New Zealand Retirement Income Calculator

How much could you actually receive each week when you retire?

Our New Zealand Retirement Income Calculator estimates your future retirement income by combining two important sources of retirement income:

• NZ Super
• KiwiSaver

The calculator projects your current KiwiSaver balance and future contributions until your planned retirement age, then estimates how much you could withdraw each week during retirement.

It also shows your:

• Projected KiwiSaver balance at retirement
• NZ Super income
• Estimated KiwiSaver drawdown
• Combined weekly retirement income
• Combined annual retirement income
• Retirement income replacement rate
• Age your projected KiwiSaver could run out

This makes the calculator useful if you're asking:

"How much income could I have when I retire in New Zealand?"

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What Is the New Zealand Retirement Income Calculator?

The New Zealand Retirement Income Calculator is an estimate of what your retirement income could look like based on your current age, retirement age, KiwiSaver balance, salary, contribution rates and assumed investment returns.

The calculation has two main parts.

1. NZ Super

NZ Super is a government pension that generally becomes available from age 65 if you meet the eligibility requirements.

2. KiwiSaver

Your KiwiSaver balance can potentially provide additional retirement income. The calculator projects your KiwiSaver balance to your chosen retirement age and then calculates an estimated regular withdrawal over the number of years you specify.

Your estimated retirement income is therefore approximately:

NZ Super + KiwiSaver drawdown = estimated retirement income

The calculator keeps these two sources separate so you can see exactly where your projected retirement income comes from.

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How the NZ Super + KiwiSaver Calculator Works

The calculator uses several inputs to build your retirement projection.

These include:

• Current age
• Planned retirement age
• NZ Super living situation
• Current KiwiSaver balance
• Annual salary or wages
• Your KiwiSaver contribution rate
• Employer contribution rate
• Extra voluntary contributions
• Growth rate until retirement
• Number of years you want KiwiSaver to last
• Growth rate during retirement

Each input can have a significant effect on your final result.

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1. Enter Your Current Age

The first input is your current age.

For example:

Current age = 40

Your age determines how many years your KiwiSaver has to grow before your planned retirement.

If you plan to retire at 65:

65 − 40 = 25 years until retirement

The calculator displays this figure in the results section.

The longer your investment period, the more opportunity your existing KiwiSaver balance and future contributions have to compound.

This is one of the most important concepts in retirement planning.

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2. Enter Your Planned Retirement Age

Next, enter the age at which you intend to stop working.

For example:

Planned retirement age = 65

The calculator then projects your KiwiSaver balance from your current age until that retirement age.

However, there is an important distinction:

Retirement age and NZ Super age are not necessarily the same

You can choose to retire before 65.

But retiring early does not cause NZ Super to start early.

NZ Super eligibility generally begins at age 65, subject to the eligibility requirements. Therefore, someone retiring at 60 may need to fund the period from age 60 to 65 from KiwiSaver, other investments, employment income or other sources.

This is why the calculator treats NZ Super separately.

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3. NZ Super in New Zealand

NZ Super is an important part of retirement income for many New Zealanders.

The amount depends on your circumstances, including your living situation and tax code.

For the rates effective from 1 April 2026, the standard after-tax fortnightly rates at the M tax code include:

Situation	Weekly equivalent
Single, living alone	$555.15
Single, sharing accommodation	$512.45
Couple, both qualify	$854.08 each
Couple, both qualify	$1,708.16 combined

These figures are based on Work and Income's published NZ Super rates effective from 1 April 2026.

Your actual NZ Super entitlement can depend on your circumstances and eligibility.

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4. Why Your Living Situation Matters

The calculator asks you to select your NZ Super situation.

For example:

Single, living alone

The calculator then uses the corresponding NZ Super rate.

Someone who is single and living alone receives a different standard rate from someone who is single and sharing accommodation.

Likewise, the couple rate is different.

