How to Change Your KiwiSaver Provider
Your first KiwiSaver scheme was probably chosen for you. We help you choose one for yourself.
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Most people are enrolled in KiwiSaver automatically when they start their first job. If you didn’t choose a provider yourself, you were likely placed into a default scheme - one of six government-selected options. That’s fine as a starting point. But it might not be the right scheme for where you are now.
BetterSaver helps you check whether your current scheme still fits, recommends a better option if it doesn’t, and guides you through switching online. You can change your KiwiSaver provider at any time - there’s no lock-in, and the process is simpler than most people expect.
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How It Works
**Step 1 - We confirm what matters to you. **
A few quick questions about your timeframe, how you feel about market ups and downs, and any investment preferences. The aim is to match you to the right scheme - not just a default based on your age.
**Step 2 - We show your recommended options. **
You’ll see a scheme that matches your profile and meets our analysis criteria. Compare it against others in plain English, side by side. No jargon, no noise.
**Step 3 - We guide you through the switch. **
Complete an application on the BetterSaver website. We capture what’s needed and pass it to your chosen provider to finalise. Most people are done in under 5 minutes.
What You’ll Need
Having these handy speeds things up:
- Your email address and mobile number
- Your IRD number (helpful, though not always required straight away)
- A form of ID for online verification - usually a driver licence or passport
What Happens When You Switch KiwiSaver Providers
Your KiwiSaver account stays in your name throughout. You’re moving your balance to a new provider and a new scheme - nothing is lost in the process.
- Employer contributions keep going as normal. In most cases, you don’t need to tell your employer.
- Government contributions still apply. Switching doesn’t reset your member tax credit eligibility.
- Your current provider transfers the value of your account to the new provider, which invests it into the scheme you chose.
How long does switching take?
Switching usually takes a few business days, though it can sometimes take a little longer depending on the providers involved. We’ll show you what to expect and keep things clear throughout.
Is my money out of the market during the switch?
There’s usually a short processing period when your balance is transferred between providers. This is normal for KiwiSaver switches and is typically brief.
Switching Through BetterSaver
If your chosen provider supports switching through BetterSaver
This is the smoothest path. You complete everything in one online flow - we guide you through each step and make it clear what happens next and when.
- Guided through the join and switch steps online
- Complete it in one flow, from start to finish
- Clear updates on what happens next, and when
If your chosen provider doesn’t support switching through BetterSaver
We can still recommend a scheme from a provider that isn’t on our direct-switch platform, as long as it meets our analysis criteria and we have enough data to assess it. In most cases, you can still complete the application on the BetterSaver website - we then pass it to the provider to finalise.
- You can view the scheme and why it’s recommended
- You complete the application on our site, and we pass it on to the provider
- The provider may contact you if they need anything further
- Our ongoing service may be more limited once you’re with a non-participating provider
Changing Your KiwiSaver Contribution Rate
Switching providers and changing your contribution rate are two different things. If you want to adjust how much of your pay goes into KiwiSaver - rather than which provider holds it - that’s done through your employer or directly with Inland Revenue.
KiwiSaver contribution rates are 3.5%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10% of your before-tax pay. You can request a change at any time by giving your employer written notice.
Not in KiwiSaver Yet?
Most people in New Zealand are already in KiwiSaver through automatic enrolment when they start employment. But if you’re self-employed, have opted out previously, or are a new resident who hasn’t joined, you can still use BetterSaver to choose a scheme and join online.
The process is the same: a few quick questions, a scheme recommendation, then an application with your chosen provider.
What It Costs and How We’re Paid
Using BetterSaver doesn’t cost you anything extra. You pay the same scheme fees you’d pay going directly to the provider.
BetterSaver may receive a commission from some KiwiSaver providers when you join or switch through our platform. You don’t pay this commission directly, and it doesn’t increase your fees.
Our recommended list can include both schemes that pay us and schemes that don’t - as long as they meet our analysis criteria and we have enough data to assess them. For full details, read our Disclosure Statement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my KiwiSaver provider?
Yes. You can change your KiwiSaver provider at any time. There’s no lock-in period, and you can switch as many times as you like. If you’re in a default scheme from when you first started work, switching is straightforward - BetterSaver can recommend a scheme that suits you now and guide you through it online.
What is a default KiwiSaver scheme?
When you start a new job in New Zealand, your employer is required to enrol you in KiwiSaver if you haven’t already joined. If you don’t choose a provider, you’re placed into one of six government-selected default schemes. These are legitimate schemes, but they’re not chosen to fit your personal situation - they’re a starting point.
How do I change my KiwiSaver provider?
Through BetterSaver, the process has three steps:
- Answer a few quick questions about your situation and preferences
- Review your recommended scheme and compare options
- Complete an application online - we pass it to the provider to finalise
How long does switching KiwiSaver providers take?
Switching usually takes a few business days, though it can sometimes take a little longer depending on the providers involved. We’ll keep you informed throughout the process.
Is my money out of the market when I switch KiwiSaver providers?
There’s usually a short processing period when your balance is transferred between providers. This is normal for KiwiSaver switches and is typically brief.
Can I change my KiwiSaver contribution rate?
Yes - but that’s separate from switching providers. To change how much of your pay goes into KiwiSaver (3.5%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10%), contact your employer or Inland Revenue directly.
How do I transfer my KiwiSaver to another bank?
If your bank offers a KiwiSaver scheme that suits you, you can switch to it through BetterSaver. We’ll check it against our criteria and guide you through the switch if it’s on our recommended list.
Can you transfer your KiwiSaver to someone else?
No. KiwiSaver accounts are individual - they can’t be transferred to another person. You can change which provider and scheme your own savings are invested in, but the account always stays in your name.
Privacy and Security
We only use your information to provide recommendations, help you switch, and support you as a member.
We use secure online identity verification - so you can switch without printing forms or visiting a branch.
Ready to Check Your KiwiSaver Scheme?
We’ll ask a few quick questions and recommend a scheme from our shortlist based on your situation and preferences. You stay in control the whole time.
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Secondary link: View our recommended KiwiSaver schemes