Frequently Asked Questions

Your statement will be sent in July or August each year.

No. Contributions are made to NPF from tax paid income. The fund’s investment earnings are taxed before they are applied to your scheme.

As from 1 April 1990 all NPF pensions became free of tax, therefore you no longer need to declare your allowance to the Department of Inland Revenue.

This will depend on the type of scheme you are in. Please call the Scheme administrator, Datacom, on 0800 628 776 to clarify.

Your pension is paid in advance every 28 days, and is paid tax free. It is either paid by direct credit into a bank account or by cheque.

If you are in an employer-based scheme your will need to notify the Scheme administrator, Datacom, so they can get official cessation/retirement advice from your employer. Datacom will then inform you of your options.

If you are a member of the DBP Contributors Scheme you may temporarily suspend contributions, but there will be a penalty. For other NPF schemes you can stop your contributions but it may affect any your employer subsidy you may be receiving.

Pensions paid from the DBP Annuitants Scheme are adjusted annually in April for any positive movement in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) greater than 0.5% in the year ended the previous December. If the CPI rate is less than 0.5%, it is carried forward to the next year. Pensions paid from the other NPF schemes do not have a cost of living adjustment. Pensions may be increased at the discretion of the Board if the solvency position of the scheme can support an increase.

Pension options can include taking up to 25% of your entitlement as a lump sum, with the remaining amount being converted to a pension.

Yes, if you move overseas you will continue to receive your pension from NPF. A cheque in NZ$ will be made payable to you and is either sent to your home address or your bank’s address.

If you live overseas, your NPF pension may be subject to tax in the country in which you live. You should obtain specialist taxation advice on this matter.