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Speaking at the Finance in Resources & Energy session of the 2026 PNG CORE Resources Week, Nasfund CEO Rajeev Sharma outlined how the fund is assessing investment structures that could support member returns, maintain liquidity, and enable broader participation in Papua New Guinea's resource and infrastructure growth.
Superannuation is a long-term savings plan designed to provide income during retirement. It offers financial benefits through regular contributions and long-term investment growth.
To grow your Nasfund superannuation, actively contribute regularly, whether through employer contributions or voluntary top-ups, to boost your retirement savings.
To minimize tax on your Nasfund superannuation payout, keep your savings invested for at least 15 years. This reduces your exit tax to 0%, compared to higher rates for earlier withdrawals, while also maximizing your savings through compound growth.
National Superannuation Fund Ltd or Nasfund is an accumulation fund and was the first Approved Superannuation Fund to be licensed by the Central Bank under the Superannuation (General Provisions) Act 2000 in 2002.
Eda Supa is for anyone who is earning some form of income and wants to save in a superannuation environment, farmers, sole traders and small business owners.
Nasfund's investee companies are carefully selected to align with the fund's strategy of delivering consistent returns, ensuring sustainable growth, and maximizing value for its members.
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The interim rate is the crediting rate the fund uses for withdrawals
A benefit that is offered to members while they still contribute to the Fund
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Your superannuation is one of your most valuable assets, potentially worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of kina by the time you retire. Yet many PNG workers make simple mistakes that can cost them significantly over their working lives. At Nasfund, we see these errors repeatedly, and the good news is they're all preventable. Here are the five most common superannuation mistakes PNG workers make and how you can avoid them.
This is perhaps the most costly mistake, yet it happens more often than you'd think. Employers must remit superannuation contributions within 14 days after the end of each month, and late remittance may result in penalties under the Superannuation However, not all employers comply.
The Reality: Some workers discover years later that despite seeing super deductions on their payslips, their employer never actually forwarded those contributions to Nasfund. By then, they've lost years of compound growth and potentially thousands of kina.
How to Avoid It:
Remember, failure to comply with contribution rules is considered a breach of fiduciary duty and may result in penalties or legal action. Don't let an employer's negligence rob you of your retirement security.
Career mobility is increasing in PNG, but many workers leave behind a trail of forgotten super accounts. Having multiple accounts means paying multiple sets of fees, losing track of your total balance, and making it harder to manage your retirement savings effectively.
The Reality: You might have worked for three different companies over your career and have three separate super accounts scattered across different funds, each eroding through administrative fees.
Consolidating accounts not only simplifies your finances but also maximizes the compound growth of your retirement savings.
Most workers rely solely on the mandatory 8.4% employer and 6% employee contributions. While these are valuable, they may not be enough to fund the retirement lifestyle you envision, especially if you start working later in life or have career gaps.
The Reality: Both employers and employees may voluntarily contribute above the prescribed minimum rates, yet few take advantage of this opportunity to accelerate their retirement savings.
Nasfund invests members' funds across a variety of asset classes and aims to credit positive returns of a minimum CPI over a rolling 5-year period Wikipedia, meaning your voluntary contributions benefit from the same professional investment management as your mandatory contributions.
Life changes quickly, you get married, have children, go through a divorce, or experience the loss of a loved one. Yet many PNG workers never update their beneficiary nominations, which can create serious problems for families during already difficult times.
The Reality: Your super could be one of the largest assets you leave behind. Nasfund's primary purpose is to provide its members or their beneficiaries financial protection at retirement, loss of employment, death, disability to work or when the normal flow of income is suddenly cut off. Without updated beneficiary details, your super may not go to the people you intend.
Take 15 minutes today to ensure your beneficiary details are current. Your family will thank you.
Nasfund membership comes with valuable perks beyond just retirement savings, yet many members never use them. This is literally leaving money on the table.
The Reality: Thousands of kina in potential savings go unused each year because members don't realize the full value of their membership.
These benefits are already yours as a member, make sure you use them!
Avoiding these five common mistakes can add tens or even hundreds of thousands of kina to your retirement savings. The key is being proactive rather than passive about your superannuation.
Nasfund is Papua New Guinea's leading superannuation fund, managing over 700,000+ member accounts and consistently delivering annual returns above CPI Nasfund.
We're here to help you maximize your retirement security.
Wishing you a Supa Day.
