the employer’s chosen KiwiSaver scheme, the employee ceases to be eligible to be a member of that KiwiSaver scheme (for example, if the employee ceases to be an employee of the employer and the scheme applies only to the employer’s employees).

59 Commissioner must send information to involuntary transferees
  • The Commissioner must send to every person who is subject to an involuntary transfer under this subpart, as soon as practicable after the Commissioner receives the notice in respect of that person under section 57(1),—

    • (b) advice as to the effect of this subpart and of section 50.

    Section 59(a): amended, on 21 December 2010, by section 176 of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).

Subpart 4Initial and confirmed back-dated validation of invalid membership

  • Subpart 4: added (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 47 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

59A When this subpart applies
  • This subpart applies when, because of a mistake,—

    • (a) this Act has been applied to a person to whom, as a matter of law, this Act does not apply because the person fails to meet the requirements of section 6:

    • (b) the automatic enrolment rules have been applied to a person to whom, as a matter of law, those rules do not apply because the person fails to meet the requirements for the rules to apply:

    • (c) the rule allowing opt-in, in section 33, has been applied to a person to whom, as a matter of law, that rule does not apply because the person fails to meet the requirement of section 33(a).

    Section 59A: inserted (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 47 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

59B Initial back-dated validation
  • (1) As soon as practicable after anyone discovers the mistake, they must notify the Commissioner or the relevant KiwiSaver scheme provider.

    (2) The person described in section 59A is treated as a person who meets the requirements of section 6, the requirements for the application of the automatic enrolment rules, or the requirement of section 33(a), for a period—

    • (a) starting on the earliest day on which this Act applies, the automatic enrolment rules, or the rule allowing opt-in were applied to the person because of the mistake described in section 59A; and

    • (b) ending on the earlier of—

      • (i) 3 months after the mistake is discovered by the person’s KiwiSaver scheme provider:

      • (ii) 3 months after the mistake is notified to the provider by the Commissioner or another person:

      • (iii) the day the provider pays the member’s accumulation for the person to the Commissioner.

    Section 59B: inserted (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 47 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

59C Confirmed back-dated validation
  • (1) This section applies if, during the period of initial back-dated validation under section 59B, the person described in section 59A

    • (a) is a person to whom this Act has been applied because of a mistake described in section 59A(a), and they meet the requirements of section 6 or become a person who meets the requirements of section 6:

    • (b) is a person to whom the automatic enrolment rules were applied because of the mistake described in section 59A(b), and—

      • (i) they meet the requirements of section 6 or become a person who meets the requirements of section 6; and

      • (ii) they are less than the New Zealand superannuation qualification age; and

      • (iii) they do not opt out.

    (2) The person is treated as a person in relation to whom no mistake described in section 59A was made, and, at that time, met the requirements of section 6 or the requirements of the automatic enrolment rules.

    (3) The Commissioner must notify the provider that this section applies.

    (4) The relevant provider does not pay the member’s accumulation for the person to the Commissioner.

    Section 59C: inserted (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 47 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

59D What happens when initial back-dated validation ends, with no confirmed back-dated validation?
  • (1) This section applies when the period of initial back-dated validation under section 59B ends, and confirmed back-dated validation under section 59C has not occurred.

    (2) The relevant provider must immediately—

    • (a) provide the Commissioner with a notice stating, for the relevant person:

      • (i) the amount of contributions received directly by the provider (not via the Commissioner) and when they were received; and

      • (ii) the amounts paid out by the provider under a mortgage diversion facility, and when they were paid out; and

      • (iii) the amounts paid out by the provider to the person as permitted withdrawals, when they were paid out, the types of permitted withdrawals, and the amount of Crown contributions included in the permitted withdrawals; and

    • (b) pay the member’s accumulation for the person to the Commissioner, if the provider has not already done so.

    (3) The Commissioner must pay, in accordance with subsection (4), as soon as practicable and without further authority than this section, an amount (the refund amount) equal to the total of—

    • (a) the contributions received by the provider (whether directly or via the Commissioner), less the total of—

      • (i) the amounts paid out by the provider under a mortgage diversion facility:

      • (ii) the amounts paid out by the provider to the person as permitted withdrawals, excluding the amount of Crown contributions included in the permitted withdrawals:

      • (iii) Crown contributions:

    • (b) the contributions held in respect of the person in the holding account described in section 72, net of interest under section 84:

    • (c) the total amount of interest that the Commissioner would be liable for under section 84 on contributions described in paragraphs (a) and (b), excluding amounts described in paragraph (a)(i) to (iii) on a first-in first-out basis. For the purposes of calculating the amount of interest payable on the relevant contributions, the interest period in section 87 is treated as the number of days in the period—

      • (i) beginning on the day the Commissioner received the contribution or the provider received the contribution (if the contribution was not via the Commissioner):

      • (ii) ending with the day that the Commissioner pays the refund amount under this section.

    (4) The refund amount must be paid to the person, their employer, the Crown, and any other person making a contribution in respect of the person, in proportion to the Commissioner’s best estimate of what they contributed, taking into account amounts described in subsection (3)(a)(i) and (ii).

    (5) When the Commissioner has paid the refund amount, the amount of member’s accumulation for the person previously paid to the Commissioner (the accumulation money), and the contributions held by the Commissioner in respect of the person in the holding account described in section 72 including interest under section 84 (the holding account money) are treated in the following ways:

    • (a) the accumulation money and the holding account money are public money, and are not trust money for the purposes of sections 66 to 68 of the Public Finance Act 1989:

    • (b) subpart 2 of Part 3 does not apply to the accumulation money and holding account money, and the Commissioner must pay the money into the Crown Bank account.

    Section 59D: inserted (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 47 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 59D(4): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 6 October 2009, by section 720 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

Part 3
KiwiSaver contributions

Subpart 1Deductions of contributions from salary or wages

Payments of salary or wages to which deduction rules apply

60 Application of subpart
  • (1) This subpart applies to an employer in respect of any employee to whom 1 or more of the following applies:

    • (a) the employee has started new employment with the employer and the automatic enrolment rules apply:

    • (b) the employee has given the employer a KiwiSaver deduction notice:

    • (c) the Commissioner has given the employer a notice requiring the deduction of contributions from the employee’s salary or wages.

    (2) This subpart applies to all payments of salary or wages—

    • (a) after the employee starts that new employment (in a case to which subsection (1)(a) applies); or

    • (b) that are calculated by the employer after the employer receives that notice (in a case to which subsection (1)(b) or (c) applies).

61 Commissioner may give notice
  • The Commissioner may give a notice to an employer requiring the deduction of contributions in order to achieve the effect of section 15 or section 36 (including if the employer fails to comply with section 23).

62 When subpart does not apply
  • This subpart does not apply to an employer in respect of an employee, or to a payment of salary or wages,—

    • (a) if section 20(2) has required the employer to stop making deductions after an opt-out; or

    • (b) if the employee has given or shown the employer a notice of a contributions holiday, or the Commissioner has notified the employer of a contributions holiday, that has been granted under subpart 4, for so long as the employer is satisfied that the employee is on that contributions holiday; or

    • (c) if, in accordance with the PAYE rules, no tax deduction is required to be made from the payment of salary or wages at the time the payment is made and the payment is not salary and wages for a private domestic worker.

    Section 62(c): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 48 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

63 Part also applies to PAYE intermediaries
  • This Part applies to a PAYE intermediary (within the meaning of section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007) who is acting under sections RP 1 to RP 16 of that Act as if references to the employer were a reference to the PAYE intermediary and with other necessary modifications.

    Section 63: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

63A How subpart applies to private domestic workers
  • For the purposes of this subpart, a private domestic worker who is an employer under paragraph (b) of the definition of employer is treated as making payments of salary or wages to themselves in the capacity of employee. Consequently, the private domestic worker may be both employer and employee.

    Section 63A: inserted (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 49 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

Deduction rules

64 Contribution rate
  • (1) The contribution rate, in relation to an employee and to an employer and to each payment of salary or wages, is—

    • (a) 2% of the employee's gross salary or wages, if––

      • (i) section 60(1)(a), (b) or (c) first applied in respect of the employee on or after 1 April 2009 and the employee has not given his or her employer a notice under subsection (2); or

      • (ii) section 66A applied in respect of the employee immediately before 1 April 2009; or

    • (ab) 4% of the employee's gross salary or wages, if section 60(1)(a), (b) or (c) first applied in respect of the employee before 1 April 2009 and the employee has not given his or her employer a notice under paragraph (b); or

    • (b) 8% of the employee’s gross salary or wages if the employee gives his or her employer a notice requiring contributions to be deducted at that rate.

    (2) Despite subsection (1), the employee may choose a contribution rate of 2%, 4%, or 8% of their gross salary or wages by giving notice to their employer of the rate they choose.

    (3) The new rate applies to the next payment of salary or wages that is calculated after the employer receives that notice.

    (4) An employee may not change his or her contribution rate in relation to an employer at intervals that are less than 3 months apart unless the employer agrees.

    Section 64(1)(a): substituted, on 1 April 2009, by section 43(1) of the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008 (2008 No 105).

    Section 64(1)(ab): inserted, on 1 April 2009, by section 43(1) of the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008 (2008 No 105).

    Section 64(2): substituted (with effect on 1 April 2009), on 6 October 2009, by section 721 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

65 Contribution rates may be changed by Order in Council
  • (1) The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, do either or both of the following:

    • (b) provide for additional rates at which employees may contribute under this subpart, instead of at the rates under that section.

    (2) The Order in Council must state the date from which the rate or rates is to have effect (which must be the first day of a tax year (as defined in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007)).

    (3) The Order in Council must state how it will apply (for example, whether it applies to the persons to whom this subpart already applies).

    (4) Every Order in Council made under this section and laid before the House of Representatives pursuant to the Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989 expires with the close of the 12-month period commencing on the date on which it was so laid, except in so far as it is expressly validated and confirmed by an Act of Parliament passed before that expiry date.

    (5) Every Order in Council made under this section has the force of law as if it were enacted by this Act.

    (6) The validity of any Order in Council made under this section is not affected by reason only of the repeal of an Act of Parliament validating and confirming it.

