Dr Michelle Reyers: Retirement Commission policy lead on the Commission calling for higher KiwiSaver default contribution rates

The Retirement Commissioner has released a list of proposed changes to improve the KiwiSaver scheme. The list suggested the default rate for KiwiSaver contributions needs to rise to 4 percent, with employers being required to match that level. However, the Commission disagreed that KiwiSaver should be compulsory. Retirement Commission policy lead Dr Michelle Reyers says 90 percent of wage and salary earners already contribute to the scheme. "There are downsides to forcing people to save - some people on very low incomes will not necessarily be better off if they give up current wellbeing for some future time period." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.