The government is being accused of stealing from future generations by ditching the KiwiSaver kickstart.

The culling of the $1000 incentive is being hotly debated as Parliament sits under urgency today.

National MP Todd McClay believes the Budget measure will achieve significant fiscal savings.

"The change proposed in this Bill will help ensure KiwiSaver is sustainable and represents good value for money."

National's Nick Smith admits KiwiSaver is approaching its eighth birthday, and amendments should be made.

"It is now time to let the scheme be more about people saving for their own retirement and less about government top ups."

Meanwhile, Labour leader Andrew Little asserted in parliament today that KiwiSaver was started by his party to help savings in a nation which had a major savings problem.

"They're taking away the kickstart because this is a National party and a National government that hates KiwiSaver. They can't leave it alone, they can't keep their hands of it - a bit like the Prime Minister and ponytails."

Labour's Grant Robertson points out KiwiSaver has been a runaway success in a nation where we have not been proficient savers.

He adds parents are setting up accounts for their newborn babies, which starts them on a great path to future savings.

"This bill undermines one of the great retirement savings initiatives of New Zealand and the government should be ashamed of it."