    Section 65(1)(a): amended, on 1 April 2009, by section 44 of the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008 (2008 No 105).

    Section 65(2): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

66 Obligation to make deductions: general rule
  • The employer must make deductions of contributions from each payment of the employee’s gross salary or wages of an amount equal to the contribution rate.

    Section 66: substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section 50 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 66: amended, on 1 April 2009, by section 45 of the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008 (2008 No 105).

66A Obligation to make deductions: transitional rule
  • [Repealed]

    Section 66A: repealed, on 1 April 2009, by section 46 of the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008 (2008 No 105).

67 PAYE rules apply to deductions
  • (1) The PAYE rules apply to the deduction of contributions under this subpart, as far as applicable and with the necessary modifications, as if—

    • (a) every reference to income tax were a reference to contributions; and

    • (b) every reference to amounts of tax withheld were a reference to the deduction of contributions; and

    • (c) every reference to a tax code were a reference to a deduction rate; and

    • (d) every reference to an amount required to be deducted under the PAYE rules were a reference to an amount required to be deducted under this Act.

    (2) Every employer and employee must comply with the requirements of the PAYE rules to the extent to which those rules apply under this section.

    (3) However, the following do not apply to any amount required to be deducted under this subpart:

    (4) Any deduction made under this subpart is not part of or included in any amount of tax withheld under the PAYE rules on account of income tax.

    (5) The deductions made under this subpart are in addition to any amounts of tax required to be withheld under the PAYE rules.

    (6) This section is subject to sections 212 to 216.

    Section 67(1)(b): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 67(3)(a): amended, on 7 September 2010, by section 185 of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 67(3)(a): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 67(4): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 67(5): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

68 Money paid for things other than retirement benefits does not count as contribution under this Act
  • (1) This section applies if money is paid to a provider of a KiwiSaver scheme in respect of all or any of—

    • (a) the provision of retirement benefits for the member of the scheme; and

    • (b) other things (for example, life insurance premiums).

    (2) The money paid in respect of the other things—

    • (a) does not count as a contribution under this Act or towards the contribution rate; and

    • (b) cannot be paid via the Commissioner.

    (3) This subpart does not require an employer to make deductions from salary or wages in respect of that money.

    (4) This section does not apply to permitted withdrawals.

69 Unremitted deductions made by employers
  • (1) This section applies if—

    • (a) the Commissioner is satisfied that a deduction has been made in any PAYE period by an employer under this subpart; and

    • (b) the amount of the deduction is not paid to the Commissioner by the employer on or before the date on which an employer is required to pay the deduction to the Commissioner under section RA 15 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (as applied by section 67 of this Act).

    (2) The amount of the deduction is treated, for the purposes of this Act, as having been received by the Commissioner on the 15th day of the month in which the deduction is made.

    Section 69(1)(b): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

70 Unexplained remittances of deductions received from employers
  • (1) This section applies if—

    • (a) the Commissioner receives an amount (the received amount) from an employer in relation to the amounts deducted by the employer under this subpart; and

    • (b) the employer has failed to supply to the Commissioner the particulars required by the Commissioner in relation to those amounts deducted; and

    • (c) the Commissioner is unable to ascertain to the Commissioner’s satisfaction, in sufficient time prior to the cut-off day for the making of on-payments to the providers of KiwiSaver schemes, the portion of the received amount attributable to each of the persons from whom an amount was deducted by the employer.

    (2) The Commissioner may, for the purposes of this Part, hold the received amount until the amount attributable to each of the persons from whom an amount has been deducted by the employer has been established to the satisfaction of the Commissioner.

    Compare: 1991 No 142 s 149

71 Time at which unexplained remittances deemed to be received
  • Any amount that is held by the Commissioner under section 70(2) is treated, for the purposes of this Act (other than sections 84 to 91 (interest on contributions) and clause 8 of the KiwiSaver scheme rules (withdrawal for purpose of purchase of first home)), as not having been received by the Commissioner until the day on which the amount attributable to each of the persons from whom an amount has been deducted by the employer has been established to the satisfaction of the Commissioner.

    Compare: 1991 No 142 s 150

Subpart 2Miscellaneous provisions relating to contributions

Inland Revenue KiwiSaver Holding Account

72 Inland Revenue KiwiSaver Holding Account
  • (1) The Commissioner must establish a memorandum account, called the Inland Revenue KiwiSaver Holding Account (the holding account), for the purpose of recording the receipt, deduction, payment, and refund of contributions and interest under this Act.

    (2) The holding account established under subsection (1) is not a facility for the purposes of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act 1996.

73 Deductions entered in and paid out of holding account
  • (1) This section applies to any amount—

    • (a) that the Commissioner is satisfied has been deducted from salary or wages under this Act; and

    • (b) that is shown on an employer monthly schedule delivered under section RD 4 of the Income Tax Act 2007 as a deduction made from an employee’s salary or wages under subpart 1.

    (2) As soon as practicable after receiving that monthly schedule, the Commissioner must enter that amount in the holding account in respect of the person from whose salary or wages the deduction was made.

    (3) Subject to sections 75 to 77, as soon as practicable after entering an amount in the holding account under this section, the Commissioner must pay the amount to the provider of the relevant KiwiSaver scheme, without further authority than this section.

    (4) Money entered in the holding account under this section is not trust money for the purposes of sections 66 to 68 of the Public Finance Act 1989.

    (5) This section is subject to sections 70 and 71.

    (6) The Commissioner is entitled, for the purpose of subsection (1)(a), to assume, in the absence of information to the contrary, that amounts entered on an employer monthly schedule have been deducted from salary or wages.

    Section 73(1)(b): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 73(3): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 51 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

74 Other contributions entered in and paid out of holding account
  • (1) This section applies to any amount of contribution that is received by the Commissioner other than an amount referred to in section 73.

    (2) As soon as practicable after receiving the amount, the Commissioner must enter that amount in the holding account in respect of the person to whom the contribution relates.

    (3) Subject to sections 75 to 77, as soon as practicable after entering an amount in the holding account under this section, the Commissioner must pay the amount to the provider of the relevant KiwiSaver scheme.

    (4) Money entered in the holding account under this section is trust money for the purposes of sections 66 to 68 of the Public Finance Act 1989 .

75 Initial contributions stay in holding account for 3 months
  • (1) This section applies to all contributions received by the Commissioner in respect of a person in the 3-month period starting on the earlier of—

    • (a) the day on which the Commissioner receives the first contribution in respect of the person:

    • (b) the day on which the Commissioner is given notice or otherwise knows that the person is a member of a KiwiSaver scheme.

    (2) The Commissioner must hold those contributions in the holding account.

    (3) The Commissioner must pay those contributions to the provider of the person’s KiwiSaver scheme as soon as practicable after the expiry of that 3 months (without further authority than this section where those contributions meet the requirements of section 73(1)).

    (4) The Commissioner must give notice to the person as soon as practicable after paying those contributions to the provider of the person’s KiwiSaver scheme.

    (5) The provider must give notice to the person as soon as practicable after receiving those contributions.

    (6) Subsection (3) is subject to section 77.

    Section 75(1): substituted (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 52(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 75(3): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 52(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

76 Employer contributions may stay in holding account until deducted contributions paid
  • (1) This section applies if the Commissioner receives a contribution under subpart 3 (contributions other than deductions from salary or wages) from an employer in respect of a person to whom subpart 1 (deductions from salary or wages) also applies.

    (2) The Commissioner may hold the contribution made under subpart 3 in the holding account, and then pay it to the provider of the person’s KiwiSaver scheme at the same time as the contribution that is deducted under subpart 1 is paid by the Commissioner to the KiwiSaver scheme.

77 Small amounts of contributions may be held until big enough to be on-paid
  • (1) This section applies if the Commissioner and the provider of a KiwiSaver scheme agree on a minimum threshold for the payment of contributions to the provider.

    (2) The Commissioner may hold in the holding account any amount of contribution that relates to a person until the amount meets that minimum threshold.

    (3) Then the Commissioner must pay that amount to the provider of the person’s KiwiSaver scheme (without further authority than this section where that amount meets the requirements of section 73(1)).

    Section 77(3): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 53 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

78 Treatment of unremitted deductions in holding account
  • To the extent that an amount referred to in section 73(1) is not paid to the Commissioner on or before the date on which the employer is required to pay the deduction to the Commissioner under section RD 4 of the Income Tax Act 2007,—

    • (a) the Commissioner must pay the amount out of a Crown Bank Account, without further authority than this section; and

    • (b) the amount is treated, for the purposes of section 73, as having been received by the Commissioner on the 15th day of the month in which the deduction is made.

    Section 78: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

79 Information that Commissioner must supply to providers when paying contributions
  • The Commissioner must supply, to the provider of a KiwiSaver scheme to which the Commissioner makes any payment under this subpart, any information, and in any format, that the Commissioner determines after consultation with the provider of the KiwiSaver scheme.

80 Refund by Commissioner of amounts paid in excess of required amount of deduction or if employee opts out
  • (1) The Commissioner may refund any amount of contribution to a person in relation to whom a contribution was made, or from whose salary or wages the amount was deducted if—

    • (a) the person opts out and the contribution is in the possession of the Commissioner; or

    • (b) the contribution is in excess of the amount that this Act requires to be deducted and the contribution is in the possession of the Commissioner; or

    • (c) the person has opted out and the contribution was deducted from salary or wages but was not refunded to the person or paid to the Commissioner.

    (2) However, if a request is made under section 173L of the Tax Administration Act 1994, the Commissioner may apply any amount of that contribution in accordance with that request.

    Section 80(1): amended (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 54 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

81 Refund by provider of amounts paid in excess of required amount of contribution
  • (1) A provider must refund to the Commissioner no more than the amount of contribution paid to the provider by the Commissioner in respect of a member of that provider’s KiwiSaver scheme that is in excess of the amount that is required to be paid to the provider under the KiwiSaver scheme and this Act.

    (2) The Commissioner must refund or give credit for the amount refunded under subsection (1) in the manner that the Commissioner thinks fit.