The calculator therefore doesn't simply assume that everyone receives the same NZ Super payment.

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5. What Happens If You Retire Before 65?

This is one of the most important features of the calculator.

Suppose:

• Current age = 40
• Retirement age = 60

You have:

20 years until retirement

But NZ Super does not begin simply because you retire.

Your retirement income before age 65 may therefore need to come from:

• KiwiSaver
• Personal savings
• Investments
• Other income
• Part-time work
• Property income
• Other retirement assets

The calculator therefore does not incorrectly add NZ Super to your income from the day you retire.

Instead, it recognises the potential pre-65 retirement income gap.

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6. Enter Your Current KiwiSaver Balance

The next input is your current KiwiSaver balance.

For example:

Current KiwiSaver balance = $60,000

This is the starting amount that the calculator projects forward.

The calculator assumes this existing balance remains invested and grows according to your selected annual growth assumption.

For example:

Current balance = $60,000

Growth assumption = 5%

Years until retirement = 25

The balance has 25 years to potentially compound.

This illustrates why starting early can be so powerful.

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7. KiwiSaver Compound Growth

The calculator uses compound growth rather than simply adding a fixed percentage to your balance once.

Conceptually:

Future KiwiSaver balance = current balance growth + future contributions growth

Your existing balance can grow over time, while new contributions are added throughout your working years.

Because investment returns are assumed to compound, returns earned in earlier years can themselves generate further returns.

This is why even relatively small differences in the number of years invested can produce large differences in the projected balance.

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8. Enter Your Annual Salary or Wages

The calculator asks for your annual salary or wages because KiwiSaver contributions are generally linked to your earnings.

For example:

Annual salary = $80,000

If your employee contribution rate is 3.5%:

$80,000 × 3.5% = $2,800

That represents the employee contribution before considering the precise payroll and KiwiSaver circumstances.

The calculator also allows you to enter an employer contribution rate.

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9. Your KiwiSaver Contribution Rate

The calculator lets you select your employee KiwiSaver contribution rate.

Current standard rates include:

• 3.5%
• 4%
• 6%
• 8%
• 10%

Inland Revenue confirms that 3.5% is the current default rate, with 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% available as standard contribution choices.

From 1 April 2026, the minimum standard employee and employer contribution rate increased to 3.5%.

The contribution rate you select can make a significant difference to your projected retirement balance.

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10. Employer KiwiSaver Contributions

Your employer may also contribute to your KiwiSaver.

The calculator allows you to enter an employer contribution rate.

For example:

Employer contribution = 3.5%

If your salary is $80,000:

$80,000 × 3.5% = $2,800

However, an important point is that employer contributions are subject to ESCT — Employer Superannuation Contribution Tax.

The amount actually credited to your KiwiSaver account from the employer contribution can therefore be lower than the headline employer contribution percentage. Inland Revenue confirms that employers must deduct ESCT from employer KiwiSaver contributions.

Your calculator currently treats employer contributions as a projection input, so the result should be regarded as an estimate rather than an exact KiwiSaver provider statement.

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11. Extra Voluntary KiwiSaver Contributions

The calculator also lets you enter:

Extra voluntary contribution per year

For example:

$2,000 per year

This is particularly useful for people who want to test scenarios such as:

What happens if I contribute an extra $100 a month?

or:

What if I put an additional $2,000 into KiwiSaver every year?

Extra contributions can have a larger effect than their face value because the additional money may also compound over many years.

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12. KiwiSaver Government Contribution

Eligible KiwiSaver members may also receive the government contribution.

For the current rules, the government contribution is 25 cents for each $1 you contribute, up to a maximum of $260.72 per year.

To receive the maximum contribution, you generally need to contribute at least $1,042.86 of your own money during the relevant 1 July to 30 June period.

Eligibility includes an annual taxable income of $180,000 or less, along with other requirements.

