What is Supervisor (Independent Trustee)?
The supervisor is an independent licensed entity that holds KiwiSaver scheme assets in trust for members and oversees the manager.
Detailed Explanation
Required under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. The supervisor holds member assets separately from the manager's own assets, monitors compliance with the trust deed and SIPO, approves hardship and other discretionary withdrawals, and reports breaches to the FMA. If a manager fails, the supervisor appoints a replacement.
Example
Illustrative example — Public Trust, Trustees Executors, and The New Zealand Guardian Trust are licensed supervisors of multiple KiwiSaver schemes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my provider goes bust?
Your assets are held by the supervisor, separate from the manager's balance sheet, and remain ring-fenced for members.
Related Terms
Compare every fund on the FMA Disclose register. Refreshed quarterly. Independent — FundCompare is not a Financial Advice Provider; general information only.
Compare
Learn
Important Information and Disclosure
The information provided on this website is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial products. Nothing on this website constitutes financial advice for the purposes of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. FundCompare.co.nz is not a licensed Financial Advice Provider.
Investing involves risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you put in. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Before making any investment decision, you should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the fund carefully. If you have questions or are unclear about the implications of your investment decision, you should seek advice from a licensed Financial Advice Provider.
All information displayed is sourced from scheme providers, the Disclose Register, and the Sorted Smart Investor universal feed (operated by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission), or other publicly available sources. We take reasonable steps to ensure accuracy but cannot guarantee information is always current or complete.
FundCompare.co.nz may receive referral fees or commissions from scheme providers if you sign up via links on this website. These payments do not influence the order, ranking, or inclusion of products displayed.
For more information, please see our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure Statement.
This website is operated by FundCompare.co.nz and is not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the New Zealand government or Inland Revenue. FundCompare.co.nz is using the KiwiSaver trade mark and logo under licence from Inland Revenue. To view the official New Zealand government KiwiSaver website, please click here.
© 2026 FundCompare.co.nz. All rights reserved.