You may be able to withdraw KiwiSaver funds early if you are experiencing significant financial hardship. To apply, contact your KiwiSaver scheme provider and fill out a form to make a hardship withdrawal (or contact Inland Revenue if you’ve been in KiwiSaver for less than two months). If your application is successful, you can only withdraw your contributions and your employer’s contributions. You generally cannot take out any government money that has gone into your KiwiSaver.
Significant hardship only applies when you cannot meet your minimum living expenses like food or shelter and should be considered as a last resort. There are strict criteria to successfully apply for significant hardship and people can generally only get support to meet their minimum living expenses. It is best to avoid applying for an early release of your KiwiSaver funds if you can because you miss out on more money down the loan.