Example

If you contribute:

$1,000

The government contribution could be:

$1,000 × 25% = $250

If you contribute at least $1,042.86 and otherwise qualify, the maximum is:

$260.72

The government contribution is an additional benefit that can increase your KiwiSaver balance.

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13. Why the Government Contribution Has a Limit

The government does not contribute 25% of unlimited KiwiSaver contributions.

The maximum annual government contribution is $260.72 under the current rules.

This means contributing substantially more than the amount needed to receive the maximum government contribution does not produce an unlimited government match.

Your additional contributions can still increase your own retirement savings, but they do not generate an equivalent additional government contribution beyond the maximum.

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14. Choosing Your KiwiSaver Growth Rate

The calculator asks:

Growth until retirement

For example:

5.0%

This is an assumption about the average annual growth of your KiwiSaver investment before retirement.

It is not a guaranteed return.

Investment returns can:

• rise
• fall
• vary substantially from year to year
• be negative during some periods

A 5% assumption does not mean your KiwiSaver provider will actually return exactly 5% every year.

Instead, the calculator uses a smooth assumed rate to illustrate a possible long-term scenario.

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15. Why Growth Rate Makes Such a Big Difference

Consider two hypothetical scenarios.

Scenario A

Growth assumption:

4%

Scenario B

Growth assumption:

6%

Over a short period, the difference may appear small.

Over 20 or 30 years, however, the difference can become substantial because of compounding.

This is why you should avoid interpreting the calculator's projected KiwiSaver balance as a guaranteed future value.

Instead, use different growth assumptions to understand how sensitive your retirement plan is to investment performance.

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16. How Your Projected KiwiSaver Balance Is Calculated

The calculator effectively combines two sources of future value:

Existing KiwiSaver

Your current balance grows over the years until retirement.

Future contributions

Your regular employee and employer contributions are added over time and also have the opportunity to grow.

Additional voluntary contributions can be added to the projection.

The government contribution may also be included where the calculator's eligibility assumptions are met.

Conceptually:

Projected KiwiSaver at retirement =

Future value of current balance

Future value of regular contributions

Future value of additional contributions

Future value of eligible government contributions

The calculator compounds these amounts monthly based on the annual growth assumption.

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17. Example: $60,000 KiwiSaver at Age 40

Let's use the figures shown in the calculator screenshot.

Suppose you are:

• 40 years old
• Planning to retire at 65
• Current KiwiSaver = $60,000
• Salary = $80,000
• Employee contribution = 3.5%
• Employer contribution = 3.5%
• Extra voluntary contribution = $0
• Growth until retirement = 5%

That gives you:

25 years until retirement

The calculator projects the KiwiSaver balance forward using these assumptions.

In the example shown in your calculator, the projected balance at retirement is approximately:

$499,720

This is an illustrative projection, not a guaranteed result.

Changing any of the following can materially change that number:

• Retirement age
• Salary
• Contribution rate
• Employer contribution
• Extra contributions
• Current KiwiSaver balance
• Growth assumption

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18. Drawing Down Your KiwiSaver After Retirement

Accumulating KiwiSaver is only half of the retirement calculation.

The next question is:

How much can I withdraw each week?

The calculator therefore asks:

Make it last — years

For example:

20 years

The calculator then calculates a level weekly withdrawal designed to use the projected KiwiSaver balance over those 20 years while allowing for the selected investment growth during retirement.

This is essentially an annuity-style calculation.

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19. Choosing How Long Your KiwiSaver Should Last

Suppose you have:

$500,000 at retirement

You could model:

• 15 years
• 20 years
• 25 years
• 30 years
• 35 years

The longer you want the money to last, the lower the estimated weekly withdrawal will generally be.

Shorter drawdown period

Higher potential weekly income, but the money is designed to run out sooner.

Longer drawdown period

Lower potential weekly income, but the projection spreads the balance over more years.

This makes the "Make it last" field particularly useful for comparing retirement scenarios.