    (3) However, if a request is made under section 173L of the Tax Administration Act 1994, the Commissioner may apply any amount of that contribution in accordance with that request.

    Section 81(1): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 55 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

81B Residual refunds
  • If the Commissioner can not process an amount held in the holding account in accordance with this Act, or the amount is in excess of what this Act or a Revenue Act requires to be in the holding account, then the Commissioner may refund the amount to the person that the Commissioner considers has the best claim to it.

    Section 81B: inserted, on 29 August 2011, by section 211 of the Taxation (Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Act 2011 (2011 No 63).

82 Trustee investment rules do not apply to contributions in holding account
  • Part 2 of the Trustee Act 1956 does not apply to the Commissioner in respect of money in the holding account.

83 Unclaimed money held by Commissioner
  • (1) This section applies to any money—

    • (a) that has been in the Commissioner’s possession under this Act for a period of no less than 6 years; and

    • (b) about which the Commissioner has insufficient information in order to process that money in accordance with this Act.

    (2) No interest is payable on that money under this subpart in respect of the period that this section applies.

    (3) The Unclaimed Money Act 1971, and not sections 70 and 74 of the Public Finance Act 1989, applies to that money—

    • (b) as if the money must be processed in accordance with this Act, and not paid to the owner, if a valid claim is made to the money; and

    • (c) as if the money would not cease to be unclaimed money under subparagraph (i) of the proviso to section 4(1) of the Unclaimed Money Act 1971 (which sets a $100 cap); and

    • (d) with other necessary modifications.

    (4) If the Commissioner enters into a special arrangement under section 9 of that Act, the Minister who, under the authority of any warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for the administration of the Unclaimed Money Act 1971 must carry out, after consultation with the Minister of Finance, the responsibilities that would otherwise have been carried out by the Commissioner under that Act.

Interest on contributions

84 Interest on money in holding account
  • (1) The Commissioner is liable to pay interest in accordance with sections 85 to 91 on any amount of contribution that is received, or treated as received, by the Commissioner in respect of a person under this Act.

    (2) Sections 68(2) and 69 of the Public Finance Act 1989 do not apply to the holding account.

    (3) Despite subsection (1), the Commissioner is not liable to pay interest on any amount described in that subsection, if the relevant person has notified the Commissioner in writing of their wish to not be paid interest.

    Section 84(2): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 56(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 84(3): added, on 1 April 2009, by section 56(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

85 Time when contributions treated as received for interest purposes
  • (1) Every amount of contribution that is deducted from salary or wages under this Act is treated, for the purpose of the payment of interest, as received by the Commissioner on the 15th day of the month in which the deduction is made.

    (2) Subsection (1) applies if the Commissioner is satisfied that a deduction has been made in any month under this Act.

    (3) Every amount of employer contribution is treated, for the purpose of the payment of interest, as received by the Commissioner on the first day of the month in which the Commissioner receives the amount of employer contribution.

    Section 85 heading: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section 57(1) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 85(3): added, on 1 April 2008, by section 57(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

86 Interest rate
  • (1) The interest rate at which interest is payable under sections 84 to 91 is—

    Commissioner’s paying rate × (1 − lowest tax rate)

    where—

    Commissioner’s paying rate is the rate of interest established and notified as the Commissioner’s paying rate by an Order in Council made under section 120H of the Tax Administration Act 1994 as the Commissioner’s paying rate applying on the day on which the contribution is received or treated as received

    lowest tax rate is the tax rate in schedule 1, part D, table 2, row 7, column 3 of the Income Tax Act 2007.

    (2) The interest rate calculated using the formula is expressed as a percentage, rounded to 2 decimal places, with numbers at the midpoint or greater being rounded up and other numbers being rounded down.

    Section 86(1) lowest tax rate: substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 86(1) lowest tax rate: amended (with effect on 1 April 2010), on 7 September 2010 (applying for the 2010–11 and later tax years), by section 186(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Trans-Tasman Savings Portability, KiwiSaver, and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 109).

    Section 86(2): added, on 19 December 2007, by section 58 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

87 Amount of interest payable
  • The amount of interest payable by the Commissioner in respect of a person is calculated in accordance with the following formula:

     (interest rate × contribution) ×interest period 
     365 

    where—

    contribution is the amount of contribution in respect of the person to whom the interest is payable

    interest period is the number of days in the period that begins on the day on which the Commissioner receives, or is treated as receiving, the amount of contribution and ends with the day on which the Commissioner on-pays the amount of contribution to the provider of the person’s KiwiSaver scheme or refunds the amount under this Part (except section 81)

    interest rate is the rate calculated under section 86.

88 How and when interest is paid on on-payments
  • Interest that is payable under section 84 on an amount of contribution that is on-paid to a provider must be paid to the provider of the person’s KiwiSaver scheme, in respect of the person, at the same time that the amount of contribution is on-paid to the provider.

89 How and when interest is paid on refunds
  • (1) This section applies to interest that would be payable under section 84 in respect of an amount of contribution that is refunded under this Part (except section 81).

    (2) Interest must be paid with the refund.

    (3) [Repealed]

    (4) [Repealed]

    Section 89(3): repealed, on 6 October 2009, by section 723 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

    Section 89(4): repealed, on 6 October 2009, by section 723 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

90 Position if Commissioner’s paying rate changes
  • (1) This section applies if the rate of interest established and notified as the Commissioner’s paying rate by an Order in Council made under section 120H of the Tax Administration Act 1994 changes during an interest period in respect of which interest is payable under section 84.

    (2) The Commissioner’s paying rate, for the purposes of section 86, must be taken to be the weighted-average rate based on the number of days on which each rate applied during that period.

91 Overpaid interest
  • Interest overpaid by the Commissioner under sections 84 to 90 may be recovered in the same manner as income tax that is payable under the Income Tax Act 2007.

    Section 91: amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

Subpart 3Contributions other than deductions from salary or wages

92 Application of this subpart
  • This subpart applies to contributions to a KiwiSaver scheme other than contributions deducted from salary or wages under subpart 1.

92A How subpart applies to private domestic workers
  • For the purposes of this subpart, a private domestic worker who is an employer under paragraph (b) of the definition of employer is treated as making payments of salary or wages to themselves in the capacity of employee. Consequently, the private domestic worker may be both employer and employee.

    Section 92A: inserted (with effect on 1 July 2007), on 19 December 2007, by section 59 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

93 Employer contributions paid via Commissioner
  • (1) An employer must pay all amounts of employer contributions to the Commissioner.

    (2) The payment of an amount of employer contribution must be accompanied by a PAYE payment form.

    (3) If the employer is not a private domestic worker, the contribution must be paid to the Commissioner within the time prescribed in section RA 15 of the Income Tax Act 2007 for the payment of amounts of tax withheld relating to the payment of salary or wages to which the contribution relates, as if the contribution were an amount of tax.

    (4) If the employer is a private domestic worker, the contribution must be paid to the Commissioner within the time prescribed in sections RA 8, RA 10, and RD 4(2) of that Act for the payment of tax relating to the payment of salary or wages to which the contribution relates, as if the contribution were tax.

    (5) The employer must include details of employer contributions paid in respect of each employee on the employer monthly schedule for the payments of salary or wages to which the contribution relates.

    (6) For the purposes of the Tax Administration Act 1994, to the extent to which an employer fails to comply with subsection (5) in respect of an amount of employer contribution that the employer must pay to the Commissioner, that amount is treated as a short payment for the PAYE period for which the failure occurs.

    Section 93: substituted, on 1 April 2008, by section 60 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

94 Employer must give notice that employer contributions to be paid via Commissioner
  • [Repealed]

    Section 94 : repealed, on 1 July 2007, by section 65 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver and Company Tax Rate Amendments) Act 2007 (2007 No 19).

95 Contributions from persons other than employers may be paid via Commissioner
  • A person other than an employer (including a member of a KiwiSaver scheme) may make a contribution to a person’s (A’s) KiwiSaver scheme by paying it to the Commissioner provided that the contribution is accompanied by—

    • (a) A’s name and address; and

    • (b) A’s tax file number; and

    • (c) any other information that the Commissioner may require.

96 What Commissioner must do with contributions received under this subpart
  • (1) The Commissioner must, in accordance with subpart 2,—

    • (a) first, pay the contribution into the holding account; and

    • (b) secondly, on-pay the contribution to the provider of the person’s KiwiSaver scheme.

    (2) The payments required under subsection (1) must be made net of ESCT payable under the ESCT rules (if any).

    Section 96(2): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

97 Commissioner must give notice if employer contributions not remitted
  • (1) This section applies if—

    • (a) an employer, for a PAYE period, shows a payment of employer contribution under this subpart on either or both of a remittance certificate or an employer monthly schedule; and

    • (b) the payment is not received in full by the Commissioner by the time the Commissioner receives either or both of the remittance certificate or the employer monthly schedule for that PAYE period.

    (2) The Commissioner must give notice to the employer that the payment has not been received.

98 Short payments by employers if not enough money remitted to Commissioner to cover all of employees’ deductions and employer contributions
  • (1) This section applies if—

    • (a) an employer, for a PAYE period, shows payments of employer contribution under this subpart on either or both of a remittance certificate or an employer monthly schedule; and

    • (b) the total amount received by the Commissioner for that PAYE period by way of total deductions and employer contribution in respect of all of the employer’s employees is less than the amounts shown on either or both of the remittance certificate or employer monthly schedule in respect of those matters.

    (2) The amount of employer contribution (gross of any ESCT payable under the ESCT rules) that is treated as received by the Commissioner for the purpose of this subpart is so much of the payment that is actually received by the Commissioner that exceeds the amounts shown on the remittance certificate and employer monthly schedule in respect of total deductions.

    (3) In this section, total deductions means the total of the following:

    • (a) the total amount of combined tax and earner-related payments (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act 2007); and

    • (b) the total child support deductions; and

    • (c) the total student loan deductions; and

    • (d) the total contributions deducted under subpart 1; and

    • (e) employer contributions that are not compulsory employer contributions.

    Section 98(2): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 98(3)(a): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).

