Transfer your Australian Super to your NZDF KiwiSaver

Transferring your Australian superannuation to the New Zealand Defence Force KiwiSaver Scheme (NZDF KiwiSaver Scheme)

If you’ve worked in Australia at any time since 1992 and have permanently emigrated back to New Zealand, you may have Australian superannuation savings.

Find out if you have any Australian superannuation money

The first step is to establish which Australian superannuation provider you are with, which fund or funds you invested in, or what fees you are paying.

How to search for your lost super

1. Online using the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website and MyGov

To find out if you have ‘lost super’ please visit the ATO website where you can download and fill in a ‘searching for lost and unclaimed Super’ form or register for a ‘MyGov’ profile. You will need to supply some KiwiSaver membership information to ensure your transfer to your NZDF KiwiSaver Scheme is completed correctly. If you are not sure of your NZDF KiwiSaver Scheme details please contact us and we will be able to assist.  

2. By post

You can download the searching for lost and unclaimed super form here, or alternatively you can call ATO on +61 2 6216 1111 and request the form be posted to you.

The ATO will respond with a list of any active superannuation accounts you have and will also identify any superannuation money belonging to you that is currently held by the ATO.

As a part of the form you will need to include the following information about your KiwiSaver account:

Name of KiwiSaver scheme: New Zealand Defence KiwiSaver Scheme

New Zealand business number of the scheme: 9429040873121

KiwiSaver scheme membership number: This can be found in your New Zealand Defence KiwiSaver online account.

Can your Australian superannuation be transferred to KiwiSaver?

You may be able to transfer your Australian superannuation money to your NZDF KiwiSaver Scheme account. To do this, make sure your money is invested with an Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) certified provider. To check if your fund is APRA certified please visit the super fund look-up website.

Money invested in the below funds cannot be moved to a KiwiSaver account. This is because these funds are not covered by the Trans-Tasman portability arrangement:

• Self-managed super funds (SMSF)
• Transition to retirement
• Pension phase
• Defined-benefit

Why transfer your Australian Superannuation?

• Easier management – Having all your retirement savings together, and in one currency is easier to track your progress towards your goal and make informed decisions around your investment.
• Currency management – Consolidating your retirement savings into your KiwiSaver means your investment manager monitors currency changes between the New Zealand dollar and foreign currencies.
• Reduced fees - If you’ve got Australian super, you’re probably paying fees on your account. With the NZDF KiwiSaver Scheme there is no administration fee.

What you need to consider

What fees are charged?

Before you decide to transfer your funds to New Zealand, we recommend reviewing the below fees of your Australian superannuation fund.

• Management fees
• Performance fees
• Account fees (including membership fees)
• Entry and exit fees

We also recommend you check to see if any other fees are charged. See how much they are, and what they are for. Mercer doesn’t charge any fees for transferring your Australian Super into the NZDF KiwiSaver Scheme.

Are there insurance benefits?

Please see below some questions to consider about insurance benefits.

• Does your Australian superannuation have insurance policies or other benefits attached?
• Do these benefits apply if you are not contributing to your fund?
• Are you covered while living in New Zealand?
• If you do have these benefits, how much do they cost you?

Things to keep in mind

It is important to consider your own personal situation and what is best for you. The below factors may affect your decision to transfer.

• Tax differences – New Zealand and Australian taxes are different. Mercer recommends you consult a financial advisor and a tax specialist as there are a number of considerations you need to take into account. This includes investment income tax treatment (which differs between Australia and New Zealand) and fees.
• First home withdrawal – You will not be able to withdraw any transferred savings as a first home withdrawal or use them to count towards qualifying for the deposit subsidy.
• Retirement age – You can access your Australian portion of the KiwiSaver account when you reach 60 years old, as this satisfies the Australian definition of retirement.
• Emigration plans – If you are planning to emigrate to another country after transferring your Australian superannuation to your KiwiSaver account, you will not be able to transfer these savings to a third country.
• Government contribution - The transferred amount will not go towards qualifying for KiwiSaver Government contributions.
• Transfers are for the whole amount of the money held – Any transfer from your Australian superannuation must be for the full amount of money invested with your Australian provider(s). Partial transfers are not an option.

When your funds have been transferred to your NZDF KiwiSaver Scheme

NZDF KiwiSaver Scheme has seven investment options to choose from, please read the product disclosure statement to understand each of the options available to you. If you are not sure if your investment option is right for you, please answer a few questions in the Fund Selector Tool. Before making any changes to your investment option(s), you should discuss this with your financial adviser or an independently appointed Become Wealth (previously named Milestone Direct) team of advisers by calling 0508 BECOME (0508 232 663) or emailing hello@become.nz.