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20. Growth During Retirement

The calculator has a separate input:

Growth during retirement

For example:

3.0%

Why is this separate from your pre-retirement growth assumption?

Because your investment strategy may change once you retire.

During your working years, you may have a longer investment horizon and be comfortable with greater volatility.

During retirement, you may want to take less investment risk.

The calculator therefore lets you use one growth assumption while building your KiwiSaver and another during the drawdown period.

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21. How the KiwiSaver Weekly Drawdown Is Calculated

The calculator doesn't simply divide your KiwiSaver balance by the number of weeks.

For example, it doesn't simply do:

$500,000 ÷ 20 years ÷ 52

Instead, it accounts for the assumed growth of the remaining balance during retirement.

The calculation solves for a level weekly withdrawal that is intended to reduce the KiwiSaver balance to approximately zero at the end of the selected period, assuming the selected retirement growth rate continues.

This is why the calculated weekly withdrawal can be higher than a simple:

Balance ÷ years ÷ 52

calculation.

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22. Combining NZ Super and KiwiSaver

Once the calculator has estimated your KiwiSaver drawdown, it adds the applicable NZ Super amount.

The basic calculation is:

Combined weekly retirement income = NZ Super + KiwiSaver weekly drawdown

For the example shown in your calculator:

NZ Super = $555/week

KiwiSaver drawdown = $639/week

Therefore:

Combined retirement income = $1,194/week

This is the headline number shown in the calculator.

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23. Estimated Annual Retirement Income

The calculator converts the weekly amount into an annual figure.

The calculation is:

Weekly retirement income × 52

Using the example:

$1,194 × 52 = approximately $62,088

The calculator displays approximately $62,102, depending on the underlying unrounded figures used in its calculation.

This annual figure makes it easier to compare projected retirement income with your current annual salary.

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24. Retirement Income Replacement Rate

Another useful result is the:

Replacement rate

This compares your projected retirement income with your current income.

The basic calculation is:

Replacement rate = projected annual retirement income ÷ current annual salary × 100

For example, if:

Current salary = $80,000

and:

Projected retirement income ≈ $62,100

then the replacement rate is roughly:

$62,100 ÷ $80,000 × 100 ≈ 77.6%

The calculator therefore displays approximately:

78%

This tells you that your projected retirement income is around 78% of your current salary under the assumptions entered.

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25. What Does a 78% Replacement Rate Mean?

A replacement rate is a useful planning indicator, but it should not be interpreted as a recommendation.

A person may need less income after retirement because they no longer have:

• commuting expenses
• work-related costs
• KiwiSaver contributions
• employment-related expenses
• mortgage payments, if the mortgage has been repaid

On the other hand, retirement can introduce or increase expenses such as:

• healthcare
• travel
• hobbies
• home maintenance
• supporting family
• long-term care

Therefore, a 78% replacement rate may be comfortable for one household but insufficient for another.

The calculator gives you a starting point for thinking about your retirement income needs.

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26. When Will Your KiwiSaver Run Out?

The calculator also shows:

KiwiSaver funds last until age

This is based on:

Retirement age + selected drawdown period

For example:

Retirement age = 65

Drawdown period = 20 years

Therefore:

65 + 20 = age 85

The calculator displays:

KiwiSaver funds last until age 85

This is an important result because it highlights a potential longevity risk.

If you live beyond the assumed drawdown period, you may need other sources of income or assets.

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27. What If You Want Your KiwiSaver to Last Until Age 90?

Suppose you retire at 65.

If you want the model to last until age 90:

90 − 65 = 25 years

You would enter:

25 years

instead of 20.

The estimated weekly KiwiSaver withdrawal would generally be lower because the same retirement balance is being spread across a longer period.

This is a simple way to stress-test your retirement income.

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28. What If You Increase Your KiwiSaver Contribution?

One of the most useful features of this KiwiSaver retirement calculator is scenario testing.

