A win for Tim Fairhall and his Mum:

The Government is changing the KiwiSaver rules so that people with congenital life-shortening conditions can withdraw their savings when they retire.

Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi made the announcement today.

Mr Fairhall and his mother Joan Fairhall asked a Parliamentary select committee last year to change the rules to allow him and others with life-shortening conditions to access their KiwiSaver early - because they were unlikely to live until the normal retirement age of 65.

Mr Faafoi says Mr Fairhall - a 40 year-old supermarket worker who has Down syndrome - has been contributing to KiwiSaver for a number of years.