He said while he could not speak about a specific case, in general people could apply to withdraw money under significant hardship or serious illness criteria. “Under a serious illness application, people may meet criteria for ‘imminent risk of death’ as stated by law, allowing a full withdrawal of their KiwiSaver investment. “As part of the withdrawal application, the person will need a doctor or nurse practitioner to complete a declaration form confirming their illness. “Under a serious illness withdrawal application, a person may meet criteria to withdraw if they are totally and permanently unable to work due to their illness. We encourage people to speak to their KiwiSaver provider in the first instance to discuss early withdrawal options.”

Source: New Zealand Herald February 03, 2026 23:28 UTC