About Workplace Savings NZ

Workplace Savings NZ Incorporated (Workplace Savings) is "the Voice of Workplace Savings" in New Zealand.  

Workplace Savings is a national, not-for-profit, apolitical membership organisation that represents the interests of employers who offer workplace retirement savings schemes, their trustees & members, as well as superannuation industry service providers including KiwiSaver, and professional advisers.

Our membership embraces all types of workplace superannuation schemes (public & corporate, union-sponsored & industry-based), and KiwiSaver, as well as employers and service providers to the workplace savings industry. 

 

Our Mission

The mission of Workplace Savings NZis to be the Voice of Workplace Savings: advancing the sustainable, effective and efficient delivery of workplace savings outcomes for all involved.

  • Advocating - advancing legislative and public policy initiatives beneficial to workplace savings and participation in the workplace savings industry, making submissions, engaging with policy-makers and officials and issuing media commentary to advance our cause.
  • Education - promoting trustee, employer and member education through dedicated training programmes, newsletters and special interest seminars.
  • Networking - providing trustees, employers and service providers involved in workplace superannuation with a regular forum for sharing ideas and information on industry matters.
  • Promotion - publicising the benefits of workplace savings, and helping to improve public confidence in workplace savings.


Our History

The fore runner to Workplace Savings, the Association of Superannuation Funds of New Zealand Inc. (ASFONZ) was established in 1969.

Although a variety of superannuation and pension schemes had been established many years before 1969, they operated in isolation.

The schemes, as such, had no real voice.   The creation of Workplace Savings NZ provided an important vehicle for increasing understanding among sponsors and managers of schemes of the issues that they were facing.   It enabled schemes to stand together with a representative voice to safeguard the interest of all concerned - members, beneficiaries, trustees and employers.

One of the main reasons ASFONZ was established 40 years ago was to provide a vehicle for those interested parties to share ideas and ensure their views were heard.   Although we are now named Workplace Savings NZ, this remains relevant today.

 

How Workplace Savings NZ membership strengthens our industry

Membership of and participation in Workplace Savings strengthens the collective voice and helps to build a powerful network for the workplace superannuation industry.   Workplace Savings is the pre-eminent industry association focused on workplace superannuation industry issues.

From the grassroots membership through the Council and sub-committees, Workplace Savings encourages participation and debate from all perspectives.  

We continue to strive to fulfill our mission by continuing to:-

  • work with the Government and others to help develop policies that achieve improved workplace savings and KiwiSaver outcomes;
  • identify and promote initiatives and reforms that will provide efficiencies and enhancements to minimise the extent to which regulatory factors impede the delivery of effective and efficient workplace savings outcomes, and those that will encourage sustainable participation in workplace savings by Employer Participants and Superannuation Fund Providers;
  • support Employer Participants and Superannuation Fund Providers in their delivery of optimal workplace savings outcomes;
  • promote initiatives that will improve the quality of delivery of workplace savings;
  • improve public confidence in workplace savings by consistently reinforcing integrity, accountability, and professionalism among Superannuation Fund Providers and within the workplace savings industry;
  • promote the education of Employer Participants, Superannuation Fund Providers, and others involved in workplace savings through the provision or facilitation of dedicated training programmes, newsletters, and special interest seminars;
  • support initiatives that enhance the level of financial literacy in the workplace; and
  • serve Members and Workplace Savings NZ supporters by providing a range of services to meet their needs and deliver value for their participation.