If you're contributing to superannuation in Papua New Guinea, there's one number that determines how fast your retirement savings grow: your fund's crediting rate. This percentage can mean the difference between a comfortable retirement and financial struggle.
Understanding crediting rates isn't just about numbers on a statement. It's about securing your future in a country where there's no government pension to fall back on.
A crediting rate is the annual interest your superannuation fund applies to your account balance. Think of it as the growth percentage your savings earn from the fund's investments throughout the year.
At Nasfund, the crediting rate reflects net profit after tax from investments across property, equities, offshore markets, and fixed income assets. For 2025, members' accounts grew by 13% before any new contributions were added.
This becomes life-changing when you consider how compound growth works over decades of saving.
When your super earns interest, that interest gets added to your balance. Next year, you earn interest on the new, larger balance. This snowball effect is called compound growth, and it's one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available to working Papua New Guineans.
Consider two members who both start with K10,000. Member A's fund delivers an average 8% crediting rate over 20 years, while Member B's fund achieves 11%. After two decades, Member A has approximately K46,610. Member B ends up with K80,623. That's K34,013 more, simply from a stronger crediting rate.
You can model exactly this kind of scenario using the Nasfund Superannuation Calculator, adjust the crediting rate slider to see how different rates affect your projected balance over time.
Where workers rely entirely on their own savings for retirement, these differences determine whether you'll live comfortably or struggle to cover basic expenses in your later years.
Investment performance is the biggest factor. Funds invest your contributions across different assets including property developments, shares in local companies, offshore equities, and fixed income securities. When these investments perform well, members benefit through higher crediting rates.
Operating costs matter too. Every kina spent on administration or management fees can't be credited to your account. Over decades, even small differences in expense ratios compound into substantial amounts either staying in your pocket or covering fund operations. This is why Nasfund's 2025 result of 13% is significant, the gross portfolio return was 15%, with only 1.5% absorbed by expenses and 0.74% by taxes.
Currency movements also impact returns. When funds invest offshore and the Kina weakens against other currencies, members can benefit from foreign exchange gains that boost overall returns.
Consistency matters more than one exceptional year. Look for funds that deliver returns above inflation year after year. This "real return" is what actually grows your purchasing power and protects your savings from being eroded by rising costs. Nasfund has consistently delivered annual returns above CPI over rolling five-year periods.
See how transparent your fund is about where your money is invested and how returns are calculated. Funds that clearly communicate their investment strategy and performance reports demonstrate the governance your retirement savings deserve. You can review Nasfund's annual reports and investment policies at any time.
Membership growth signals confidence too. When workers and employers consistently choose a particular fund, it reflects trust built through reliable performance and quality service.
While you can't control your fund's investment performance, you can maximise how crediting rates benefit you personally.
Make voluntary contributions beyond your employer's mandatory 8.4%. Even small additional amounts get multiplied by compound growth. An extra K50 per fortnight equals K1,300 annually. Over 25 years at a reasonable crediting rate, those voluntary contributions could add over K100,000 to your retirement balance. Use the Superannuation Calculator to see this for your own salary and contribution level.
Avoid unnecessary withdrawals, particularly for unemployment claims. While PNG law permits withdrawals after six months of unemployment, every kina you take out loses decades of potential compound growth. That K5,000 withdrawal today could have been worth K40,000 by the time you retire. Learn more about when and how to access your super before making any withdrawal decisions.
Keep your employment details current with your fund. When employers contribute late or to the wrong account, you miss out on crediting during those periods. Note that employers are required by law to remit contributions within 14 days of each month, if yours are delayed, contact Nasfund immediately. Check your annual statement and contact the team if contributions seem delayed or incorrect.
Papua New Guinea doesn't offer government pensions or social security for retirees. When you finish working, your superannuation is what supports you. This makes understanding and maximising your crediting rate necessary, not optional.
Workers who retire comfortably are those who paid attention throughout their careers. They chose funds with strong, consistent performance. They made extra contributions when possible. They understood that every percentage point compounds into real financial security.
Your crediting rate isn't just a number on your statement. It's the engine that turns today's contributions into tomorrow's financial independence. The sooner you understand its impact, the more time compound growth has to work in your favour. If you leave the fund before the annual crediting rate is declared, be aware that an interim crediting rate will apply to your account.
Understanding how crediting rates work puts you in control of your financial future. Small decisions today about contributions and fund selection compound into major differences over your working life.
