About Workplace Savings NZ

Workplace Savings NZ Incorporated (Workplace Savings) is "the voice of workplace savings" in New Zealand.  

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

Our membership embraces all types of workplace superannuation schemes: public and corporate, union-sponsored and industry-based, KiwiSaver, employers and service providers in the workplace savings industry.

Financial Services Council (FSC) is the secretariat for Workplace Savings NZ

 

 Our Mission

The mission of Workplace Savings NZ is to be "the voice of workplace savings", advancing the sustainable, effective, and efficient delivery of workplace savings outcomes for all involved.

  • Advocacy - proposing and commenting on 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 collective views.
  • Education - promoting trustee, employer, member and Workplace Savings Professional education through training programmes, newsletters and special interest seminars and conferences.
  • Networking - providing trustees, employers and service providers involved in workplace savings 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 and participation in workplace savings.

 

 How Workplace Savings NZ membership strengthens our industry

Being an active member of Workplace Savings NZ supports you professionally and strengthens the collective voice of the workplace savings industry.

Workplace Savings NZ is the pre-eminent industry association focused on issues that affect the workplace retirement savings industry.  From the grassroots membership through our Council and sub-committees, we encourage participation and debate on superannuation and KiwiSaver issues.

We strive to fulfil our mission by continuing to:-

  • work with the Government and their advisers to help develop policies that achieve improved workplace savings and KiwiSaver outcomes;
  • work on initiatives and reforms that seek to minimise any regulatory factors that impede the delivery of effective and efficient workplace savings outcomes to New Zealanders;
  • identify and promote initiatives to Employer Participants and Superannuation Fund Providers that encourages sustainable participation in workplace savings;
  • support Employer Participants and Superannuation Fund Providers to deliver optimal workplace savings outcomes to their members;
  • promote and support initiatives that will improve the quality of delivery of workplace saving to all New Zealanders;
  • improve public confidence in workplace savings by consistently reinforcing integrity, accountability, and professionalism within the workplace savings industry;
  • promote the education of Employer Participants, Superannuation Fund Providers, and all others involved in workplace savings through training programmes, newsletters, special interest seminars and conferences;
  • support initiatives that enhance the level of financial literacy in the workplace; and
  • provide a range of services that meet the needs of Workplace Savings NZ members and deliver meaningful value.


 Our History

The forerunner to Workplace Savings, the Association of Superannuation Funds of New Zealand (ASFONZ) was established in 1969.  Although a variety of superannuation and pension schemes were established before then, they operated in isolation and had no real collective voice.

The renaming to Workplace Savings NZ in 2009 provided an important means for increasing understanding among sponsors, managers and trustees of schemes of the issues they faced. 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 was to provide a vehicle to share ideas and ensure views were heard. Through Workplace Savings NZ, this remains as relevant today as it always has.