    Section 98(3)(d): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section 61 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 98(3)(e): added, on 1 April 2008, by section 61 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

98A Quantifying short payments for the purposes of Income Tax Act 2007 and Tax Administration Act 1994
  • For the purposes of the Income Tax Act 2007 and the Tax Administration Act 1994, an employer is treated as having an amount of short payment for a PAYE period equal to the difference between—

    • (a) the amount of employer contribution that is treated as received by the Commissioner under section 98(2) of this Act for the PAYE period; and

    • (b) the amount, for the PAYE period, of employer contribution shown on either or both of a PAYE payment form and an employer monthly schedule in accordance with this subpart.

    Section 98A: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 62 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

99 Short payments if not enough employer contribution remitted to cover all employees
  • (1) This section applies if—

    • (a) an employer, for a PAYE period, shows payments of employer contribution under this subpart on a remittance certificate or employer monthly schedule in respect of more than 1 of the employer’s employees; and

    • (b) the total amount received by the Commissioner for that PAYE period in respect of employer contribution under this subpart is less than the amounts shown on the remittance certificate and employer monthly schedule in respect of all of those employees.

    (2) For the purposes of this subpart, the amount of employer contribution (gross of any ESCT) that the Commissioner is treated as receiving for any one employee is given by the following formula:

    a × b
    c

    where—

    • a is the total employer contributions received by the Commissioner under this subpart for all of the employer’s employees for the month to which the employer monthly schedule relates

    • b is the employer contribution shown on the employer monthly schedule for the relevant employee for the month to which the employer monthly schedule relates

    • c is the total employer contributions shown on either or both of the remittance certificate or employer monthly schedule for all of the employer’s employees for the month to which the employer monthly schedule relates.

    (3) Subsection (2) does not prevent the provider of a KiwiSaver scheme from crediting amounts on the basis provided for in the trust deed or other document governing employer contributions, rather than in accordance with the calculation under subsection (2).

    (4) For the purposes of this section, employer contribution does not include compulsory employer contribution to the extent of the employer’s entitlement to a tax credit under section MK 1(2) of the Income Tax Act 2007 in relation to the contribution.

    Section 99(2): amended, on 1 April 2008, by section 63(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 99(4): added, on 1 April 2008, by section 63(3) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

100 Refunds of employer contribution by Commissioner if employee opts out
  • If an employee opts out after an employer contribution is paid to the Commissioner, the Commissioner must, if it is still in his or her possession, refund the employer contribution to the employer.

    Section 100: amended (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 6 October 2009, by section 724 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

101 Refunds of employer contribution by provider
  • (1) The provider of a KiwiSaver scheme must refund to the Commissioner any amount of employer contribution that was paid under this Act by the Commissioner in excess of the amount of the employer contribution that this Act requires.

    (2) [Repealed]

    Section 101(1): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 64(1)(a) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 101(1): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 64(1)(b) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 101(2): repealed, on 19 December 2007, by section 64(2) of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

Subpart 3ACompulsory employer contributions to KiwiSaver schemes and complying superannuation funds

  • Subpart 3A: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 65 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

101A General
  • (1) An employer must pay, in accordance with sections 101E and 101F, an amount of employer contribution (a compulsory employer contribution) calculated under section 101D for an employee, to the extent to which the employee meets the requirements in section 101C for a period to which a payment of salary or wages relates.

    (2) Section 101B provides rules relevant to parties to an employment relationship, and how they bargain in respect of compulsory employer contributions and associated matters.

    (2B) Despite subsection (1), an employer does not have to pay a compulsory employer contribution as provided in sections 101FB and 101FC.

    (3) Section 101G provides rules relevant to providers who receive compulsory employer contributions directly or from the Commissioner.

    (4) The rest of this subpart provides rules relating to compulsory employer contributions to complying superannuation funds. Also, subpart 3 provides some rules for employer contributions to KiwiSaver schemes.

    (5) For the purposes of this subpart, a private domestic worker who is an employer under paragraph (c) of the definition of employer is treated as making payments of salary or wages to themselves in the capacity of employee. Consequently, for the purposes of this subpart, the private domestic worker may be both employer and employee, if the worker chooses.

    Section 101A: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 65 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 101A(2B): inserted (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 6 October 2009, by section 725 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

101B Compulsory contributions must be paid on top of gross salary or wages except to extent that parties otherwise agree after 13 December 2007
  • (1) The purpose of this section is to ensure that, for contractual arrangements of parties to an employment relationship (as defined in section 4(2) of the Employment Relations Act 2000), compulsory contributions are paid in addition to an employee’s gross salary or wages described in section 101D(3).

    (2) The contractual arrangements of parties to an employment relationship must not have the effect of defeating the purpose of this section described in subsection (1).

    (3) A contractual term or condition has no effect to the extent to which it is contrary to the purpose of this section described in subsection (1).

    (4) However, on and after 13 December 2007, parties to an employment relationship are free to agree contractual terms and conditions that disregard the purpose of this section described in subsection (1), and, to the extent of such agreement, subsections (1) to (3) do not apply, unless, in respect of the employer and employee,—

    • (b) the contractual terms and conditions do not account for the amount of compulsory contributions the employer is required to pay.

    (4A) In the circumstances described in subsection (4)(a) and (b), despite subsection (4),—

    • (a) compulsory contributions must be paid in addition to an employee’s gross salary or wages described in section 101D(3), in accordance with the purpose of this section described in subsection (1); and

    • (b) subsections (2) and (3) apply.

    (5) For the avoidance of doubt,—

    • (a) the duty of good faith described in section 4 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 always applies when parties to an employment relationship bargain for terms and conditions relating to compulsory contributions and associated matters; and

    • (b) [Repealed]

    (6) In this section, compulsory contributions means an amount of employer contributions equal to the amount of compulsory employer contributions that would be required by this subpart in the absence of section 101D(5)(a).

    Section 101B: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 65 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 101B(4): substituted, on 15 December 2008, by section 47 of the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008 (2008 No 105).

    Section 101B(4A): inserted, on 15 December 2008, by section 47 of the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008 (2008 No 105).

    Section 101B(5): substituted, on 10 September 2008, by section 10 of the Employment Relations (Breaks, Infant Feeding, and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 58).

    Section 101B(5)(b): repealed, on 16 December 2008, by section 10 of the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 106).

101C Employee’s requirements
  • For the purposes of section 101A(1), the requirements are that the employee—

    • (a) is paid salary or wages from which the employer deducts or is required to deduct an amount for the employee’s KiwiSaver scheme or complying superannuation fund; and

    • (b) is aged 18 or over; and

    • (c) is not entitled to withdraw an amount from a fund or scheme under clause 4(3) of the KiwiSaver scheme rules (which relates to lock-in of funds) or a rule the same as that clause; and

    • (d) is not a defined benefit scheme member.

    Section 101C: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 65 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

101D Compulsory employer contribution amount: general rule
  • (1) The amount of a compulsory employer contribution is a positive amount calculated using the following formula:

    (payment of gross salary or wages × CEC rate) − other contributions − hybrid schemes amount.

    (2) The items in the formula are defined in subsections (3) to (6).

    (3) Payment of gross salary or wages is the amount of a payment of gross salary or wages from which the employer deducts or is required to deduct an amount for the employee’s KiwiSaver scheme or complying superannuation fund.

    (4) CEC rate is, for the payment of gross salary or wages,—

    • (a) 1%, if the payment of gross salary or wages is made for a pay period that is in the year starting on 1 April 2008:

    • (b) 2%, if the payment of gross salary or wages is made for a pay period that is in a year starting on or after 1 April 2009.

    • (c) [Repealed]

    • (d) [Repealed]

    (5) Other contributions is the total of amounts that the employer pays or credits in relation to the employee for the period to which the payment of gross salary or wages relates, to the extent to which the amounts are—

    • (a) employer contributions made in the absence of this section:

    • (b) employer’s superannuation contributions made to, or amounts credited from within, (collectively, the contributions) a registered superannuation scheme (the contributions scheme), and—

      • (i) the contributions scheme was registered before 17 May 2007, or the contributions scheme is one (a succeeding scheme) for which there is, due to all relevant members transferring to the succeeding scheme by virtue of section 9BAA of the Superannuation Schemes Act 1989 or section 119G of this Act, a prior registered superannuation scheme (a prior scheme) and that prior scheme or another prior scheme for the contributions scheme were registered before 17 May 2007; and

      • (ii) the employer provided access to eligible employees to the contributions scheme or a prior scheme for the contributions scheme before 17 May 2007; and

      • (iii) the employee is—

        • (A) employed by the employer before 1 April 2008, and the employer makes or has agreed with the employee before 1 April 2008 to make or credit the contributions to the contributions scheme or a prior scheme for the contributions scheme; or

        • (B) covered by a collective agreement that is in force before 17 May 2007 and expires after 1 April 2008 under which the employer is required to make or credit the contributions to the contributions scheme or a prior scheme for the contributions scheme; or

        • (C) one that has had contributions paid or credited to the contributions scheme or a prior scheme for the contributions scheme by a previous employer, and those contributions met the requirements described in paragraph (b)(i) to (iii); and

      • (iv) the contributions scheme provides that the contributions vest completely in the employee in a period starting on or after the employee first becomes a member of the contributions scheme and ending no more than 5 years later:

    • (c) employer’s superannuation contributions or superannuation subsidies in relation to an employee—

      • (i) whose employment is as a member of Parliament, a judicial officer, or a constable:

      • (ii) who is in a class of employees prescribed in regulations made under section 230A.

    (6) Hybrid schemes amount is the amount given by subsection (7) for a registered superannuation scheme, employer and employee described in subsection (5)(b)(i) to (iii)—

    • (a) which do not have an amount of other contributions for the period to which the payment of gross salary or wages relates; and

    • (b) for which relevant retirement benefits are calculated by adding to the employee’s total contributions a percentage of those contributions.

    (7) For the purposes of subsection (6), the amount is calculated using the following formula:

    member’s contribution × vesting percentage.

    (8) In the formula,—

    • (a) member’s contribution is the amount of the employee’s contribution for the period to which the payment of gross salary or wages relates:

    • (b) vesting percentage is the percentage (inclusive of amounts payable under the ESCT rules) of the employee's total contributions to be added to those contributions 5 years after the employee first becomes a member of the registered superannuation scheme.

