Q I am a Canadian working here in IT on a one year working holiday visa. If I sign up to KiwiSaver while I am here, what will happen to the money when I go back to Canada?
A As a foreign national on a working holiday visa you are not eligible to join KiwiSaver.
The eligibility rules to join KiwiSaver state that a person must be living or normally living in New Zealand, or employed overseas under the State Sector Act, and be a New Zealand citizen or entitled to remain in NZ indefinitely. They must also be under the age of 65. Any person not meeting these criteria cannot join.
KiwiSaver is a Government subsidised retirement savings scheme for New Zealanders. As such, it is not designed for people like you who are likely to be here for just a short period of time.
If at some stage you are granted permanent residence in New Zealand, then you will be able to join. I would like to think that this would be a positive experience for you and you would live here "happily ever after". However, if you later decided to return to Canada you would be eligible for early access to your KiwiSaver funds.