The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) and Mindful Money have published their 2024 consumer report, Voices of Aotearoa: Demand for Ethical Investment in New Zealand.
The study reveals that more Kiwis support responsible investing than ever before, led by young Kiwis, revealing a strong preference for aligning investments with personal values and long-term sustainability.
Key findings include:
- 77% of New Zealanders expect their investments to be managed ethically. 57% would consider switching to a different provider if their investments were in activities not consistent with their values.
- More respondents expect ethical and responsible investments to perform better in the long term, increasing to 46%.
- There is growing support for investing for positive impact. 54% would invest in a fund that aims to create positive impact if the returns are comparable to investment benchmarks while 20% would accept a lower return.
- Positive views about responsible investment are more strongly held by Gen Z and Millennials, those with higher levels of education and those with higher levels of investment.
- Over half of New Zealanders have concerns about greenwashing. 59% are more likely to choose ethical and responsible funds that have independent certification.
Many Kiwis expect ethical investments to outperform in the long run. This accords with our own thinking that companies with a strong sustainability ethos are more agile and gain advantages from a clear strategy, good reputation, a strong brand, loyal customers, and staff motivated by a strong vision.
Our Booster and Generate funds rank highly for their approach to responsible investing, being ranked as ‘Mindful KiwiSaver funds’. These are funds that meet Mindful Money’s high ethical standards, supported by credible verification. They avoid many companies of concern, and/or invest in companies with higher standards.
Contact Kapiti Financial Advice if you would like to discuss ethical KiwiSaver Schemes.
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