新西兰退休储蓄计划调整：部分群体获益，另一些人可能受损
Adjustments to New Zealand's Retirement Savings Plan: Some Groups Will Benefit, Others May Suffer
The New Zealand government recently announced two significant changes to the KiwiSaver retirement savings plan. These changes include increasing the minimum contribution rates for both employers and employees, as well as reducing the amount of government-provided retirement savings. Analysis indicates that these adjustments will have varying impacts on different types of workers.
Firstly, the minimum contribution rate for both employers and employees will increase from 3% in 2025 to 3.5% by 2028. This change aims to offset the impact of reduced government retirement savings (from 3% to 2.5%). According to the New Zealand Retirement Commission, approximately 80% of KiwiSaver members will benefit from this adjustment.
However, these changes could negatively impact certain groups, such as low-income workers, self-employed individuals, and Māori workers. For example, a 35-year-old with an annual income of A$80,000 will see their retirement savings increase by 25% due to the contribution rate rising from 3% to 4%. On the other hand, a 16-year-old with an annual income of A$30,000 may see their retirement savings grow by approximately 7.8% if they begin contributing.
According to the New Zealand Retirement Commission's analysis, these changes will extend the average retirement account duration by about 30%. However, this adjustment could reduce retirement savings for those who rely solely on government pensions. The commission has called for further research to better support these groups.
Additionally, last year, the New Zealand government provided A$1 billion in retirement savings through the KiwiSaver plan. Out of approximately 220,000 members, 77% received full government subsidies. Finance Minister Nicola Willis stated that these changes will give individuals "greater financial security" and "larger retirement accounts." She emphasized that this decision will not lead to overall welfare reductions and noted that the government plans to implement additional policies to promote growth.
In conclusion, these adjustments aim to balance individual savings with government spending but may have negative impacts on certain groups. Future research and policy changes will help support all workers more effectively.
