The KiwiSaver Series - 2026
We have been writing about KiwiSaver since before it launched.
This series of white papers takes a clear, honest look at how the system works, how it compares internationally, what is going wrong right now, and where it could be heading.
Each paper is free to read and download — no sign-up required.
White Paper #1 — The History of KiwiSaver
How did we get here?
This paper traces KiwiSaver from the compulsory superannuation scheme Muldoon scrapped in 1975, through the 1997 referendum, to the behavioural economics experiment that launched in 2007.
Understanding the history explains a lot about why the system behaves the way it does today.
White Paper #2 — KiwiSaver vs Australian Superannuation
Why do Australians retire with so much more?
This paper compares the two systems side by side — contributions, tax treatment, preservation, means testing, and cultural attitudes toward retirement saving.
The gap is not about investing skill. It is about system design.
White Paper #3 — KiwiSaver's Growing Pains
KiwiSaver is 18.
It has balances large enough to matter, issues significant enough to affect real people, and structural tensions that nobody designed for.
This paper covers the six issues shaping KiwiSaver right now — from fee complexity to hardship withdrawals to the age 65 misunderstanding.
White Paper #4 — KiwiSaver 2040
Where is KiwiSaver heading?
This paper looks at the likely, the possible, and the politically plausible changes between now and 2040 — from rising contributions and decumulation products to AI-driven advice and the NZ Super age question.
Some of these changes are already under way.
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