A little admin now could make a difference later
If you’re planning to use your KiwiSaver savings for your deposit, two things can make a difference while there’s still time.
Your fund: does it still suit when you expect to buy?
Your contributions: Are you making the most of what could go in?
Make sure your fund fits your timeframe
The right fund depends on when you expect to use the money and how comfortable you are with market ups and downs.
Shorter timeframe
Buying in under 12 months
With less than a year to go, your balance may have less time to recover from a market fall. Check whether your current fund still suits your timeframe.
Balance growth & protection
Buying in 1–3 years
With one to three years to go, investment growth could help your balance, but a short-term market fall could affect how much you have to withdraw. Consider how much movement you’re comfortable with.
More time to ride it out
Buying in more than 3 years
More time means more headroom to ride out the ups and downs that come with investing.
A fund that suits someone planning to buy in five years may not suit someone who needs their deposit next year.
Maximise what's going in
Your contribution rate
If your budget allows, a small increase you can comfortably maintain may add more to your deposit than a larger increase that only lasts a few pay cycles.
Employer contributions
If you’re employed and eligible for employer contributions, your employer is putting money in too. Check your account so you know what’s coming in.
Voluntary top-ups
Whether it’s a one-off or a regular top-up, it can help if there is room in the budget. It doesn’t have to be heroic to be useful.
Common questions
Explore common questions people ask about what to play for when planning KiwiSaver for their first home deposit.
Not automatically. What matters is when you’ll need the money and how comfortable you are with your balance moving before then. Fund Finder’s a quick way to check.
The right contribution rate is one you can afford alongside your other expenses. A small, steady increase is generally more useful than a big one you can’t keep up. Try our KiwiSaver Calculator to see how different contribution rates could affect your future balance.
Yes – you can make one-off or regular additional contributions. It can help close the gap between your savings and your deposit.
Start with three numbers:
your current KiwiSaver balance
roughly when you hope to buy your first home
the deposit you think you’ll need.
Log in to your Smart account to see your balance and contributions.
Estimate what your balance could look like by the time you plan to buy with our KiwiSaver Calculator.
Check your fund again. A fund that matched a five-year plan may not suit a purchase that is now only months away. Our Fund Finder can help you revisit the question using your new timeframe.
Can't find what you're looking for? Check out our FAQs page.