    Section 101D: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 65 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 101D(4)(b): substituted, on 1 April 2009, by section 48 of the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008 (2008 No 105).

    Section 101D(4)(c): repealed, on 1 April 2009, by section 48 of the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008 (2008 No 105).

    Section 101D(4)(d): repealed, on 1 April 2009, by section 48 of the Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Act 2008 (2008 No 105).

    Section 101D(5)(b)(i): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 10 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 101D(5)(b)(iii)(B): amended (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 6 October 2009, by section 726(1) of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

    Section 101D(5)(b)(iii)(C): added (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 6 October 2009, by section 726(1) of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

    Section 101D(5)(c)(i): amended, on 1 October 2008, pursuant to section 116(a)(vii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

    Section 101D(8)(b): amended (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 6 October 2009, by section 726(2) of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

101E Payment: allocation between schemes and funds
  • (1) If the employer and employee agree to an allocation of compulsory employer contributions between an employee’s KiwiSaver scheme and complying superannuation funds, the contribution allocation agreed is used for allocating payments.

    (2) If the employer and employee cannot agree what allocation of the amount of compulsory employer contribution is for an employee’s KiwiSaver scheme or complying superannuation funds, the amount is—

    • (a) first, for the employee’s KiwiSaver scheme, up to the maximum required to meet an employer’s compulsory employer contribution obligations:

    • (b) second, for the employee’s complying superannuation funds, pro rata, to the extent to which an amount remains after applying paragraph (a).

    Section 101E: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 65 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

101F Payment rules: employers
  • (1) If an amount of employer contribution for a payment of salary or wages is for the employee’s KiwiSaver scheme, the amount must be paid by the employer to the Commissioner. The amount is subject to the rules provided in subpart 3.

    (2) If an amount of compulsory employer contribution for a payment of salary or wages is for the employee’s complying superannuation fund, the amount must be paid by the employer to the fund’s provider no later than 1 month after the payment of salary or wages.

    Section 101F: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 65 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

101FB Grace periods: employers
  • (1) An employer does not have to pay a compulsory employer contribution for a payment of gross salary or wages to an employee in a grace period described in subsection (2), if, for the whole of the relevant grace period,—

    • (a) 1 or more of the following apply:

      • (i) the automatic enrolment rules apply to the employee:

      • (ii) the employer does not receive a notice under section 34(1) or 39 that the employee has opted in; and

    • (b) the employer does not deduct any amount of contributions required to be deducted from an employee's salary or wages; and

    • (c) the employer does not receive a notice under section 61 that requires the deduction of contributions for the employee.

    (2) The grace periods for the purposes of subsection (1) are—

    • (a) the period starting on the day that the employee starts new employment and finishing on the earlier of the day—

      • (i) that is 1 year after the day that the employee starts new employment:

      • (ii) that the employee ceases employment:

    • (b) the period starting on the day that is 1 year after the day that the employee starts new employment and finishing on the earliest of—

      • (i) the day that is before the day on which the employer receives a notice under section 34(1) or 39 that the employee has opted in:

      • (ii) the day that is before the day on which the employer receives a notice under section 61 that requires the deduction of contributions for the employee:

      • (iii) the day that the employee ceases employment.

    Section 101FB: inserted (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 6 October 2009, by section 727 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

101FC De minimis: other contributions and hybrid schemes amount
  • For a payment of gross salary or wages to an employee, an employer does not have to pay a compulsory employer contribution for the employee, if, in respect of the payment of gross salary or wages, one of the following amounts is equal to or more than the relevant CEC rate in section 101D(4):

    • (a) the amount of other contributions that meets the requirements of section 101D(5)(b) divided by the employee's salary or wages (as defined for the relevant registered superannuation scheme):

    • (b) the hybrid schemes amount that meets the requirements of section 101D(6) to (8) divided by the employee's salary or wages (as defined for the relevant registered superannuation scheme).

    Section 101FC: inserted (with effect on 1 April 2008), on 6 October 2009, by section 727 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

101G Rules: providers
  • (1) A provider must use the contribution allocation for a member to credit the amount of compulsory employer contribution they receive across the investment products to which a member has subscribed or has been allocated.

    (2) The contribution vests in the member immediately after it is paid to the provider, despite any provision to the contrary.

    (3) If a member of a KiwiSaver scheme will be entitled within 2 months to withdraw an amount from the fund or scheme under clause 4(3) of the KiwiSaver scheme rules (which relates to lock-in of funds), the provider must send a notice to the Commissioner stating the date on which the member will be entitled to withdraw. The Commissioner may notify the member’s employer of the date, for the purposes of the employer applying this subpart.

    (4) If a member of a complying superannuation fund will be entitled within 2 months to withdraw an amount from the fund under a rule the same as clause 4(3) of the KiwiSaver scheme rules, the provider must send a notice to the member's employer stating the date on which the member will be entitled to withdraw.

    Section 101G: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 65 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 101G(3): amended, on 6 October 2009, by section 728(1)(a) of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

    Section 101G(3): amended, on 6 October 2009, by section 728(1)(b) of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

    Section 101G(4): added, on 6 October 2009, by section 728(2) of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

Complying superannuation funds

  • Heading: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 65 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

101H Failure to pay: provider notice
  • (1) This section applies if the provider of a complying superannuation fund knows that an employer has failed to pay to the provider an amount of compulsory employer contribution in accordance with this subpart.

    (2) The provider must, as soon as practicable, give a notice to the employer, requesting the payment of the amount of compulsory employer contribution. The provider must send to the FMA a copy of the notice.

    (3) If the employer does not pay the amount of compulsory employer contribution to the provider within 1 month of this section first applying for the amount, and the total of the amounts of compulsory employer contributions unpaid is more than $500, then the provider must immediately give a notice to the FMA.

    (4) A notice under subsection (3) must show the following:

    • (a) the name of the employer; and

    • (b) the amounts of compulsory employer contributions unpaid; and

    • (c) the employer’s name, address, and tax file number (if known); and

    • (d) specify the relevant employees to whom the failure to pay relates, their tax file numbers, and addresses; and

    • (e) the pay periods and relevant amounts for the employees to whom the failure to pay relates; and

    • (f) other information required by the FMA.

    (5) If the employer pays an amount of compulsory employer contribution remedying a failure to pay that was notified to the FMA under subsection (3), the provider must immediately give a notice to the FMA showing relevant details of the employer’s payment.

    Section 101H: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 65 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 101H(2): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 101H(3): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 101H(4)(f): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 101H(5): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

101I Failure to pay: FMA's duties
  • (1) If the FMA receives a notice under section 101H(3), the FMA must decide the amount of compulsory employer contribution that an employer to which the notice relates has failed to pay for the relevant calendar months.

    (2) The FMA may use any power (with necessary modifications for complying superannuation funds) that the FMA has in respect of KiwiSaver schemes in the performance of the duty to decide imposed by subsection (1).

    (3) As soon as practicable, the FMA must give a notice to the employer showing the information described in subsection (4).

    (4) A notice under subsection (3) must—

    • (a) require the payment of the amount (the liable amount) that the FMA has decided, under subsection (1), that an employer has failed to pay to the provider; and

    • (b) specify the relevant calendar months and related amounts; and

    • (c) specify that the employer must pay the liable amount within 28 days after the notice is given; and

    • (d) specify the employer's name, address and tax file number (if known); and

    • (e) specify the relevant employees to whom the failure to pay relates, their tax file numbers, and addresses; and

    • (f) specify the pay periods and relevant amounts for the employees to whom the failure to pay relates; and

    • (g) inform the employer that failure to comply with the notice will result in the Commissioner receiving notice of the failure to comply; and

    • (h) show other information required by the Commissioner.

    (5) If the employer does not pay the liable amount in the period specified in subsection (4)(c) and the employer has not objected to the FMA's decision under subsection (1) within the time allowed under section 186, the FMA must immediately—

    • (a) give to the Commissioner a notice showing the information described in subsection (6); and

    • (b) send to the provider a copy of the notice.

    (6) A notice under subsection (5) must—

    • (a) state that the employer has failed to comply with notices under section 101H(3) and subsection (3); and

    • (b) show the information described in subsection (4); and

    • (c) specify the extent to which an amount of compulsory employer contributions remains unpaid for the liable amount; and

    • (d) specify the relevant employees to whom the unpaid amounts relate, their tax file numbers, and addresses; and

    • (e) specify the pay periods and relevant amounts for the employees to whom the unpaid amounts relate.

    (7) If the FMA makes a decision, upon an employer's objection to the FMA's decision under subsection (1), and the decision is that the employer to which the notice under section 101H(3) relates has failed to pay an amount of compulsory employer contribution for the relevant calendar months, the employer is treated as having not objected, and the FMA must immediately give the Commissioner the notice described in subsection (5).

    Section 101I: inserted, on 1 April 2009, by section 66 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 101I heading: amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 82 of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 101I(1): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 101I(2): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 101I(3): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 101I(4)(a): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 101I(5): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 82 of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 101I(5): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 101I(7): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 82 of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 101I(7): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

101J Failure to pay: Commissioner
  • (1) If the Commissioner receives a notice under section 101I(5), the amount of compulsory employer contributions unpaid for the liable amount, specified in that notice, is treated as an amount due and payable by the employer to the Commissioner on the 20th working day after the Commissioner receives the notice under section 101I(5).

    (2) The Commissioner must send the employer a notice of the amount due and payable, and the due date, specified in subsection (1).

    Section 101J: inserted, on 1 April 2009, by section 66 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

101K Recovered amounts
  • An amount of compulsory employer contribution for an employee's complying superannuation fund that is received by the FMA or the Commissioner by virtue of this subpart must be paid by them to the relevant provider. The relevant amount of compulsory employer contributions remaining unpaid for the relevant liable amount is consequentially reduced.

