If you feel that you are suffering, or that you are likely to suffer, hardship and you have exhausted all other reasonable alternative sources of money then you may be eligible to withdraw money from your KiwiSaver.

Read more about Significant Financial Hardship here.

If you would like to start the application process, complete the online form by logging into MyAMP Online.

If you have Super with a complying superannuation fund in Australia, you often can transfer it into your KiwiSaver in New Zealand.

Find out more about the transfer process here.

A first home withdrawal at AMP usually takes around 8 to 15 days to process. Timing is everything here, so make sure you allow plenty of time and work backwards from the date you need to pay your deposit (or complete settlement) to ensure all your ducks are in a row. The money is paid to your solicitor – it won’t go to you. Your solicitor will then pass on the money as and when instructed by you.

Find out more about buying a first home.

If you have moved overseas (excluding Australia), you can apply to withdraw your savings one year after you have permanently emigrated from New Zealand. You cannot withdraw government contributions, or any funds transferred from an Australian complying superannuation fund. Have a look at the form here.

If you have moved to Australia, you may be able to transfer your savings to your Australian superannuation fund. You'll need to check that your Australian superannuation fund accepts transfers from New Zealand KiwiSaver Scheme providers. A transfer due to permanent emigration to Australia will exclude Government contributions applied while living outside of New Zealand. For more information, click here.

Here's a checklist to see if you can use your KiwiSaver funds to buy property (i.e. your first home or land to build your first home on).

✓ You're buying property in New Zealand
✓ You will either live in the home or on the land you are buying
A first home withdrawal can't be used to purchase a rental or investment property.
✓ You've been with KiwiSaver for a while
You need to have been a member of KiwiSaver (or another complying superannuation fund) for at least three years.
✓ You haven't owned any property before
However, there are some exceptions that may allow you to make a first home withdrawal even if you’ve owned property in the past.
✓ You haven't made a KiwiSaver first home withdrawal before
You can only make one successful first home withdrawal from your KiwiSaver.
✓ You're not building on land you already own
You can withdraw your KiwiSaver funds to contribute to the purchase of land, but not to the future costs of building a house on that land.

Find out more about buying a first home.

Not quite. You must leave at least $1,000 (and any savings you’ve transferred from an Australian complying super scheme) in your KiwiSaver account.

Find out more about buying a first home.