Suppose you currently contribute:

3.5%

You could compare that with:

6%

or:

8%

or:

10%

The additional contributions can increase your projected retirement balance.

You can then see how the higher balance affects your potential weekly retirement income.

This makes the calculator useful for answering:

"Would increasing my KiwiSaver contribution now make a meaningful difference to my retirement?"

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29. What If You Retire Earlier?

You can also change the planned retirement age.

For example:

Retire at 60

You have fewer years to build your KiwiSaver and potentially more years over which it must provide income.

Retire at 65

You have more time to contribute and grow your savings.

Retire at 70

You may have additional years of contributions and investment growth, while also shortening the period over which your KiwiSaver needs to fund retirement.

This is why retirement age is one of the most powerful variables in the calculator.

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30. What If You Have a Low KiwiSaver Balance?

You don't need to have a large KiwiSaver balance to use this calculator.

Enter your actual current balance.

The calculator can then show how continued contributions and assumed investment growth could affect your future balance.

For someone who feels behind on retirement savings, the most useful exercise may be to compare:

• Current contribution rate
• Higher contribution rate
• Additional voluntary contributions
• Earlier retirement
• Later retirement
• Different investment-growth assumptions
• Different drawdown periods

The objective isn't to predict the future perfectly.

It is to understand which variables you can control.

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31. What If You Have No KiwiSaver?

If your KiwiSaver balance is zero, the calculator can still illustrate the importance of starting to save and contributing over time.

However, your actual retirement position may also depend on:

• NZ Super
• personal savings
• investments
• property
• business assets
• other pensions
• partner income
• other sources of retirement income

Therefore, KiwiSaver should not necessarily be viewed as your entire retirement plan.

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32. Does NZ Super Depend on How Much KiwiSaver I Have?

NZ Super and KiwiSaver are fundamentally different components.

KiwiSaver is your retirement savings.

NZ Super is a government pension subject to eligibility requirements.

Having a KiwiSaver balance does not mean the calculator should automatically reduce the standard NZ Super rate simply because you have saved more.

The calculator therefore treats the two components separately.

However, your actual circumstances can be affected by other income and eligibility rules, so the calculator's NZ Super figure should be regarded as an estimate.

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33. What the Calculator Assumes About NZ Super

The calculator uses standard NZ Super rates based on the selected living situation and the standard M tax code assumption.

The rates are reviewed and updated periodically.

Work and Income's rates effective from 1 April 2026 show:

• Single living alone: $1,110.30 fortnightly after tax at M
• Single sharing: $1,024.90 fortnightly after tax at M
• Couple where both qualify: $1,708.16 combined fortnightly after tax at M

The calculator converts these into weekly figures for its retirement-income presentation.

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34. Why NZ Super Rates Change

NZ Super rates are reviewed annually.

Therefore, a calculator using 2026 rates should not be expected to show exactly the same amount several years from now.

The calculator should be updated whenever official NZ Super rates change.

This is especially important for a financial calculator website because users may search for:

• NZ Super rates 2026
• NZ Super rates 2027
• NZ Super weekly payment
• NZ Super single living alone
• NZ Super couple rate
• NZ Super calculator

Keeping the calculator current helps maintain its usefulness and search relevance.

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35. How Much KiwiSaver Do I Need to Retire?

There is no single KiwiSaver balance that is sufficient for everyone.

The amount you need depends on:

• Retirement age
• Desired lifestyle
• Housing costs
• Mortgage
• Household size
• Health and care costs
• Travel plans
• Other investments
• NZ Super
• Expected lifespan
• Desired retirement income
• Investment returns
• Inflation

Someone who owns a mortgage-free home may have very different retirement needs from someone who continues renting.

This is why a retirement income calculator can be more useful than simply asking:

"How much KiwiSaver should I have at 65?"

The more important question is:

"How much sustainable income could my assets generate during retirement?"

