PremiumOpinionOpinion byEric CramptonNZ Herald·1 Jul, 2026 09:00 PM5 mins to readDr Eric Crampton is Chief Economist with the New Zealand Initiative.KiwiSaver balances belong to individual savers, but debate continues over how Governments should regulate or direct those funds. Photo / Getty ImagesNational promises that, if re-elected, it will make KiwiSaver compulsory.
The case for compulsion is weaker than most assume. A low-income, part-time worker, earning less now than they would get on NZ Superannuation, would be made to save in the years they can least afford it. And someone borrowing to
