KEY POINTS:
National has come under pressure to release its plans for KiwiSaver after one of its MPs was quoted as suggesting smaller businesses might be spared the full cost of contributions.
Party MP Shane Ardern was quoted in the Te Awamutu Courier as saying the party did not intend to make changes to the scheme initially.
"But it needs adjusting from the employers' contribution angle from a one size fits all approach to allow for pressure on smaller business employers."
Mr Ardern has rejected the report, saying that he was taken out of context. "They asked me a question about whether I saw changes in the future. I said until we are in government, probably not. I probably said we are not proposing changes to KiwiSaver, but I haven't described anything to do with National Party policy." A spokesman for leader John Key said Mr Ardern did not speak for the party on KiwiSaver and the party would be releasing its policy "in due course".
However, Prime Minister Helen Clark said Mr Ardern's quote indicated National did not intend to keep the 4 per cent employer contributions in the scheme.