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36. KiwiSaver Balance vs Retirement Income

A large KiwiSaver balance doesn't automatically tell you how much you can spend each week.

For example:

$500,000 at retirement

does not mean:

$500,000 ÷ 20 years

is necessarily your correct annual retirement income.

The investment return during retirement matters.

If your remaining balance continues earning returns while you withdraw money, the amount you can potentially withdraw each week is different from simply dividing the balance by the number of years.

That is why the calculator includes a separate growth during retirement assumption.

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37. What Growth Rate Should You Use?

There is no universally correct number.

Your potential long-term return depends on factors including:

• Investment type
• KiwiSaver fund
• Asset allocation
• Fees
• Market performance
• Inflation
• Investment risk
• Time horizon

A growth-focused fund may have a different long-term return profile from a conservative fund.

For retirement planning, it can be useful to test several assumptions rather than relying on one optimistic number.

For example, compare:

3%

5%

7%

and see how much the projected retirement balance changes.

The result can demonstrate how sensitive your retirement plan is to investment performance.

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38. Why You Shouldn't Treat the Projection as a Guarantee

The calculator uses a constant growth assumption.

Real markets do not work that way.

Your actual KiwiSaver investment could experience:

• strong growth
• flat periods
• market corrections
• recessions
• negative returns
• periods of high volatility

The calculator smooths these fluctuations into an assumed average rate to make scenario modelling possible.

Therefore:

A projected KiwiSaver balance is not a forecast or guarantee of your actual future balance.

It is an illustration based on the assumptions you enter.

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39. Sequence-of-Returns Risk During Retirement

One limitation worth understanding is sequence-of-returns risk.

Suppose two retirees have exactly the same KiwiSaver balance and withdraw exactly the same amount.

One experiences strong investment returns early in retirement.

The other experiences a major market decline early in retirement.

Their outcomes can be very different.

The calculator uses a smooth growth assumption, so it does not model the exact sequence of future market returns.

This is one reason the result should be used for planning and scenario analysis rather than treated as a guaranteed retirement-income forecast.

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40. Inflation Is Not Fully Represented by a Simple Nominal Projection

Another important consideration is inflation.

If your calculator shows:

$1,500 per week

in future dollars, that amount will not necessarily have the same purchasing power as $1,500 today.

Inflation can increase the cost of:

• food
• housing
• utilities
• healthcare
• transportation
• travel

Therefore, when planning retirement, it is useful to consider both:

future dollar income

and:

purchasing power in today's dollars

The calculator's output should therefore be viewed as a nominal projection based on the assumptions entered.

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41. What the NZ Retirement Calculator Does Not Include

The calculator is deliberately designed as a straightforward retirement-income estimator.

It does not attempt to model every possible retirement circumstance.

For example, it does not fully model:

• inflation
• investment fees
• detailed fund-specific returns
• changing salary throughout your career
• career breaks
• unemployment
• future changes to contribution rates
• detailed tax changes
• other investments
• rental income
• property
• mortgages
• business assets
• inheritance
• partner retirement income
• health costs
• aged-care costs
• changing NZ Super rules
• complex household circumstances

These factors can materially change your actual retirement position.

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42. Why the Calculator Is Still Useful

Despite these limitations, a retirement calculator can be extremely useful because it lets you test the variables you can control.

For example:

What if I retire at 60?

Change retirement age.

What if I work until 67?

Change retirement age.

What if I increase KiwiSaver to 6%?

Change your contribution rate.

What if I contribute another $2,000 per year?

Enter an additional voluntary contribution.

What if investment returns are lower?

Reduce the growth assumption.

What if I want my money to last until age 95?

Increase the drawdown period.

These simple scenario changes can help you understand the direction of your retirement plan.

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Example: NZ Retirement Income Calculation

Let's use the example displayed in your calculator.

