Starting work in Australia means getting familiar with superannuation, usually called super. It is money saved and invested for retirement, and it is separate from your everyday bank account.
Reviewed November 2026. This guide is a starting point for New Zealand citizens moving to Australia.
What should you do when starting a job?
Read your employer’s super paperwork and check where contributions will be paid. Most people can choose their fund. If you have worked in Australia before, find your existing accounts before opening another one.
What if you do not choose a fund?
Your employer generally checks whether you have an existing “stapled” super fund that follows you between jobs. If you do not choose a fund and do not have a stapled fund, contributions generally go to the employer’s default fund.
Read the Moneysmart explanation of stapled super for more detail.
How should you compare super funds?
Start with the official Moneysmart guide to choosing a fund. Consider investment options, long-term performance, fees, insurance and services. Compare similar investment options over the same period, rather than choosing only on a headline return.
Check insurance before moving existing super
Super funds may include life, disability or income protection cover. Before closing or combining accounts, check what cover you could lose, what replacement cover would cost and whether any exclusions or waiting periods apply.
Keep your details and records together
Save your fund and member details, check your contact information and keep your employer’s contribution records. Your TFN is used for Australian tax and super; use official and secure channels to provide it.
Does an offer make a fund right for you?
A promotional benefit is not a substitute for comparing the fund’s features and costs. There is currently no super referral offer in the NZ to AU Starter Kit. Choose based on your circumstances and seek licensed financial advice if you need a personal recommendation.
Organise the rest of your move
Start with our free moving from NZ to Australia checklist.
The $49.95 NZ to AU Starter Kit brings the main preparation, mobile, banking, TFN, Medicare, private health and super topics together in an online reference you can work through at your own pace.
General information only, not a personal recommendation about a super fund or investment.