Visit Nasfund's Superannuation Calculator to see how different contribution levels and crediting rates could impact your retirement balance, or contact our team to discuss personalised strategies for growing your super.
Your retirement security starts with the decisions you make today.
For many Papua New Guineans, payday brings a familiar tension. Your wages need to cover your own living costs, your future, and the people who depend on you. The wantok system sits at the heart of this. It is one of the strongest parts of PNG culture, and it can also be one of the biggest tests of your savings.
This guide looks at how to honour your wantok obligations and still set money aside for retirement, so you are not forced to choose one over the other.
The wantok system is a network of mutual support. When a relative needs school fees, a haus krai needs contributions, or a family member is sick, the money often comes from those in paid work. It is a safety net that has held communities together for generations.
Your superannuation is a different kind of safety net, one that looks after the older version of you. Super is long-term savings for the years when you can no longer work. If you are employed by a business with 15 or more staff, you already contribute 6% of your pay and your employer adds 8.4% on top. For a clear picture of how it all fits together, the what is superannuation page is a good place to start.
Both matter. The skill is in funding both without one quietly draining the other.
Family financial obligations in PNG are rarely small or one-off. They arrive often, sometimes without warning, and saying no can feel close to impossible. This is the reality of cultural finance in Papua New Guinea, where super savings and family pressure collide. Money that could have grown for thirty years gets spent in a single fortnight.
The problem is not the giving. The problem is giving without a plan, until there is nothing left for your own future.
Balancing family support and savings starts with treating your future self as one of the wantoks you look after. A few habits make a real difference:
The strength of superannuation is that it works for you even when life is busy. Your balance earns returns over time, and you can check the interim crediting rate to see how your savings are tracking through the year.
If you want to see what a small extra contribution could become by retirement, the Nasfund superannuation calculator lets you test different amounts. You can also read simple ways to grow your super without stretching your budget today.
Not everyone earns a fortnightly wage. If you run a small business, sell cash crops, or receive landowner royalties, you can still save for retirement through Eda Supa. It is a voluntary account with the same protections as compulsory super, and you contribute on your own terms. This puts long-term savings within reach even when your income changes with the season.
Honouring your wantok and planning for retirement are not opposites. With a clear plan, you can support the people who matter today and still arrive at retirement with something of your own. If you would like help getting started, contact Nasfund and the team will guide you through the next step.
Q1: How does the wantok system affect retirement savings in PNG?
A: The wantok system is a deeply rooted PNG cultural framework where extended family and community members share financial resources, particularly in times of need. While it provides important social support, regular contributions to wantok obligations can significantly reduce the disposable income available for personal savings and retirement, making it harder for PNG workers to build long-term wealth without intentional planning.
Q2: How can I support my wantok and still save for retirement?
A: Successful PNG savers separate their finances into clear categories: essential household costs, planned wantok contributions, and protected retirement savings. By making your Nasfund contributions automatic and treating them as a non-negotiable household expense, you protect your future while still meeting reasonable family obligations within a defined budget.
Q3: Should I withdraw my Nasfund savings to help family members?
A: Generally no. Withdrawing superannuation early to support family members typically reduces your long-term retirement security significantly and may incur higher exit tax, since the longer your savings remain invested, the lower your eventual tax liability becomes. Nasfund encourages members to explore alternative options such as Housing Advance for housing-specific needs rather than full withdrawals.
Q4: How do I respectfully say no to family financial requests?
A: Setting boundaries within the wantok system can be done respectfully by being open about your financial commitments, including your retirement obligations to Nasfund. Many families now accept that long-term financial security benefits the entire extended network: a wantok member who retires comfortably can continue contributing for decades, while one who depletes their savings cannot.
Q5: Can I include family members in my Nasfund retirement planning?
A: Yes. The Nasfund beneficiary nomination process allows you to specify which family members receive your superannuation benefits if you pass away. The Will Kit also helps you formalise your wishes for distributing other assets. Combined, these tools let you provide for family while keeping your active retirement savings protected during your working years.
That gap is exactly what voluntary superannuation contributions in PNG are designed to close. They let you put a little extra into your Nasfund account on top of what your employer pays, and over a working life that small habit can change your final balance in a big way.
A voluntary contribution is any amount you add to your super beyond the compulsory employer and employee payments set out under PNG law. If you are new to how the system works, the what is superannuation guide is a good place to start.
Think of it this way. Your mandatory contributions are the floor. A voluntary super top-up is anything you choose to add above that floor, whether it is a one-off deposit after a good month or a fixed amount every pay cycle. The money lands in the same Nasfund account and is invested the same way as the rest of your savings.
