2025 Mindful Money Awards Winners

True to this year's theme of "investing for the transition," our award recipients continue to lead the transformation of New Zealand's investment landscape. These innovators are setting new benchmarks in ethical and impact investing, creating greater investor choice and delivering meaningful progress on climate, environmental, and social priorities.

Best Ethical KiwiSaver Provider and Best Ethical Investor 2025

Two of the high profile categories were won by Pathfinder Asset Management, as they continue to raise standards and lead the investment sector on ethical issues. They were the winner of awards for the Most Ethical KiwiSaver Provider and the Best Ethical Investor.

The judges congratulated Pathfinder for their continued leadership and evidence of higher impact. Pathfinder has demonstrated  progress by increasing their investment in positive social and environmental outcomes, including in unlisted renewable energy and social housing ventures. They are avoiding harmful investments while supporting investment for good.

The judges highly commended Generate in the Best Ethical KiwiSaver provider category. They have been an early mover through investing in generating positive impact, initially in the Salvation Army Social Housing Bond. They have followed this by further investments in social housing, as well as in renewable energy and venture capital. This has become a distinctive strength of their funds.

The Harbour Asset Management was commended in the Best Ethical Investor category.

---

Best New Ethical Investment Fund 2025

Newcomer to the New Zealand market, Community Housing Funding Agency won the Best New Ethical Fund award. The judges acknowledged they build on the foundation of work undertaken over many years by Community Finance, social housing providers, philanthropists and leading investors, now with the support of the government. This initiative provides a pathway to scale up funding for a range of community housing providers and thousands of families who urgently need warm, dry, safe and secure homes

The judges gave a commendation to the Bay of Plenty Housing Equity Fund. They recognised the fund as a unique collaboration to the Bay of Plenty where there is a critical shortage of affordable housing.

---

Best Overseas Ethical Fund 2025

The Best Overseas Ethical Fund award honours the funds that are actively marketed in New Zealand while registered overseas. They are typically included in the portfolios of financial advisers and institutions. The judges commented on the high quality of all the entries, reflecting the depth of experience and expertise on ethical investing in the Australian market.

The winner of the category was the Australian Ethical Australian Shares Fund. The judges commended Australian Ethical on their approach to systemic investment issues, such as the risks from further fossil fuel expansion and support for alternatives to animal testing. They also welcomed their stewardship approach, engaging to raise standards, documenting the outcomes and divesting where sufficient change is not achieved.

A commendation was given to Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders Fund. The judges were impressed by the clear and strong framework to exclude companies that cause harm is a particular strength, coupled with positive criteria to invest in companies with high carbon efficiency or a high level of avoided emissions.

---

The Best Impact Investment Fund 2025

The winner of the category is Community Housing Funding Agency. The judges were impressed by the strategic approach. It scales up finance for community housing through credit ratings for bonds, risk guarantees and enhanced liquidity. This makes it an attractive investment for mainstream fund managers, including many in this room, and lowers the cost of financing for community housing providers. This agency is an important step towards addressing the lack of affordable housing, one of our most urgent social challenges.

The judges were impressed with Soul Capital's approach to impact investing, and gave them a commendation. They bring academic rigour and strong values, along with clear financial aims. Soul Capital’s portfolio includes exciting and impactful investments, ranging from seed funding to scale up. There is a clear articulation of impact, linked to the focus of the founders and a robust theory of change.

---

The Most Effective Climate Action Investor 2025

The winner of the Climate award was Motion Capital. The judges appreciated the innovative approach that Motion Capital is bringing to the creation of a climate-focused venture capital fund. As a relatively new fund, they are already leading capital raises and using strong climate alignment and selection processes to identify companies with high impact and growth potential.

A commendation was given to the Climate Venture Capital Fund. The judges commended the Climate Venture Capital Fund for its leadership in investing in climate solutions. The Fund has clear targets for reducing emissions and a strong measurement and reporting framework, as well as an attractive financial return. They are playing a crucial role in building a stronger climate solutions sector in New Zealand.

---

Best Ethical Financial Adviser 2025

It is rare that there is a joint winner award. This year, the judges decided that there were two outstanding financial advisers who both deserved awards.

The first winner of the award is Carey Church from Moneyworks NZ. The judges were particularly impressed by the commitment shown by Carey Church to undertake thorough research and climate consultation, so that ethical issues are integrated throughout the client advice processes. She is generous with her advice and support for others in her community and across the financial advice sector.

The second winner of the best Ethical Financial Adviser award is Dr. Rodger Spiller of Money Matters. Dr. Rodger Spiller has played a key role in the development of ethical investing in Aotearoa New Zealand. He continues to deepen the practice of advice on ethical and impact investment, both for Money Matters and the sector as a whole. His client-centred approach provides tailored ethical investment advice and follow up reviews.

A commendation was given to Mark Holtom of Ethical Investing NZ. Judges commented that ethical investing is at the heart of Mark Holtom’s financial advice. This is shown in Mark’s client proposition and onboarding processes, as well as regular reviews and client feedback surveys. Mark is committed to further development of his practice in areas like stewardship and private capital.

---

Best Media Reporting on Ethical Investment 2025

The winner of this year’s award is Steven Moe. The judges recognised Steven’s commitment to the Seeds podcast, with almost 400 interviews, as well as engaging audiences through a range of articles, books, stories and events. The breadth of coverage is impressive, with a strong thread around diverse aspects of impact. Steven is generous with his time and expertise to support the work of others.

The judges were highly complimentary about the strong field of entries this year and, for only the second time in these awards gave two commendations. The first commendation goes to Susan Edmunds from RNZ. Susan Edmunds has been a stand-out journalist for many years. She has authored an impressive range of articles and multi-media coverage making financial issues accessible to the public. These include strong coverage of ethical and sustainable finance. The scale of her output is remarkable, and her work’s syndication across multiple media outlets reflects both its quality and relevance.

A commendation also goes to Joanna Mathers from Informed Media. The judges recognised the strong commitment to sustainability and ethical investing by the Informed Investor magazine and its editor, Joanna Mathers. Regular, sustained coverage of ethical investing, rather than relying on one-off features, is a powerful way to normalise these conversations in the investment community.

---

Mindful Money thanks the following sponsors for their generous support for the Conference:

Major Sponsor: Morningstar Sustainalytics
Silver Sponsors: NZ Super Fund & Stewart Investors
Bronze Sponsors: Trust Investments, Generate, Craigs Investment Partners & Betashares
Community Partners: Foundation North & Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation

Mindful Money thanks the following sponsors for their generous support for the Awards:

Major Sponsors: Public Trust & Morningstar Sustainalytics
Silver Sponsor: Stewart Investors
Bronze Sponsors: Trust Investments, Generate & Craigs Investment Partners
Community Partners: Foundation North & Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation

Congratulations to the winners in these awards and those highly commended. Their commitment to ethical practices and sustainability was evident, and their example inspires others to raise their standards.