The NZ government Superannuation Fund (GSF) scheme is managed and administered by the GSF Authority (the Authority) in terms of the GSF Act 1956 (the GSF Act). The authority has appointed Datacom Employer Services Limited (Datacom), a subsidiary of Datacom Group Limited, as the Schemes Administrator.

The Schemes Administrator does not have the authority to interpret the GSF Act or to make any determination on questions arising under the GSF Act. All interpretative issues are referred to the Authority for a decision.

If there is any doubt about a matter, eg. how an allowance is calculated, the Schemes Administrator will approach the Authority for a determination and then advises the contributor of the Authority’s decision, If the contributor disagrees with , or is dissatisfied with, the Authority’s decision he/she has the right to appeal to the GSF Appeals Board (the Appeals Board) against that decision.
The GSF Act requires the Authority to exercise its discretion consistently with the published statement of policies unless it considers it inappropriate to do so in the particular circumstances. The statement of policies may be amended by the Authority from time to time, subject to compliance with the procedural requirements set out in the Act.

Appeals must be made in writing within 28 days of the Authority’s decision being advised to the contributor. The appeal will then be presented to the Appeals Board at its next meeting. The Appeals Board considers all written and oral evidence submitted by the contributor or his/her representative, as well as the Authority’s report, and takes into account the interests of the Crown and any other interested party before making its decision. The Appeals Board’s decision is final and the contributor is advised of the outcome Membership.

As at 1st October 1995 the fund ceased to accept new members.

Contributions
All current members contribute 6.5% of their annual salary (except for 24 members who are still in the Old Scheme and they only contribute 6% with just one of them contributing 5 % of their salary) and this does not include contributions for the following:
Overtime
Lump sum in lieu of notice
Bonus payments
Retirement Leave
Allowances paid for special work performed
The reimbursement of expenses
Retiring gratuities
Contributions paid for or in respect of employer contributions
Any other allowances that the Government Superannuation Fund Authority determines not to be superable

General Information
The NZ Government Superannuation Fund is a Defined Benefit Fund, therefore the amount you get on retirement is dependent on how long you have contributed to the Fund and what your salary was for the last five years of service.

Identity and Survival Forms
Every year in March/May the above forms are sent to all pensioners for completion and if this is not returned by the end of July then the pension ceases until Datacom receives a signed form from the pensioner.

Services provided by the Office of the Public Service Commissioner
The office of the Public Service Commission provides assistance to all members in the Cook Islands either retired or current with any questions or problems that they may have, about the fund.  The office liaises directly with Datacom Employer Services in Wellington, NZ.

NZ Super Fund forms

GS19 - Options available while remaining in Government Service (size 596kb)

GS21- Election to contribute at previous salary rate follwoing a reduction in salary (size 62kb)

GS22 - Contribution in respect of prior or interrupted Government service (size 605kb)

GS96 - Option to cease contributing to GSF and Elect a deferred pension (size 603kb)

GSF Manual - Super Fund Manual (size 203kb)

Administration & Finance Division