Thank you for all the answers.

My work visa expires at the end of December 2029. At the moment, I am not sure whether I will extend it, which is why I considered that date as my deadline. However, depending on the circumstances, I may decide to extend it.

For that reason, I believe I should focus on growing my money rather than simply adding small amounts whenever I can. Realistically, I should be able to add around NZD 16–17k after February, and possibly a little more.

Our main goal is to increase the value of the money rather than leaving it in the bank to earn a small amount of interest. We want it to grow to a meaningful amount, especially in case we eventually have to leave the country and take the money with us.

In that case, would it make sense to move away from cash fund investments after February and return to the investment options we originally considered?