Looking for ethical KiwiSaver options?

What does socially responsible investing mean to you? Some things seem glaringly obvious, like avoiding investment in companies that make money from landmines or cluster bombs. But all weapons manufacturing? How about tobacco? Pornography? Fossil fuels? Genetically modified organisms? Nuclear power? Gambling? Alcohol? Where do you draw the line?

“Ethical” will mean different things to different people. And investment funds have a variety of approaches to these questions.

That said, there are more socially responsible options than ever in KiwiSaver. The following schemes have a framework in place to filter out investments that could be considered unethical, such as tobacco or weapons:

Amanah, AMP, ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Booster, Fisher Funds, Fisher Funds TWO, Generate, Kiwi Wealth, Lifestages, Mercer, Milford, Nikko AM, NZ Funds, QuayStreet, Simplicity, Summer, and Westpac

You can search up any of their funds in Sorted's Smart Investor by typing the fund name here.

There are also specific ethically oriented funds, here grouped by type of fund. (Not sure which type is right for you? Try these three questions.)

Keep in mind that “ethical investment” is just one of the criteria you need to consider when choosing your fund. The fund you’re in also needs to be the right level of risk for you, have the level of services you want, with fees that seem reasonable. And of course it can’t have consistently underperformed, either – which could be a sign of poor management.

You don’t want to end up in the “ethically perfect” fund that doesn’t suit your other needs. Still, in terms of investing ethically in KiwiSaver, it’s good to know that you’ve got more options than ever.

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Comments

2 June 24
Anthony

I can't seem to find one that doesn't invest in animal testing. I'm not happy that my money is being used to create a real inescapable experience of hell on earth. I want to choose to not support it, is there any option available?
8 February 21
vick

CareSaver is not ethical, Their number 2 investment is in Microsoft.
3 December 19
warren

hi how come Pathfinder is not in the ethical list ? i would have thought they were one of the most ethical., thanks warren
18 November 19

Hi how do I find out how much is in my KiwiSaver? I’m also wanting to apply for first home grant and am unsure how to go about it. Can you please email me with details? Many thanks
4 November 19
Lucy

You can find out more about the ethics of Kiwisaver providers at https://mindfulmoney.nz/. I shifted to Booster but there seem to be a few others that might be good as well.
13 May 19
Lance

Why no Amanah ethical kiwisaver
2 September 18

dear anonymous from december 2017...I feel your discomfort, anger and sincere quest for engagement and healing. I grew up accepting the term "necessary evil" and the warning that "we can't eat money" light heartedly, mostly without the knowledge of their deeper implications. We don't know what it's like for others, unless we stand in their shoes or have walked with them for a while. I think that my ignorant/ innocent ways in some respect (you can see I am not a religious person, who thinks to be born human alone is synonymous with to be born guilty of something) or particular in this matter may have been a helpful shortcoming. Having lived on this planet now for more than 58 years, I have not found a best (for everyone) "lifestyle", but maintain that to be of service to others (taking a fee/ wage) or to produce something that others need/ want (to buy) has helped me to be able to share and claim my powers within this human networks. "Free", as well as discount purchased education and expensive life lessons (including our upbringing) are the reasons why some of us understand what the meaning of suffering is and how to apply the tools of knowledge and skills to transform reality for the benefit of ourselves and those that we share with (in personal life as well as "win/ win" in business). One doesn't need to understand the squirrel's anticipation of times of rest and dwindling resources/ income. The rewards of being able to share, while experiencing love, respect and reciprocity maybe one of the main drivers that I have managed to unearth keeping me motivated. We have managed together to change this government in 2018 and I think now have a good platform to see/ effect changes that will question and address our social responsibilities in a compassionate and effective way. Just in case you'll ever make it back to this forum on "Kiwi Saver/ Investments", let me express respect for your courage to talk about what's on your mind, which includes guts to address/ uhm...contemplate the "planet's disease". Sorry I can't be more in depth, but I am in the middle of "the Flu" and thus have time to respond to you.