In addition to the base prizemoney of The NZB Kiwi, an additional $1 million in bonuses will be available each year to the winners of a number of iconic New Zealand races in the lead up to the 6 March meeting (1st - $600,000; 2nd - $250,000; 3rd - $150,000). With the bonus component, the winner of The NZB Kiwi could take home $1.8 million in total prizemoney.
To be eligible for a share in the $1 million bonus pool, a horse must win one of the various Bonus Eligible iconic New Zealand races, and also run a top-three placing in The NZB Kiwi held on Champions Day (6 March 2027).
Importantly, horses do not need to be nominated for a slot in The NZB Kiwi at the time a designated Bonus Eligible Race is run to qualify for the Bonus. Any horse that wins a designated Bonus Eligible race will automatically qualify for the Bonus component should it be later nominated for a slot and go on to finish in the top three in The NZB Kiwi.
The initial list of New Zealand Bonus Eligible races is outlined below.
| Date | Race and Distance | Club and Venue | Winner | Trainer |
| Saturday 28 March 2026 | Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) | Manawatu Racing Club at RACE Trentham | Seize The Day (AUS) [NOT ELIGIBLE] | Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson |
| Monday 26 October 2026 | Group 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) | Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa Racecourse | Coniston (NZ) | Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott |
| Saturday 7 November 2026 | Group 1 Barneswood Farm 54th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) | Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park | ||
| Saturday 14 November 2026 | Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 54th New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) | Canterbury Jockey Club at Riccarton Park | ||
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | Group 2 Jimmy Schick Shaw's Auckland Guineas (1400m) | Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse | ||
| Saturday 9 January 2026 | Group 2 Levin Classic (1400m) | Wellington Racing Club at RACE Trentham | ||
| Saturday 23 January 2027 | Listed TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) | Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse | ||
| Saturday 23 January 2027 | Group 3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) | Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse | ||
| Saturday 6 February 2027 | Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) | Waikato Thoroughbred Racing at Te Rapa Racecourse | ||
| Saturday 20 February 2027 | Group 3 Trevor & Corallie Eagle Stakes (1400m) | Auckland Thoroughbred Racing at Ellerslie Racecourse |
Coniston (NZ) became the first horse to secure eligibility for the 2027 NZB Kiwi Bonus Pool following his victory in the Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa. The progressive son of Wootton Bassett, trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, produced a determined finish to record his first stakes victory.