The Council and Secretariat of Workplace Savings NZ would like to welcome our members and sponsors to an exciting new year. We look forward to engaging in our program of work and planned activities for 2015.

We warmly welcome our newest (2014/15) members:

JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A
Fletcher Building Retirement Plan
FundSource Limited
Link Market Services
Milford Asset Management
Alison Payne, Grosvenor
Ewen Griffiths (WSP member)
Paul Drummond
Leszek Lendal, Grosvenor

By now all of our Workplace Savings NZ members will have received a communication regarding their subscription renewal. We encourage all members to action your membership payment.

Thank you to those who have already renewed. Welcome!

If you haven't received anything from us yet, please let us know.

Remember - your membership strengthens the collective voice of the workplace retirement savings industry, and helps us make a difference.

If you have any queries about membership please contact us.

The full Council met on the 24th February to discuss the future direction of Workplace Savings NZ in 2015 and beyond. The discussion (steered by Laura Abba, ANZ and Matt Johns, Deloitte) was robust and thought provoking.

The Council critically assessed external and internal factors, the association's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and explored what was working and what was not. The discussion culminated in a shared focus and renewed enthusiasm for what Workplace Savings NZ represents and the work it undertakes.

Of value to the Council and Secretariat are the thoughts and views of our members. As such, we will be surveying a number of the key representatives of our members asking for their feedback. Members will be updated on the forward strategic approach at our AGM in April.

Workplace Savings NZ & WiS Industry Breakfasts

Following on from our well received events in 2014 our first breakfast series will be held in March. 

Dates are tentatively scheduled for 25th and 26th of March. In the meantime, you might like to put a placeholder in your calendar. More on the topic and registration details to follow soon.

2015 Annual General Meeting

We will be hosting the 2015 Annual General Meeting of Workplace Savings NZ as an after-5 function at The Wellington Club, Wellington on Wednesday 29 April 2015.

We invite you to join us for drinks & nibbles and of course our 2015 AGM.

Workplace Savings NZ Forum 2015

Planning is underway for this year’s Workplace Savings NZ 1-day Forum.  We’re currently working on the design and content to ensure our Forum is centred on the most pertinent and trending topics on workplace savings and KiwiSaver-related matters. 

Save the date: Tuesday 11th August 2015 (Wellington).

Have you got a key issue or vision for the industry that you’d like us to focus on?  Take a moment to share your thoughts on what our 2015 Forum should cover. 

Talk to us on 04 472 2260 or email us and share your ideas.

Recent updates on our website include:

1. The release of our quarterly KiwiSaver Scheme Survey results for period ending 31 December 2014. Note: member login is requried.

2. New information on the KiwiSaver withdrawal facility and the introduction of the HomeStart grant from 1 April 2015. Note: the updated guide for industry professionals is a work in progress and will be made available to members soon.

Taxation (KiwiSaver HomeStart and Remedial Matters) Bill

Effective from 1 April 2015, the first home deposit subsidy will be replaced by the HomeStart grant. This means for those who qualify and are purchasing a newly built home, the quantum of the grant is doubled. In addition, house price caps have increased.

Workplace Savings NZ has made a submission on behalf of members and are updating the buyers guide in response to the introduction of the Taxation (KiwiSaver HomeStart and Remedial Matters) Bill.

Click here to read Workplace Savings NZ's submission.