    Section 101K: inserted, on 1 April 2009, by section 66 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 101K: amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

Subpart 4Contributions holiday

Applications for contributions holiday

102 Who may apply for contributions holiday
  • A person to whom subpart 1 (deductions of contributions from salary or wages) applies may apply to the Commissioner for a contributions holiday—

    • (a) at any time after the Commissioner receives the first contribution in respect of that person, if the person is suffering, or likely to suffer, financial hardship; or

    • (b) at any time after 12 months have expired since the earlier of—

      • (i) the date that the Commissioner received the first contribution in respect of that person; or

      • (ii) the date that a provider received the first contribution in respect of that person’s membership of a KiwiSaver scheme; or

      • (iii) the date that the person is first a member of a complying superannuation fund.

    Section 102(b)(ii): amended, on 19 December 2007, by section 67 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 102(b)(iii): added, on 19 December 2007, by section 67 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

103 How to apply for contributions holiday
  • (1) An application for a contributions holiday may be made by any means that the Commissioner accepts.

    (2) The application must tell the Commissioner—

    • (a) the person’s name and address; and

    • (b) the person’s tax file number; and

    • (c) the name and address of each of the person’s employers to whom the person intends that the holiday will apply; and

    • (d) the period of time for which the holiday is required; and

    • (e) in the case of an application made under section 102(a), details of the financial hardship; and

    • (f) any other information that the Commissioner requires.

104 Granting of contributions holiday
  • (1) The Commissioner must accept an application for a contributions holiday, and grant a contributions holiday, if the Commissioner is satisfied that the person meets the requirements of section 102, and the application is made in accordance with section 103.

    (2) A contributions holiday granted in respect of an application made under section 102(a) must be granted for a period of 3 months, unless the Commissioner agrees to a longer period.

    (3) A contributions holiday granted in respect of an application made under section 102(b) must be granted for—

    • (a) a minimum period of 3 months; and

    • (b) a maximum period of whichever is the shorter of—

      • (i) 5 years; or

      • (ii) the period specified in the application.

105 Commissioner must give notice of grant of contributions holiday
  • (1) The Commissioner must, as soon as practicable after granting a contributions holiday, give notice—

    • (a) to the person who applied for the holiday—

      • (i) that the holiday has been granted; and

      • (ii) of the date on which the holiday will end; and

    • (b) to each relevant employer—

      • (i) that a contributions holiday has been granted in respect of the person; and

      • (ii) that the employer must stop making deductions of contributions from the salary or wages of the person; and

    • (c) to the provider of the person’s KiwiSaver scheme—

      • (i) that a contributions holiday has been granted in respect of the person; and

      • (ii) of the names of the relevant employers; and

      • (iii) that deductions of contributions may not be made from the salary or wages paid to the person by the relevant employers during the period of the holiday.

    (2) In this section, relevant employer means each employer to whom the person stated, in the application for the contributions holiday, that the contributions holiday was intended to apply.

106 When deductions stop at start of contributions holiday
  • If an employer is notified under section 105, subpart 1 ceases to apply—

    • (a) to the employer in respect of the person who applied for the contributions holiday; and

    • (b) with effect on the next payment of salary or wages that the employer calculates after the date on which the employer receives the notice.

107 Employers to whom contributions holiday applies
  • A contributions holiday granted under this subpart, while it is in force,—

    • (a) has effect, subject to section 108, in respect of each employer to whom the person stated, in the application for the contributions holiday, that the contributions holiday was intended to apply; and

    • (b) may be used, if the person chooses, in respect of any other employer.

108 Contributions holidays have 3-month minimum life
  • (1) The purpose of this section is to prevent employees requesting employers to stop and start deductions of contributions too often.

    (2) No contributions holiday may be used in respect of an employer for less than 3 months unless the employer agrees.

End of contributions holiday

109 Commissioner must give notice before contributions holiday ends
  • The Commissioner must give notice to a person who is on a contributions holiday before the holiday ends.

110 Commissioner must give notice to employer of end of contributions holiday
  • The Commissioner must give notice to each affected employer known to the Commissioner, as soon as practicable after the end of a contributions holiday,—

    • (a) of the date on which the contributions holiday ended; and

    • (b) that the employer must start making deductions of contributions from the salary or wages of the person.

111 When deductions start at end of contributions holiday
  • (1) If an employer is notified under section 110 about the end of a person’s contributions holiday, or under section 112 about the revocation of a person’s contributions holiday, subpart 1 applies—

    • (a) to the employer in respect of that person; and

    • (b) with effect on the next payment of salary or wages that the employer calculates after the date on which the employer receives the notice.

    (2) This section is subject to any new contributions holiday that is granted under this subpart.

Revocation and reinstatement of contributions holiday

112 Revocation and reinstatement of contributions holiday
  • (1) Subject to section 108, a person may at any time revoke his or her contributions holiday in respect of an employer by giving notice to the employer requiring the employer to start making deductions from salary or wages under subpart 1.

    (2) A person may at any time reinstate his or her contributions holiday in respect of an employer by giving notice to the employer requiring the employer to stop making deductions from salary or wages under subpart 1.

    (3) Sections 106 and 108 apply, with necessary modifications, as if the reinstatement of a contributions holiday were the granting of a contributions holiday.

113 Refund of initial contributions
  • (1) A person may apply to the Commissioner for a refund of any contributions that are being held in the holding account under section 75 if the person is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant financial hardship or is suffering serious illness.

    (2) In this section, significant financial hardship has the same meaning as in clause 11 of the KiwiSaver rules and serious illness has the same meaning as in clause 12 of those rules.

    (3) The application may be made by any means that the Commissioner accepts.

    (4) The application must tell the Commissioner—

    • (a) the person’s name and address; and

    • (b) the person’s tax file number; and

    • (c) details of the significant financial hardship or serious illness; and

    • (d) any other information that the Commissioner requires.

    (5) The Commissioner must refund the contributions to which the application relates, if the Commissioner is reasonably satisfied that—

    • (a) the person and the application meet the requirements of this section; and

    • (b) reasonable alternative sources of funding have been explored and have been exhausted.

    (6) However, the Commissioner—

    • (a) must not refund under this section any employer contributions that were made under section 93; and

    • (b) may direct that, despite subsection (5), the amount to be refunded under this section is limited to a specified amount that, in the Commissioner’s opinion, is required to alleviate the particular hardship.

    (7) The Commissioner must give notice of the refund to the provider of the relevant KiwiSaver scheme (if any).

    Section 113(5): substituted, on 19 December 2007, by section 68 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

    Section 113(6): substituted, on 19 December 2007, by section 68 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

114 Refunds if employee loses, etc, contributions holiday notice
  • (1) This section applies if—

    • (a) an employee has a contributions holiday that has not yet ended; and

    (2) The employer may, at any time after the employee complies with section 22(1)(c)(ii), refund to the employee any contributions that were deducted from the employee’s salary or wages before the employee complied.

    (3) The Commissioner may refund that money to the employee if the money is held by the Commissioner.

Part 4
KiwiSaver schemes

Subpart 1Preliminary provisions

115 Interpretation
  • In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, any term or expression that is used but not defined in this Act but that is defined in the Superannuation Schemes Act 1989

    • (a) has the meaning given to it by that Act; and

    • (b) has the same meaning in relation to a KiwiSaver scheme as it has in relation to a registered superannuation scheme.

Subpart 2Main features of KiwiSaver schemes

116 Schemes eligible to be KiwiSaver scheme
  • (1) A scheme is eligible to be a KiwiSaver scheme if—

    • (a) it is established and governed by a trust deed that is interpreted and administered in accordance with New Zealand law; and

    • (b) its principal purpose is to provide retirement benefits directly or indirectly to natural persons; and

    • (c) it is a defined contribution scheme; and

    • (d) the benefits provided by the scheme are fully funded as they accrue; and

    • (e) it has a manager; and

    • (f) it has a trustee.

    (2) [Repealed]

    (3) The provisions of the trust deed referred to in subsection (1)(a) may also govern a registered superannuation scheme.

    (4) This section is subject to the requirement for registration under subpart 3.

    (5) This section does not apply to a restricted KiwiSaver scheme.

    Section 116(1)(a): substituted, on 1 May 2011, by section 11(1) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 116(1)(e): substituted, on 1 May 2011, by section 11(2) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 116(1)(f): substituted, on 1 May 2011, by section 11(2) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 116(2): repealed, on 1 May 2011, by section 11(3) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 116(3): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 11(4) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 116(5): added, on 1 May 2011, by section 11(5) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

116A Requirements for restricted KiwiSaver schemes
  • (1) A scheme that is identified on the KiwiSaver schemes register as a restricted KiwiSaver scheme must—

    • (b) have at least 1 independent trustee; and

    • (c) have—

      • (i) at least 1 trustee who is a New Zealand resident; or

      • (ii) if any of the trustees is a corporate trustee, at least 1 director of the corporate trustee who is a New Zealand resident; and

    • (d) restrict membership of the scheme, in its conditions of entry of members to the scheme and in the way in which those conditions are applied, to 1 or more of the classes of persons described in subsection (2).

    (2) The classes of persons are—

    • (a) persons who are employed by a particular employer:

    • (b) persons who are employed by a related body corporate (within the meaning of section 5B(2) of the Securities Markets Act 1988) of a particular employer:

    • (c) persons who belong to a particular profession, calling, trade, or occupation:

    • (d) persons who belong to a particular association, society, or other body with a definable community of interest:

    • (e) persons who are immediate family members of, or wholly or partially financially dependent on, a person in 1 or more of the classes of persons described in paragraphs (a) to (d).

    (3) In subsection (2)(e), immediate family member, in relation to a person, means the persons's spouse, civil union partner, de facto partner, parent, child, step-parent, or stepchild.

    (4) A restricted scheme must obtain the prior written consent of the FMA before changing the conditions of entry of members to the scheme, or the way in which those conditions are applied, in a way that expands or is likely to expand the classes of persons who may become members of the scheme.

    (5) As soon as practicable after a restricted scheme ceases to comply with subsection (1)(c), the trustees of the scheme must notify the FMA of that fact.

    Section 116A: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 12 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

116B  Requirements for managers of KiwiSaver schemes
  • (1) The manager of a KiwiSaver scheme is responsible for performing the following functions:

    • (a) offering interests in the scheme for subscription:

    • (b) issuing interests in the scheme:

    • (c) managing scheme investments and property:

    • (d) administering the scheme.

