NZ Super is universal, not means-tested
From age 65, if you meet the residency rules, you get NZ Super regardless of what you earn, own or have saved. Your KiwiSaver balance does not reduce it by a single dollar.
FundfinderNZ Super & KiwiSaver
One is the floor. The other decides how far above it you live.
NZ Super arrives at 65 whether or not you saved a cent. KiwiSaver is the part you control. Move the sliders below to see the two side by side — and what happens to your tax if you keep working.
Rates shown are the NZ Super rates from 1 April 2026 and the income tax thresholds in force at September 2026.
The income gap
The green block is NZ Super — it never runs out. The orange block is your KiwiSaver, spread evenly, and it does.
Your income at 65
NZ Super is the floor. Your KiwiSaver decides the rest.
Your situation
KiwiSaver balance at 65$180,000
Spread it over25 years (to age 90)
Return after inflation3.0% a year
What you want to spend$1,100 a week
NZ Super
$854/wk
From KiwiSaver
$199/wk
Total
$1,053/wk
You are short about $47 a week. To close that gap over 25 years you would need roughly $222,677 in KiwiSaver at 65 instead of $180,000.
Working past 65
There is no clawback. There is a tax code, and it catches a lot of people out.
Still working at 65
NZ Super is not reduced by what you earn — but the two incomes stack, so your wages are taxed at the rate that sits on top of your Super.
Your work income$35,000 a year
Super (before tax)
$33,663
Tax + ACC levy
$13,404
Take-home
$55,259
Super tax code
SH
30% on your Super
At $35,000 of work income you keep about $68 of every extra $100 you earn. Your Super should be taxed at the SH code — pick the wrong one and you either get a bill at the end of the year or lend the government money for free.
The four rules that matter
KiwiSaver decides your lifestyle, not your survival
Super covers a fairly modest budget. The distance between that and the retirement you actually picture is exactly what your KiwiSaver balance and fund choice have to close.
The KiwiSaver rules change on your 65th birthday
You can withdraw the lot. Contributions become voluntary — your employer no longer has to match you — and the annual government contribution stops. Many people keep contributing anyway if they are still working.
Working does not cost you Super, but it does move your tax
Super and wages stack into one taxable income. Your Super gets taxed at a secondary code (S, SH, ST or SA) chosen to match your total. Using the wrong code is the single most common cause of a surprise tax bill at 65.
Common questions
Does taking KiwiSaver reduce my NZ Super?+
No. NZ Super is not income- or asset-tested, so withdrawing or drawing down KiwiSaver has no effect on your payments. Your withdrawals are also not taxed as income — tax was already paid inside the fund.
Which tax code should my NZ Super use if I'm still working?+
Your job usually uses M and your Super uses a secondary code based on your total income from all sources: S, SH, ST or SA. Inland Revenue can also issue a tailored tax rate if the standard codes over- or under-tax you.
Should I keep contributing to KiwiSaver after 65?+
It depends on whether your employer keeps matching you voluntarily — many do. Without the match and without the government contribution, KiwiSaver after 65 is simply an investment account with withdrawal freedom, so compare it against your other options.
When do the numbers on this page change?+
NZ Super rates are adjusted every 1 April. The figures here are the rates from 1 April 2026, checked September 2026. Always confirm current rates with Work and Income and Inland Revenue.
Now check the fund doing the work
The size of that orange block depends almost entirely on the fund you are in and the fees it charges.
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