Defaultlines: cracks form in the KiwiSaver facade

Defaultlines: cracks form in the KiwiSaver facade
A Russell study calls out the wide variation of returns between the six default funds as a serious issue of concern. (Image: Getty)
David Chaplin
“Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders will be significantly better off in retirement following changes to the default KiwiSaver scheme,” Finance Minister Grant Robertson and then Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark blahed in May 2021.Well maybe, but on the evidence so far, the default scheme reboot which kicked off in December of the same year has delivered sub-par performance across an unacceptably broad range of returns, according to a new Russell Investments NZ analysis of the KiwiSaver market.In a sequel to its...

More Opinion

AI is reshaping work – but not the way you think
Opinion

Peter Griffin: AI is reshaping work – but not the way you think

AI isn’t the job killer many predicted it would become.

How KiwiSaver helped, maybe
Opinion

David Chaplin: How KiwiSaver helped, maybe

Has KiwiSaver really lifted the national confidence rate? Dunno.

David Chaplin 18 Nov 2025
Equality of opportunity in schooling? Nope
Opinion

Cameron Bagrie: Equality of opportunity in schooling? Nope

The Govt's Equity Index contribution needs to be significantly increased.

Cameron Bagrie 17 Nov 2025
Confidence is critical infrastructure
Opinion

Dileepa Fonseka: Confidence is critical infrastructure

'When everyone waits, nothing moves,' Prasanna Gai observes.

Dileepa Fonseka 17 Nov 2025