Current situation

• Current age: 40
• Retirement age: 65
• Current KiwiSaver: $60,000
• Salary: $80,000
• Employee contribution: 3.5%
• Employer contribution: 3.5%
• Extra contribution: $0
• Growth before retirement: 5%
• Drawdown period: 20 years
• Growth during retirement: 3%
• NZ Super: Single, living alone

The calculator produces approximately:

Projected KiwiSaver at retirement

$499,720

NZ Super

$555/week

KiwiSaver drawdown

$639/week

Combined weekly retirement income

$1,194/week

Combined annual income

Approximately:

$62,102/year

Replacement rate

Approximately:

78%

Projected KiwiSaver depletion age

85

Again, these numbers are illustrative projections based on the assumptions entered, not guaranteed future outcomes.

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How to Improve Your Retirement Income

If the calculator shows that your projected retirement income is lower than you would like, there are several variables you can test.

Increase your KiwiSaver contribution

Moving from 3.5% to 6%, for example, can increase the amount you save each year.

Make additional voluntary contributions

Even relatively small additional payments can compound over many years.

Work longer

Delaying retirement gives your KiwiSaver more time to grow and gives you additional years of contributions.

Review your investment approach

Your chosen KiwiSaver fund and investment strategy can affect long-term outcomes.

Reduce your retirement income target

You may discover that you don't need to replace 100% of your current salary.

Extend the drawdown period

Making your KiwiSaver last longer generally means reducing the weekly amount withdrawn.

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KiwiSaver Contribution Rates From April 2026

The current standard employee contribution rates are:

KiwiSaver contribution	Employee choice
Default rate	3.5%
Higher rate	4%
Higher rate	6%
Higher rate	8%
Higher rate	10%

Inland Revenue confirms these standard rates for employees from April 2026.

There is also a temporary rate-reduction mechanism allowing eligible members to reduce contributions to 3% for a limited period.

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Frequently Asked Questions About NZ Retirement Income

What is the New Zealand Retirement Income Calculator?

It is a calculator that estimates your potential retirement income by projecting your KiwiSaver balance and combining the resulting drawdown with an assumed NZ Super payment.

How much is NZ Super in 2026?

From 1 April 2026, the standard after-tax M-rate payment for a single person living alone is $1,110.30 per fortnight, equivalent to $555.15 per week.

How much KiwiSaver do I need to retire?

There is no universal number. Your required KiwiSaver balance depends on your desired retirement income, retirement age, housing costs, NZ Super, other assets and how long your money needs to last.

Can I retire at 60 in New Zealand?

Yes, you can choose to stop working before 65, but NZ Super does not generally begin simply because you retire. You need to fund the period before NZ Super eligibility from other resources.

Does NZ Super start at 65?

NZ Super generally becomes available from age 65 if you meet the relevant eligibility requirements.

What is the current KiwiSaver default contribution rate?

The current standard default employee contribution rate is 3.5%. Other standard rates are 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%.

How much does the government contribute to KiwiSaver?

Eligible members can receive 25 cents for every dollar they contribute, up to a maximum government contribution of $260.72 per year.

What salary qualifies for the KiwiSaver government contribution?

The current government-contribution eligibility income limit is $180,000 or less in annual taxable income, along with other eligibility requirements.

How long should my KiwiSaver last?

There is no universal answer. Your required drawdown period depends on your age, health, other income, assets and desired lifestyle. The calculator lets you test different periods.

What happens if my KiwiSaver runs out?

NZ Super may continue if you remain eligible, but you may need other income or assets after your KiwiSaver balance is exhausted. This is why longevity planning is important.

Should I use a 5% growth rate?

There is no guaranteed "correct" growth rate. Use the calculator to compare multiple assumptions rather than relying on one number.

Does the calculator guarantee my retirement income?

No. It is an estimate based on your inputs and assumptions. Actual investment returns, inflation, fees, contribution changes and government policy can all affect your eventual retirement income.

Does the calculator include inflation?

The basic projection does not fully model future inflation and purchasing-power changes. Treat the displayed income as a nominal estimate.

