Feijoa - Maximise your KiwiSaver

KiwiSaver is a great way to grow your retirement savings, but did you know you can boost your balance even further with voluntary contributions?

Many Kiwis rely on employer and PAYE deductions alone, missing out on opportunities to maximise their savings. With Feijoa, our Round-Up app for KiwiSaver, you can effortlessly increase your voluntary contributions, making it easier to reach the government contribution threshold and build long-term wealth

Let’s explore how voluntary contributions work and how you can take full advantage of them.

Why aren’t more Kiwis maximising their contributions?

According to recent data from Te Ara Ahunga Ora, 41% of KiwiSaver members have a balance of less than $10,000, and many aren’t making regular contributions beyond PAYE deductions. Some key reasons include:

Financial constraints – Many people feel they can’t afford additional contributions.
Savings suspensions – A significant number of members pause contributions for financial relief.
Self-employment – Those who are self-employed often overlook voluntary contributions.
Lack of awareness – Many simply don’t realise they need to contribute a minimum amount to receive the full government contribution.
Irregular income – Those with fluctuating earnings find it harder to commit to regular payments.
Another retirement scheme – Your employer may offer a different scheme instead of KiwiSaver.

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What are KiwiSaver voluntary contributions?

Voluntary contributions are extra payments you make into your KiwiSaver account on top of what your employer and the government contribute. These can be made as:

One-off lump sums
Regular automatic payments
Round-Ups from everyday purchases (which Feijoa makes seamless)

Unlike PAYE-based deductions, voluntary contributions give you full control over how much and how often you contribute.

Feijoa makes KiwiSaver voluntary contributions seamless by rounding up everyday purchases.

Why should you make voluntary contributions?

1. Get the Full Government Contribution (Now Up to $260.72 Every Year)

From July 2025, the government will contribute 25 cents for every $1 you contribute, up to a maximum of $260.72 per year. To receive the full amount, you’ll need to contribute at least $1,042.86 between 1 July and 30 June each year.

While this is a lower amount than before, it's still free money and Feijoa makes it easy to reach the target by rounding up small amounts from your daily spending.

That means if you spend with the right retailers, Feijoa can help you earn enough in matched rewards to meet the contribution threshold—without needing to put in your own money. Keep an eye out for reward partners as we add them!

2. Boost your retirement savings faster

Even small voluntary contributions add up over time. For example: Rounding up just $1 per day into KiwiSaver adds $365 per year.

If you already contribute through PAYE, topping up with Feijoa can help you go that little bit further.

Keep an eye out for powerful new features designed to empower your savings—such as the ability to automatically contribute a percentage of your spending, similar to how Paywave fees work. Instead of feeling penalised at the point of sale by an added surcharge, you can take control.

With Feijoa, you redirect a comparable amount into your KiwiSaver account—transforming a passive fee experience into an active investment in your future. It's not just spending—it’s smart, automated wealth-building

3. Flexibility to contribute more when you can

Unlike employer deductions, you can adjust voluntary contributions at any time. Got a bonus or tax refund? A one-off lump sum is a great way to boost your balance.

Feijoa helps you bridge the gap by rounding up small amounts from your everyday spending and tracking your progress toward the government contribution target.

As we bring on reward partners, it will be possible to meet the full government contribution simply by shopping with our partners.

How Feijoa makes it easy to maximise contributions

Feijoa gamifies savings and helps you build wealth effortlessly. Here’s how it works:

Automatically rounds up purchases – Every time you spend, Feijoa rounds up your transaction and deposits the spare change into your KiwiSaver account.

Tracks your progress – We track the contributions you make through Feijoa to your chosen KiwiSaver recipient(s). While we can’t see your full KiwiSaver picture, we’ll still let you know if your Feijoa contributions look like they’re falling short of the $1,042.86 target before the June 30 deadline.

Builds consistent saving habits – Small, frequent contributions feel easy but make a big impact

Let others benefit too – You can even use Feijoa to help someone else grow their KiwiSaver account balance.

The Power of Daily – Feijoa invests your contributions daily, so your money is put to work right away, gaining exposure to markets sooner and compounding over time. Small amounts, invested often, can make a big difference

With Feijoa, you can reach the government contribution threshold, build long-term savings, all without changing your spending habits.