    (2) The manager—

    • (b) must have at least 1 director who is a New Zealand resident; and

    • (c) must be designated or appointed as manager of the scheme under the trust deed; and

    • (d) must be a party to the trust deed or bound to comply with the relevant provisions of the trust deed as if it were a party to the trust deed.

    (3) The manager has the same liability for its acts and omissions in the performance of its functions and duties, and the exercise of its powers, as it would if it performed those functions or duties, or exercised those powers, as a trustee.

    (4) As soon as practicable after a manager ceases to comply with subsection (2)(b), the manager must notify the FMA of that fact.

    Section 116B: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 12 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

116C Duty of manager with respect to money received
  • (1) This section applies to all money received by the manager, or an agent of the manager, in respect of contributions.

    (2) On receipt by the manager,—

    • (a) the manager must pay the money into a separate bank account; and

    • (b) the money is subject to the trusts governing the scheme that are set out in the trust deed.

    Compare: 1960 No 99 ss 14(1), 15

    Section 116C: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 12 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

116D Requirements for trustees of KiwiSaver schemes other than restricted schemes
  • (1) A KiwiSaver scheme other than a restricted scheme must not have more than 1 trustee.

    (2) The trustee must hold a licence under the Securities Trustees and Statutory Supervisors Act 2011 that covers interests in the scheme.

    (3) The trustee must supervise the manager's performance of—

    • (b) any other functions that the manager performs in relation to the scheme under the trust deed or an enactment.

    (4) The trustee must not delegate the function described in subsection (3).

    Section 116D: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 12 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 116D(2): substituted, on 1 October 2011, by section 62(2) of the Securities Trustees and Statutory Supervisors Act 2011 (2011 No 10).

116E Removal of trustees of KiwiSaver schemes other than restricted schemes
  • (1) The trustee of a KiwiSaver scheme other than a restricted scheme must not resign as trustee of the scheme unless—

    • (a) all functions and duties of the position have been performed; or

    • (b) the High Court consents.

    (2) Despite anything to the contrary in the trust deed, a manager must not discharge or remove a trustee unless the manager does so—

    • (a) under section 23 or 38 of the Securities Trustees and Statutory Supervisors Act 2011; or

    • (b) with the approval of the High Court.

    Compare: 1960 No 99 s 10

    Section 116E: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 12 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 116E(1)(ab): inserted, on 1 October 2011, by section 62(3) of the Securities Trustees and Statutory Supervisors Act 2011 (2011 No 10).

    Section 116E(2): substituted, on 1 October 2011, by section 62(4) of the Securities Trustees and Statutory Supervisors Act 2011 (2011 No 10).

116F Manager and trustee must be independent
  • (1) This section applies to a KiwiSaver scheme other than a restricted scheme.

    (2) A person (A) must not act as trustee of the scheme, and another person (B) must not act as manager of the scheme, if A and B are associated persons (within the meaning of subpart YB of the Income Tax Act 2007).

    Section 116F: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 12 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

116G Investments and property of KiwiSaver schemes
  • The investments and property of a KiwiSaver scheme must be vested in—

    • (a) the trustees; or

    • (b) 1 or more nominated persons of the trustees; or

    • (c) 1 or more nominees of a nominated person of the trustees.

    Section 116G: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 12 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

116H Nomination of person
  • (1) If authorised by the trust deed, the trustees of a KiwiSaver scheme may nominate, in writing, 1 or more persons in which are vested any of the investments or property of the scheme.

    (2) The following persons are not eligible to be nominated as, or to act as, a nominated person:

    • (a) the manager of the scheme:

    • (b) a person who is an associated person (within the meaning of subpart YB of the Income Tax Act 2007) of the manager.

    (3) The trustees, in addition to their own obligations as trustees in relation to the scheme, are jointly and severally liable with the nominated person for the due and faithful performance and observance by the nominated person of all the duties and obligations imposed on the nominated person in relation to the scheme either by this Act or by law.

    Compare: 1960 No 99 ss 6, 6A

    Section 116H: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 12 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

116I Appointment of nominee by nominated person
  • (1) If authorised in writing by the trustees, a nominated person may appoint 1 or more nominees in which are vested any of the investments or property of the scheme.

    (2) The following persons are not eligible to be appointed as, or to act as, a nominee:

    • (a) the manager of the scheme:

    • (b) a person who is an associated person (within the meaning of subpart YB of the Income Tax Act 2007) of the manager.

    (3) The trustee and the nominated person that appointed the nominee, in addition to their own obligations in relation to the scheme, are jointly and severally liable with the nominee for the due and faithful performance and observance by the nominee of all the duties and obligations imposed on the nominee in relation to the scheme by this Act or by law.

    Compare: 1960 No 99 ss 6B, 6C

    Section 116I: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 12 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

116J Trust deed or other instrument must not exempt trustees, managers, or investment managers from liability
  • (1) A provision in a trust deed or any other instrument is void to the extent that it would have the effect of exempting or indemnifying a trustee, a manager, or an investment manager from liability for breach of trust in the event of the trustee, manager, or investment manager failing to meet,—

    • (a) in the case of a trustee of a KiwiSaver scheme other than a restricted scheme, the standard of care set out in clause 1A(b) of Schedule 1:

    • (c) in the case of an investment manager, the standard of care set out in clause 1E(2) of Schedule 1:

    • (d) in the case of a trustee of a restricted KiwiSaver scheme,—

      • (i) the standard of care set out in clause 1E(2) of Schedule 1; or

      • (ii) the standard of care required of a trustee by law:

    • (e) in the case of an independent trustee of a restricted KiwiSaver scheme, the standard of care set out in section 117(2)(a).

    (2) However, the trustees of a restricted KiwiSaver scheme, and the trustee and the manager of any other KiwiSaver scheme, are otherwise entitled to the same indemnities and relief as any trustee (within the meaning of the Trustee Act 1956).

    Compare: 1960 No 99 s 24

    Section 116J: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 12 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

116K Trustees of KiwiSaver schemes other than restricted schemes may apply to High Court for order relating to scheme
  • (1) This section applies if the trustee of a KiwiSaver scheme other than a restricted scheme is satisfied that—

    • (a) there is a significant risk that the interests of members of the scheme will be materially prejudiced; or

    • (b) the provisions of the trust deed are no longer adequate to give proper protection to members.

    (2) The trustee may apply to the High Court for an order under this section.

    (3) The court may direct that the application be served on any person that the court thinks fit.

    (4) On an application, the court, after giving the manager and any other person that the court thinks fit the opportunity to be heard, may make an order that—

    • (a) amends the provisions of the trust deed of the scheme:

    • (b) imposes restrictions on the activities of the trustee or the manager (including, in the case of the manager, restrictions on advertising) that the court thinks are necessary to protect the interests of members:

    • (c) stays any or all civil proceedings before any court by or against the trustee or the manager:

    • (d) restrains the payment under this Act of money by the manager or the trustee to members or a class of members:

    • (e) restrains the transfer under this Act of a member's accumulation from one KiwiSaver scheme to another:

    • (f) removes a person as manager of a scheme and appoints another person as manager of the scheme (with any powers that the court orders):

    • (g) gives any other directions that the court considers necessary to protect the interests of members, or the public.

    (5) The court may vary or cancel an order made under this section.

    (6) In exercising its powers under this section, the court must have regard to the interests of all creditors in respect of the scheme.

    Section 116K: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 12 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

117 Additional duty of independent trustees
  • (1) This section applies to a trustee of a restricted KiwiSaver scheme if—

    • (a) the trustee is named as an independent trustee in an application or proposal submitted in relation to the KiwiSaver scheme under any of the sections specified in subsection (3) (unless a substitute has been appointed for that person in accordance with paragraph (c)); or

    • (b) the trustee is, in fact, an independent trustee in the event that no trustee is named as an independent trustee in an application or proposal submitted in relation to the KiwiSaver scheme under any of the sections specified in subsection (3) or none of the persons so named in the application or proposal, or their substitutes appointed under paragraph (c), continue to be trustees; or

    • (c) the trustee is appointed as a substitute for a person named as an independent trustee in an application or proposal submitted in relation to the KiwiSaver scheme under any of the sections specified in subsection (3) (or as a substitute for a person subsequently appointed) if the trustees notify the FMA of the appointment.

    (2) A trustee to whom this section applies—

    • (a) must, in managing the affairs of the KiwiSaver scheme, exercise the care, diligence, and skill that a prudent person engaged in the profession or business of managing trusts would exercise in managing the affairs of others; and

    • (b) is liable in any civil proceedings for any act or omission as if that standard of care, diligence, and skill applied.

    (3) The sections referred to in subsection (1) are—

    Section 117(1): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 13(1) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 117(1)(a): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 13(2) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 117(1)(b): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 13(2) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 117(1)(c): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 13(2) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 117(1)(c): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 85(1) of the Financial Markets Authority Act 2011 (2011 No 5).

    Section 117(2)(a): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 13(3) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 117(3): added, on 1 May 2011, by section 13(4) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

117A Restrictions on transactions
  • (1) This section applies to a KiwiSaver scheme if the scheme has less than 20 members, treating all interests in the scheme held by persons associated under the 1988 version provisions of the Income Tax Act 2007 as being held by 1 person.

    (2) A transaction between a scheme’s provider, and a person associated (under the 1988 version provisions of the Income Tax Act 2007) with either a provider or a member must use arm’s length amounts of consideration.

    (3) Despite subsection (2),—

    • (a) the KiwiSaver scheme must not have more than 5% of its assets in investments related to or managed by—

      • (i) a provider (other than in their capacity of provider):

      • (ii) a member:

      • (iii) a person associated (under the 1988 version provisions of the Income Tax Act 2007) with a provider or member; and

    • (b) the provider must not lend money or provide financial assistance to—

      • (i) a member:

      • (ii) a person associated (under the 1988 version provisions of the Income Tax Act 2007) with a provider or member.

    Section 117A: inserted, on 1 April 2008, by section 69 of the Taxation (KiwiSaver) Act 2007 (2007 No 110).

