Canstar Awards BNZ for Outstanding Value KiwiSaver

If you want the best KiwiSaver provider, check out BNZ KiwiSaver, a winner of Canstar’s latest awards for Outstanding Value KiwiSaver.

Our KiwiSaver Star Ratings involve a sophisticated ratings methodology unique to Canstar. Our expert research team delves deep and compares the costs, features and performance of KiwiSaver funds. And, importantly, we don’t just look at short-term results.

KiwiSaver is intended as a long-term investment. And our research reflects this, rewarding providers for their average returns over the past five years.

For our latest ratings, we’ve expanded on the number of funds, schemes and providers we’ve researched. In total we cover:

• 17 Providers
• 22 Schemes
• 133 Total Funds

Each of the eligible KiwiSaver funds is rated across three main categories:

Performance

Most importantly, this covers annual returns, but it also looks at consistency of performance. This means how returns fluctuate year to year – whether they are consistent or vary wildly.

Features

Features include: the range of investment options offered by a KiwiSaver provider, the financial advice, tools and support provided, and ease of member access.

Price

Annual cost to members, including fees and total fund charges.

BNZ for Outstanding Value KiwiSaver

BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme

This year, BNZ is one of just three schemes to share top honours in our Outstanding Value | KiwiSaver Award. This award is concerned only with the returns that KiwiSaver funds provide to their customers.

When researching this award, we compare the cost, features and performance of KiwiSaver funds (over a minimum of five years) across balanced, conservative and growth profiles. Then, we acknowledge the scheme or schemes that demonstrate outstanding value across all three fund profiles with our top award.

Outstanding Value KiwiSaver Awards Find Out More

Canstar’s Best KiwiSaver Funds

Part of choosing a KiwiSaver provider is determining which fund type is best for you, your financial goals and your appetite for risk.

If you are expecting to make a withdrawal in the near future, it’s recommended that you choose a more balanced fund. This reduces your risk, and the chances of your KiwiSaver balance dropping suddenly just before you access your funds.

However, if you’re just starting on your KiwiSaver journey, a riskier growth fund could help boost your initial investment.

If you are considering changing your fund or risk profile, check out the different funds that earned BNZ our top 5-Star ratings for Outstanding Value:

Best Cash Fund

BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme – Cash Fund

• No minimum suggested investment timeframe
• Aims to achieve stable returns over the short term
• Investment asset mix: 100% Cash & cash equivalents

Best Balanced Fund

BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme – Balanced Fund

• Minimum suggested investment timeframe: 7 years
• Aims to achieve a medium level of return over the medium to long term.
• Investment asset mix: 40% Income / 60% Growth

Best Growth Fund

BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme – Growth Fund

• Minimum suggested investment timeframe: 10 years
• Aims to achieve higher returns over the long term
• Investment asset mix: 20% Income / 80% Growth

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar’s Editor, Bruce Pitchers. Bruce began his career writing about pop culture, and spent a decade in sports journalism. More recently, he’s applied his editing and writing skills to the world of finance and property. Prior to Canstar, he worked as a freelancer, including for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority, and for real estate companies on both sides of the Tasman.