Compulsory contributions are a solid base, but they are built around a percentage of your salary, not around the lifestyle you picture in retirement. If your income is modest, or if you started contributing later in life, the standard rate may leave a shortfall.
Making additional super contributions in PNG gives you a way to take charge rather than hoping the default will be sufficient. You decide how much extra, and you decide when. For self-employed members, sole traders and farmers, Eda Supa makes voluntary saving possible even without a formal employer, so nobody is shut out of building a retirement fund.
This is where voluntary deposits earn their keep. Money you add today does not just sit there. It is invested alongside the rest of the fund and earns returns that are added to your account, and those returns then earn returns of their own. That compounding effect is why an early top-up is worth far more than the same amount added near retirement.
The earlier you start adding extra, the harder every kina works for you.
Each year your balance is credited with the fund's declared rate, and withdrawals are settled using the interim crediting rate. If you want to picture the difference a regular top-up makes over ten or twenty years, the Nasfund superannuation calculator lets you model it with your own numbers.
You do not need a complicated plan to start. A few practical options:
For guidance on each method, the grow your super page walks through what is available to Nasfund members. The point is consistency. Regular voluntary super deposits in Papua New Guinea beat occasional large ones, because every contribution buys more time in the market.
There is also a timing advantage. The longer your savings stay invested, the more favourable the tax treatment tends to be when you eventually withdraw. In practice, members who leave their balance untouched for the long term keep more of their money than those who pull out early. Voluntary contributions strengthen this on two fronts: they grow the balance and they reward patience.
Your future self will not remember the fortnight you added an extra few kina. It will remember the balance that habit built. If you are ready to set up a voluntary contribution, or simply want to understand your options, contact Nasfund and the team will walk you through the next step.
Q1: What are voluntary superannuation contributions in PNG?
A: Voluntary superannuation contributions are extra payments you make into your Nasfund account on top of the mandatory employer contributions required under PNG law. They can come from your own income, savings, or one-off windfalls and are designed to accelerate the growth of your retirement balance through additional compounding interim crediting rates.
Q2: How do I make a voluntary contribution to my Nasfund account?
A: You can make a voluntary contribution by completing the relevant contribution form available from the Nasfund forms library, then depositing the funds directly via bank transfer, EFTPOS at a Nasfund branch, or through your employer's payroll system. Your e-Branch portal also shows confirmation once the contribution is credited to your account.
Q3: How much can a small voluntary contribution actually add to my retirement balance?
A: A voluntary contribution of just K50 per fortnight over 20 years, growing at typical Nasfund crediting rates, can add tens of thousands of Kina to your final balance compared to relying on employer contributions alone. Use the Nasfund Superannuation Calculator to model your own scenario based on your current age, balance, and contribution capacity.
Q4: Is there a maximum amount I can contribute voluntarily to Nasfund?
A: There are no strict maximum limits on voluntary contributions for Nasfund members, although large contributions should be discussed with the Nasfund team to understand any regulatory or tax implications. Most members make voluntary contributions in regular small amounts rather than large one-off deposits, allowing for steady compounding growth.
Q5: Will my voluntary contributions be taxed differently from employer contributions?
A: Voluntary contributions to your Nasfund account follow the same tax treatment as mandatory employer contributions while invested in the fund. The applicable exit tax at withdrawal is based on how long the funds have been in your account. Holding voluntary contributions invested for 15 years or more reduces the exit tax to 0 percent.
Sharma said superannuation funds face the ongoing challenge of balancing long-term growth opportunities with the need to maintain sufficient liquidity to meet member benefit payments. With approximately 10% of Nasfund's membership withdrawing their funds each year, liquidity remains a critical consideration in the fund's investment mandate.
He explained that Papua New Guinea's long-term inflation rate trends at approximately 5%. After accounting for the 25% tax rate applied to superannuation income and standard fund expense ratios of approximately 1%, a superannuation fund must achieve returns of around 7% simply to preserve purchasing power and approximately 8% to meet the mandate of CPI plus return.
These return and liquidity requirements are prompting consideration of investment structures that would enable participation in major resource and infrastructure projects while maintaining prudent risk management and liquidity.
Mr. Sharma further stated that staged investment approaches would allow superannuation funds to provide financing during project development and participate in equity ownership once projects become operational.
