💸 Mind the Gap – Why women must take control of their KiwiSaver
In Aotearoa, the gender gap doesn’t just show up in pay packets, it’s sitting in our KiwiSaver accounts too. As of March 17, 2025, the average KiwiSaver balance for men was $42,664. For women? Just $34,185. That’s a gap of $8,479 — around 25% — and it’s not getting smaller. In fact, it’s widening, especially among younger women.
Why is the KiwiSaver gap growing?
This isn’t just about money, it’s about systems.
Women are more likely to:
Take time out of paid work for parenting
Work part-time or in lower-paid industries
Be underpaid due to the persistent gender pay gap
All of these factors reduce the amount women contribute to their KiwiSaver, and over time, that compounds into a serious shortfall.
To make things worse, the Government has just passed the Pay Equity Amendment Bill under urgency, making it harder for women to bring pay equity claims. Instead of progress, we’re watching the clock roll backwards.
What does that gap really mean?
Let’s break it down.
An $8,479 difference at age 30 may not sound like a huge deal — until you factor in compound growth.
If a woman and a man both earn a 5% return annually, that $8,479 gap grows to over $23,000 by retirement age.
That’s a holiday. That’s extra healthcare. That’s the difference between stress and stability.
For mums and career breakers: This matters even more
Even a couple of years off during early childhood can set you back thousands in missed contributions, employer matches, and government bonuses. But here’s the good news: it’s never too late to course-correct.
You don’t need to do it all at once. But you do need to start.
Quick KiwiSaver Action Checklist
Let’s turn this into action. Here’s what you can do right now:
✅ Log in and check your balance — knowledge is power
✅ Check your fund type — are you in a conservative, balanced, or growth fund? (If you’re under 50, conservative may be too cautious)
✅ Contribute at least $1,043/year to get the $521.43 government match
✅ Use the KiwiSaver calculator at sorted.org.nz/tools/kiwisaver-calculator
✅ Ask your provider about fees — high fees eat into your returns
✅ Avoid KiwiSaver holidays if you can — it’s not worth it for the tiny short-term savings
A real wake-up call
I know a woman who is nearing retirement age. She has been in the same default Kiwisaver fund that was set up for her when Kiwisaver first came out. She never knew to look at the fund and see what type it was, to assess whether that provider was good with fees or aligned with her values. Fast forward to looking at retirement and it turns out her Kiwisaver has been in the conversative fund the whole time! That’s thousands of dollars of compound interest that she’s missed out on!
📚 Helpful Resources
Want to dig deeper or take your next step? Start here:
Sorted KiwiSaver Calculator – See how your contributions and fund choice affect your future
Fund Finder Tool – Compare funds based on performance and fees
Women and Retirement Report (Te Ara Ahunga Ora) – In-depth look at how women are affected by the retirement savings system
👊 We can’t wait for fairness, we have to build it
The legislation might be disappointing. The numbers might be discouraging. But here’s what no one can take from you:
Your ability to learn. Your ability to act. Your ability to change the outcome.
Financial education is your superpower. Start now. Because you are worth more than the system gives you credit for!