Application of Superannuation Schemes Act 1989 to KiwiSaver scheme

[Repealed]

  • Heading: repealed, on 1 May 2011, by section 14 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

118 KiwiSaver scheme must be treated as registered superannuation scheme for most purposes
  • (1) A KiwiSaver scheme must, for the purposes of any other enactment (unless the enactment indicates otherwise), be treated as a registered superannuation scheme and, accordingly,—

    • (b) a reference in an enactment to any person, right, obligation, duty, interest, property, funds, or any other matter that would apply in relation to a registered superannuation scheme applies with necessary modifications in relation to a KiwiSaver scheme.

    (2) Despite subsection (1), a KiwiSaver scheme—

    • (b) must instead be established, registered, and wound up in accordance with this Part and subject to the express provisions of this Part.

    (3) [Repealed]

    Section 118(2): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 15(1) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 118(2)(a): amended, on 1 May 2011, by section 15(2) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

    Section 118(3): repealed, on 1 May 2011, by section 15(3) of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

Trust deeds

  • Heading: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 16 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

119 Content of trust deeds
  • (1) The trust deed of a KiwiSaver scheme must specify the following matters:

    • (a) the conditions of entry of members to the scheme:

    • (b) the conditions of termination of membership of the scheme:

    • (c) the contributions payable:

    • (d) the conditions under which benefits become payable and the way in which the benefits will be determined:

    • (e) the number of trustees, and provision for their appointment, removal from office, and retirement:

    • (f) the circumstances in which the scheme may be wound up and the way in which the assets of the scheme are to be distributed in the event of a winding-up:

    • (g) in the case of a KiwiSaver scheme other than a restricted scheme, provision for the appointment, removal from office, and retirement of the manager.

    (2) If other provisions of this Act expressly set out requirements in relation to the matters set out in subsection (1) (for example, by terms implied by the KiwiSaver scheme rules or provision for how a scheme must be wound up),—

    • (a) the trust deed is subject to those provisions; and

    • (b) subsection (1) is satisfied by reference to the relevant provisions in this Act in respect of those matters.

    Compare: 1989 No 10 s 7

    Section 119: substituted, on 1 May 2011, by section 16 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

119A Implied provision as to amendments reducing accrued benefits, etc
  • (1) There is implied in the trust deed of a KiwiSaver scheme a provision that an amendment requiring consent must not be made unless the trustees (in the case of a restricted KiwiSaver scheme) have, or the manager (in the case of any other KiwiSaver scheme) has, obtained the written consent of every member who would be adversely affected by the amendment.

    (2) In subsection (1), amendment requiring consent means an amendment of the trust deed that would have the effect of—

    • (a) reducing, postponing, or otherwise adversely affecting the benefits, whether vested, contingent, or discretionary, that may in due course flow from, or are attributable to, membership of the scheme up to the date the amendment is made; or

    • (b) removing a right of members to participate in the management of the scheme; or

    • (c) increasing the contributions, fees, or charges payable by a member; or

    • (d) providing for the reversion of any assets of the scheme to an employer to a greater extent than already provided for in the trust deed.

    Compare: 1989 No 10 s 9

    Section 119A: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 16 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

119B Application of sections 119C to 119I
  • Sections 119C to 119I apply to transfers or proposed transfers between KiwiSaver schemes, other than transfers to which subpart 3 of Part 2 applies.

    Section 119B: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 16 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

119C Implied provision as to transfer of members, etc
  • (1) There is implied in the trust deed of a KiwiSaver scheme a provision that no member of the scheme will be transferred to another KiwiSaver scheme, or to another section of the same scheme, unless the trustees (in the case of a restricted KiwiSaver scheme) have, or the manager (in the case of any other KiwiSaver scheme) has, obtained the written consent of the member concerned.

    (2) This section is subject to section 119G.

    Compare: 1989 No 10 s 9B(1), (1A), (5)

    Section 119C: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 16 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

119D Procedural requirements in case of certain transfers
  • (1) This section and sections 119E to 119H apply if it is proposed to transfer (whether at the same time or over an extended period) all or a substantial number of members from a KiwiSaver scheme to another KiwiSaver scheme.

    (2) The manager of each KiwiSaver scheme affected, other than a restricted scheme, must, at least 1 month before the date on which the manager requires members to give their written consent to a proposed transfer,—

    • (a) consult the trustee of the scheme on the proposed transfer; and

    • (b) notify the members described in subsection (4) in writing of—

      • (i) the proposed transfer and its implications for members; and

      • (ii) the date on which the proposed transfer is to occur; and

      • (iii) the date by which the written consent of members to the proposed transfer must be received by the manager; and

      • (iv) any comments concerning the proposed transfer made by the trustee as a result of consultation under paragraph (a); and

      • (v) the fact that a copy of the notice has been forwarded to the FMA; and

    • (c) notify the FMA in writing of the matters described in paragraph (b)(i) to (iv).

    (3) The trustees of each restricted KiwiSaver scheme affected must, at least 1 month before the date on which they require members to give their written consent to a proposed transfer,—

    • (a) notify the members described in subsection (4) in writing of—

      • (i) the proposed transfer and its implications for members; and

      • (ii) the date on which the proposed transfer is to occur; and

      • (iii) the date by which the written consent of members to the proposed transfer must be received by the trustees; and

      • (iv) the fact that a copy of the notice has been forwarded to the FMA; and

    • (b) notify the FMA in writing of the matters described in paragraph (a)(i) to (iii).

    (4) The persons who must be notified under subsections (2)(b) and (3)(a) are all members of the scheme other than those members who, in the opinion of the FMA, are not likely to be materially affected by the proposed transfer.

    (5) Giving notice under this section does not derogate from the need to comply with any other provision of this Act.

    (6) For the purposes of this section and section 119E, references to the transfer of members from one scheme to another include references to transfers of members from one section of a scheme to another section of the same scheme.

    Compare: 1989 No 10 s 9B(2)–(3), (5)

    Section 119D: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 16 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

119E When requirements of section 119D not met
  • For the purposes of section 169, and without limiting that section, it is a ground for the FMA to have reasonable cause to believe that a particular scheme to which members are transferred fails to meet the requirements of section 119D if,—

    • (a) over any 12-month period, either—

      • (i) 20% or more of the members of another KiwiSaver scheme are transferred to the particular KiwiSaver scheme; or

      • (ii) the number of members of the particular KiwiSaver scheme is increased by 20% or more by reason of a transfer of members from another KiwiSaver scheme; and

    • (b) the members of the particular KiwiSaver scheme who are described in section 119D(4) have not been notified of the transfer, or any notification given has not adequately set out the implications of the transfer.

    Compare: 1989 No 10 s 9B(4)

    Section 119E: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 16 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

119F Information required in case of transfer under section 119D
  • In respect of a transfer to which section 119D applies, the provider of the scheme from which a member (A) transfers must give the following information to the provider of the scheme to which A transfers:

    • (a) A's name, address, and date of birth:

    • (b) A's tax file number:

    • (c) the date on which A first became a member of a KiwiSaver scheme:

    • (d) if A is an employee,—

      • (i) the name and address of each of A's employers; and

      • (ii) the rate at which A intends each of those employers to make deductions of contributions from his or her salary or wages:

    • (e) the name, address, and tax file number of both the provider and the scheme:

    • (f) any other information that the Commissioner requires the provider to give to the provider of the scheme to which A transfers.

    Section 119F: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 16 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

119G When FMA may approve section 119D transfers without consent of members
  • (1) In respect of a transfer to which section 119D applies, the requirement in section 119C to obtain the written consent of all or any of the members of a scheme does not apply if the FMA approves the transfer under this section.

    (2) The FMA may approve the transfer if the FMA is satisfied that—

    • (a) the terms and conditions of the scheme to which the members are to be transferred (the new scheme) are no less favourable to members than the terms and conditions of the scheme from which they are being transferred (the old scheme); and

    • (b) the transfer is otherwise reasonable in all the circumstances (including having regard to the value of the assets transferred from the old scheme to the new scheme); and

    (3) The FMA may decline to approve a transfer if the FMA considers that the transfer would adversely affect the interests of all or any of the members of the old scheme in a material way.

    (4) In determining whether subsection (2) or (3) applies, the FMA may—

    • (a) have regard to the likely effect of the new scheme on benefits to members as a whole; and

    • (b) have regard to any other matter that the FMA considers relevant.

    (5) For a transfer that the FMA has approved,—

    • (a) each relevant member of the old scheme is treated as offering to be a member of the new scheme on the terms and conditions for that new scheme; and

    • (b) the provider of the new scheme is treated as accepting the member's offer.

    (6) The FMA may publish, in any form that the FMA thinks fit, guidance on matters that the FMA considers relevant under this section (including principles that the FMA may use to decide whether to approve a transfer).

    Compare: 1989 No 10 s 9BAA

    Section 119G: inserted, on 1 May 2011, by section 16 of the KiwiSaver Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 8).

119H How approval under section 119G may be granted
  • (1) An application for approval under section 119G may be made by—

    • (a) the trustees (in the case of a restricted KiwiSaver scheme) of the old scheme or the new scheme:

    • (b) the trustee or the manager (in the case of any other KiwiSaver scheme) of the old scheme or the new scheme:

    • (c) a relevant employer.

    (2) The FMA may accept an application for approval if it is satisfied that—

    • (a) it is reasonable in all of the circumstances of the case that the person have standing to make the application; and

    • (b) the person falls within a class specified in guidelines published by the FMA (if any) for the purposes of this subsection.

    (3) The FMA may require the applicant to give the FMA, with the application or at any later time,—

    • (a) a certificate, signed by a person of a class specified by the FMA, that the transfer meets the requirements of section 119G; and

    • (b) any other information about the new scheme, the old scheme, or the transfer.

    (4) The applicant must give notice to every member of the old scheme—

    • (a) that the applicant has applied for approval to transfer the members without their written consent; and

    • (b) that the member may make submissions to the FMA about the transfer.

    (5) The FMA must have regard to submissions before deciding whether or not to give approval.

    (6) The FMA may give approval subject to any ter