“A loan-to-equity approach allows us to support major projects in a way that is properly staged, properly risk-managed, and aligned with our obligations to members,” Sharma said.
Convertible bonds were cited as one example, providing interest income during construction before conversion to equity at commercial operation. The potential use of tax-free infrastructure bonds was also noted, with favourable tax treatment capable of improving member returns while supporting investment in national development projects. Sharma added that the successful listing of Papua New Guinea's first corporate bond signals growing depth in the country's capital markets and the potential for additional investment instruments in the future.
All such investments would continue to operate within Nasfund's established governance framework and statutory investment limits, including current restrictions that limit exposure to any single entity to no more than 5% of the fund's total portfolio.
Sharma said superannuation funds have the potential to provide a pathway for ordinary Papua New Guineans to participate indirectly in the country's resource and infrastructure growth through their retirement savings, allowing members across the country to benefit from investment returns generated by major projects.
He also noted that certain resource-related investments have defined project life cycles, requiring fund managers to plan for the orderly recovery of capital over the life of the investment to ensure fairness between current and future contributors.
Nasfund supports initiatives aimed at increasing local participation in resource and infrastructure financing and remains open to discussions with government, regulators and industry stakeholders on investment opportunities that meet the fund's governance, risk, liquidity and return requirements.
Legislative reform is needed to improve superannuation balances and strengthen the long-term financial security of Papua New Guineans, Nasfund said.
Speaking at the Finance in Resources & Energy session during 2026 PNG CORE Resources Week, Nasfund Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Sharma outlined four areas for consideration under a review of the Superannuation (General Provisions) Act 2000. He outlined four specific areas for consideration under a review of the Superannuation (General Provisions) Act 2000.
Chief Executive Officer, Rajeev Sharma, said, "Legislative change is required to increase superannuation balances for individuals, so that every member has a decent retirement fund when he or she needs it. This is about the long-term financial security of working Papua New Guineans."
The four areas Sharma identified were:
Sharma said the proposals have already been put forward on behalf of superannuation members and remain important policy considerations for improving superannuation balances over time. He said the fund continues to engage with Government, regulators and industry stakeholders and looks forward to feedback and action on the recommendations.
Sharma's comments were part of a broader address on the role of superannuation funds in supporting long-term financial security for members while contributing to national economic development.
Planning for retirement should focus not only on when members want to retire, but also on how much they will need to maintain their desired lifestyle, Nasfund says. The fund highlighted the importance of target-based retirement planning during the Finance in Resources & Energy session at the 2026 PNG Resources Week.
Nasfund Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Sharma said members often set retirement goals around a specific age, such as 50, 55 or 60, without identifying the level of savings required to support their desired lifestyle after leaving the workforce. Aligning a retirement age with a savings target provides a clearer and more realistic pathway to long-term financial security.
Sharma said inflation is one of the most important factors members should consider when setting retirement savings targets. For example, a member requiring K1,000 per month in living expenses today could need approximately K2,500 per month in 30 years' time to maintain the same standard of living.
"Retirement planning should be about a target amount, not just a target age. Members need to understand the amount they'll need, and how inflation affects that amount over time, so they can plan a retirement that actually works."
Helping members accumulate sufficient savings for retirement remains a core focus for Nasfund. Achieving this requires both disciplined investment management by the fund and informed financial planning by members throughout their working lives.
With a membership base spanning multiple age groups, including many members approaching retirement, Nasfund's investment decisions must balance reliable liquidity and cash flow needs with opportunities for long-term growth.
This balanced approach supports members nearing retirement while continuing to deliver sustainable returns for younger members building their savings over time. Approximately 65 per cent of Nasfund's total portfolio is currently invested in Papua New Guinea, reflecting the fund's commitment to generating value for members while contributing to national economic development.
Sharma's comments were part of a broader address to the Finance in Resources & Energy session, hosted by the PNG Chamber of Resources & Energy (PNG CORE), on the role of superannuation funds in supporting long-term financial security for members while contributing to national economic development.
Discount to Nasfund members on the following products and/or services:i) Between K50-K100 – 7.5%
ii) Between K101-K200 – 10%
iii) Over K201 – 15%
iv) Free gifts on purchase of K500 or above
Decided by Management from time to time i.e. T-shirts/Caps/Umbrellas/etcv) Exclusions
Offer 10% discount on motor vehicles, home, travel, life and funeral insurance.
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Please contact us on: Call: 1588Email: help@nasfund.com.pg
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