Govt to introduce KiwiSaver auto-enrolment in 2014/15 assuming Budget returns to surplus as forecast, Finance Minister Bill English says

By Gareth Vaughan and Bernard Hickey

Finance Minister Bill English says the National Party will introduce KiwiSaver auto-enrolment from the 2014-15 year should it be returned to government in the November 26 election and assuming the Crown's Budget returns to surplus, as currently forecast, in that financial year.

English says the enrolment, or "soft compulsion," campaign would attract between 200,000 and 275,000 new KiwiSaver members, costing up to NZ$550 million over four years. About 1.8 million New Zealanders already have KiwiSaver funds.

“In the current environment, we need to be mindful of the fiscal costs of all programmes. So we will proceed with KiwiSaver auto-enrolment in the same fiscal year in which we return to surplus and start to repay debt,” English says.

“As signalled in the Budget, we believe there is merit in a one-off KiwiSaver auto-enrolment exercise, where people in the workforce not already in the scheme would be signed up with the ability to opt out.”

He says details of the auto-enrolment framework will be finalised next year, assuming National wins the election, after the Government considers submissions on a public discussion paper to be issued in early 2012. He says a 2010 Colmar Brunton survey of people not in KiwiSaver showed 28% hadn't got around to joining and 13% wanted more information about KiwiSaver.

"This indicates that, of the people not already members of KiwiSaver, over a third would be willing to save through KiwiSaver if actively prompted," English says.

National has, however, decided against introducing KiwiSaver auto-enrolment before 2014/15 because its immediate focus is on returning to budget surplus.

“While we’re running deficits in the next two years, that’s money the Government would have to borrow. Borrowing more money to put into KiwiSaver accounts is not real savings – we are applying the same approach to resuming contributions to the NZ Super Fund,” says English.

The estimated NZ$550 million cost over four years includes the one-off $1,000 kick start payments to new members and ongoing annual member tax credits. English says National plans to fund this from within existing budget allowances. The estimates assume a 55% take up rate among workers who aren't currently in KiwiSaver.

"The exercise will be included as a specific fiscal risk in the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update to be issued next week," says English.

He says the Government continues to agree with its Savings Working Group that a compulsory savings regime isn't warranted.

“Many New Zealanders have already opted out of KiwiSaver because they have valid reasons for not saving for retirement right now – including paying off their mortgage or being members of private savings schemes.”

He says KiwiSaver funds are expected to grow from about NZ$8 billion this year to NZ$25 billion by 2015 and almost NZ$60 billion in 10 years, with auto-enrolment accelerating that growth.

The move to auto-enrol people in KiwiSaver is part of the Government's  push to build "genuine" national savings, says English, with this push also including:

* Mapping a path back to budget surplus by 2014/15 – the Savings Working Group said this is one of the most important things the Government can do to build national savings.

* From 1 April 2013, increasing the minimum KiwiSaver contribution for individuals to 3% from 2% – which will also be the default rate for new members.

* From 1 April 2013, increasing the employer contribution rate to 3% from 2%.

* In Budget 2010, reducing tax on work and savings and increasing tax on property speculation and consumption.

* Resuming contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund when the Government returns to sufficient surplus and can contribute genuine savings rather than borrowing.

* Providing New Zealanders with investment options through the mixed ownership model for five state-owned companies.

He says such measures are pushing in the same direction households are already moving in.

“Having spent more than NZ$1.10 for every dollar they earned three years ago, households will this year have a positive savings rate for the first time in more than a decade.”

Labour says it's a gimmick

Labour Finance spokesman David Cunliffe said National's policy was a rushed one-off gimmick that showed it was refusing to confront the hard issues.

“National is desperate to be seen to be doing something in savings, but this is not nearly enough,” Cunliffe said.

“National hasn’t learnt a thing from the double downgrade, and is yet again tinkering with KiwiSaver. It hasn’t got the courage to make the right decisions for the future,” he said, adding Labour would announce a "comprehensive, fully-costed plan to increase savings".

Labour has hinted at full compulsion, but has stopped short of detailing its plans. See Alex Tarrant's article from October 10 where Cunliffe talks in more depth about compulsion.

See below the Questions and Answers fact file released by English's office.

What is changing?

• A one-off automatic KiwiSaver enrolment campaign for employees, with the ability to opt-out, will take place in 2014/15 – subject to the Government returning to budget surplus. Currently, employees are signed up – with the ability to opt out - when they change jobs.

·         The enrolment exercise will:

o   enrol people who would benefit from KiwiSaver membership

o   be based around the current auto-enrolment model, which applies when employees take up new jobs

o   minimise inconvenience for non-members who do not want to become members

o   minimise administrative costs for employers and the Government

o   align with the 2014 re-tendering of KiwiSaver default providers.

Why wait until 2014?

• The Government decided against introducing auto-enrolment sooner because its immediate focus remains on returning to budget surplus by 2014/15. While the Government is running deficits, the estimated extra cost of up to $550 million over four years for auto-enrolment would have to be borrowed. That is not real savings.

What is the expected cost to the Government?

• The enrolment campaign is expected to attract between 200,000 and 275,000 new KiwiSaver members, with an estimated fiscal cost of up to $550 million over four years.

Membership and cost projections under different take-up assumptions

(indicative costs based on employees not already in a superannuation scheme)

Estimate of uptake	Number of new members	Costs ($m)
		2014/15	2015/16	2016/17	2017/18
55% uptake	275,000	361	74	65	52
40% uptake	200,000	256	42	33	20

 

Why increase voluntary membership?

• New Zealand’s low savings rate has created a longstanding dependence on foreign capital. This makes the New Zealand economy vulnerable to market shocks and is likely to damage our economic performance and reduce growth.

What else is the Government doing to increase national savings?

• In Budget 2011 the Government said it would reduce debt and return to fiscal surplus by 2014/15. It also announced increases to employee and employer contribution rates that will see KiwiSaver funds continue to grow rapidly, but with a larger share of contributions coming from members and employers, and a lower share from borrowed Government money. This is expected to raise national savings, as Government borrowing to fund private savings will reduce.

·         The Savings Working Group highlighted encouraging private individuals to save more, as well as returning to fiscal surplus, as among the most important ways the Government can increase national savings. The Government is acting on both of these issues.

Why have some people not joined KiwiSaver?

• A 2010 Colmar Brunton survey of people not in KiwiSaver indicated 28 per cent had not got around to joining and 13 per cent wanted more information about KiwiSaver. This indicates that, of the people not already members of KiwiSaver, over a third would be willing to save through KiwiSaver if actively prompted.

Why not make KiwiSaver compulsory?

• Not everyone would benefit from KiwiSaver membership – and many have valid reasons for not joining right now. People on lower incomes, or those with large mortgages or already in other superannuation schemes, may be forced to reduce their spending on essential items to pay into KiwiSaver. 

·         The Savings Working Group recommended against making KiwiSaver compulsory because some people may prefer to save for their retirement in other ways.

What are the next steps?

• The Government will early next year issue a public discussion paper on the design of the enrolment exercise. It will carefully consider submissions – particularly on minimising administrative and compliance costs for employers and the Government – before finalising details.

(Updated with Q&A and Interactive Kiwisaver Membership chart below, Adds video; Reaction from Labour's David Cunliffe)