Does the calculator include KiwiSaver fees?

The projection is a simplified estimate and should not be treated as a provider-specific forecast including every fund fee and investment cost.

Does employer KiwiSaver contribution equal the amount that reaches my account?

Not necessarily. Employer contributions are subject to ESCT, so the amount credited to your KiwiSaver account can be lower than the headline employer contribution.

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NZ Retirement Planning: The Numbers That Matter Most

When planning retirement, don't focus on just one number.

Look at the entire picture:

Your current age

How long do you have before retirement?

Your retirement age

When do you expect to stop working?

Your KiwiSaver balance

How much have you already accumulated?

Your contribution rate

How much are you adding from your salary?

Employer contribution

How much is your employer adding?

Additional savings

Are you making voluntary contributions?

Investment growth

What long-term return assumption are you using?

NZ Super

How much government retirement income may you qualify for?

Drawdown period

How many years do you need your KiwiSaver to last?

Retirement growth

What investment return might your remaining balance earn while you withdraw money?

Together, these factors provide a much clearer picture of your potential retirement income.

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Use the NZ Retirement Income Calculator to Test Your Future

The biggest advantage of a retirement calculator isn't that it can predict the future.

It can't.

Its real value is that it lets you ask "what if?"

What if you save more?

What if you retire later?

What if your KiwiSaver grows more slowly?

What if you want your savings to last longer?

What if you retire before 65?

What if you make an extra contribution every year?

By changing these assumptions, you can see which decisions could have the greatest impact on your projected retirement income.

The New Zealand Retirement Income Calculator brings NZ Super and KiwiSaver together so you can see the potential result in one simple weekly figure.

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Final Thoughts

Retirement planning in New Zealand isn't just about asking how much money you have saved.

It's about asking:

How much sustainable income could my savings and NZ Super provide when I stop working?

Your KiwiSaver balance, contribution rate, investment growth, retirement age and drawdown period can all have a major impact on the answer.

The New Zealand Retirement Income Calculator helps turn those variables into an easy-to-understand estimate of:

NZ Super + KiwiSaver drawdown = projected weekly retirement income

You can then compare that figure with your current salary using the replacement-rate result.

For the example in this calculator, a 40-year-old with $60,000 already in KiwiSaver, an $80,000 salary, 3.5% employee and employer contributions, a 5% pre-retirement growth assumption and retirement at 65 produces an illustrative projection of around $499,720 in KiwiSaver, approximately $639 per week from KiwiSaver, and around $1,194 per week including NZ Super.

But the most useful result isn't the headline number.

It's the ability to change the assumptions and see what happens.

That makes this calculator a practical starting point for understanding your potential retirement income and identifying the areas where additional saving, a different retirement age or a longer investment period could make a meaningful difference.

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Important 2026 KiwiSaver & NZ Super Information

This calculator uses current information effective from 1 April 2026, including the NZ Super rates and KiwiSaver contribution rules.

Work and Income's published 1 April 2026 rates show the standard NZ Super payments used by the calculator.

Inland Revenue confirms the current KiwiSaver employee contribution rates, government contribution rules and employer contribution requirements.

Because NZ Super rates, KiwiSaver rules, tax settings and government policies can change, the calculator should be updated when official rates change.

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Disclaimer

Estimates only, in NZD. This New Zealand Retirement Income Calculator is provided for general information and retirement-planning purposes only. It is not financial advice, investment advice or a guaranteed forecast of future retirement income.

Investment returns are assumptions and actual returns can be higher or lower, including negative returns. Actual KiwiSaver balances can also be affected by investment performance, fees, contribution changes, employer contributions, ESCT, government contributions and other factors.

NZ Super eligibility and payment rates depend on your personal circumstances and current government rules.

Consider speaking with a qualified financial adviser before making significant retirement or investment decisions.

Official sources: Work and Income NZ and Inland Revenue