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Understanding KiwiSaver: A Complete Guide for 2026
Everything you need to know about KiwiSaver - how it works, choosing funds, and maximizing your returns for retirement.
24 Feb 20263 min read
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Fat Pocket Blog
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Personal Finance
Student loan interest: how $30,000 becomes $120,000 over 20 years
New Zealand student loans charge 5.6% interest per year, with penalties of 9.6% compounded daily when borrowers fall behind. Here's how the numbers work.
29 Jun 20263 min read
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Read articlePersonal Finance
Supermarket loyalty data: what Consumer NZ's warning means for shoppers
Consumer NZ is raising concerns that supermarket loyalty programmes collect enough data to enable personalised pricing. Here's what the watchdog is worried about — and what the supermarkets say in response.
29 Jun 20264 min read
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Read articleMarkets
First-home buyers now the largest cohort in NZ's soft property market
While property sales fall nationwide, first-home buyers are increasingly active, making up a record 27.7 percent of all purchases as competition from investors and upsizers eases.
26 Jun 20263 min read
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How KiwiSaver can give children a significant financial head start
Starting KiwiSaver early for children can leverage compounding growth to build a substantial nest egg, with experts highlighting the benefits of time and consistent contributions.
26 Jun 20263 min read
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Read articlePersonal Finance
National's proposed solar loan scheme: how it compares to what banks offer
National is promising a Home Energy Fund to help homeowners install solar without upfront costs — but how does it stack up against the green loans already available from banks?
26 Jun 20263 min read
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KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals: why the process itself adds to the stress
Over 5000 KiwiSaver members withdrew their savings for hardship in May — but those navigating the process say the paperwork and lender negotiations themselves become an additional source of strain.
25 Jun 20263 min read
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National's KiwiSaver compulsion plan: what it means for workers with side hustles
National's proposal to make KiwiSaver compulsory has a gap: workers with both a salary job and self-employed income have no clarity on whether they must contribute on both.
25 Jun 20263 min read
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Read articleMarkets
ANZ reverses its June mortgage rate increases — because nobody followed
ANZ raised fixed mortgage rates in early June. When its competitors held or cut, ANZ found itself offside. Three weeks later, it has reversed the increases and cut term deposit rates at the same time.
23 Jun 20262 min read
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KiwiSaver early withdrawals hit $243m in May — as parties compete on scheme reform
New data shows 9520 early KiwiSaver withdrawals worth $243m in May, with first-home buyers accounting for $199m of that. The figures come as political parties roll out competing visions for the scheme's future.
23 Jun 20262 min read
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Read articleEconomy
Three tax ideas back on the table for the election — what they mean and the concerns behind them
With the election approaching, Labour, the Greens, and the Opportunity Party have each proposed tax changes targeting wealth and property. Economists say the details matter enormously — and that the tax base will eventually need to broaden regardless of which party wins.
23 Jun 20264 min read
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The 'total remuneration' loophole that could make compulsory KiwiSaver cost workers dearly
About half of employers use total remuneration packages where the employee's KiwiSaver contribution comes out of their own salary. With compulsory contributions set to rise to 12 percent, providers say this structure could significantly reduce take-home pay for affected workers.
22 Jun 20262 min read
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Read articleMarkets
The gap between trading up and staying put has narrowed — what the data shows
In Auckland, Wellington and parts of the Bay of Plenty, the cost difference between a median three-bedroom and four-bedroom home has fallen significantly from its peak, making 'trade-up' moves relatively more affordable than they were.
21 Jun 20263 min read
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