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Voices of Aotearoa: Demand for Ethical Investment in New Zealand 2025
7th April 2025
New research shows New Zealanders are standing firm in their commitment to ethical investment, with three-quarters wanting their money invested according to their values, even as political movements in some countries attempt to undermine responsible investing frameworks.
Voices of Aotearoa: Demand for Ethical Investment in New Zealand reveals a resilience in New Zealand investors' ethical expectations. Despite high-profile political attacks on ESG investing internationally, 75% of Kiwis continue to expect their KiwiSaver and managed funds to be invested ethically and responsibly, with investor focus shifting from merely avoiding harm to actively creating positive impact.
This report was created in collaboration with the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA).
Key findings include:
- Strong consumer support persists: 75% of New Zealanders want their KiwiSaver or investment fund to be invested ethically and responsibly. Only 5% disagree.
- Increasing concern about greenwashing: Half of New Zealanders are concerned about misleading claims. 54% are more likely to choose funds with independent certification, and 66% want to know which companies are in their portfolio.
- How companies behave matters: Investors prioritise avoiding companies that violate human rights (91%), abuse labour rights (91%), and damage the environment (89%) over traditional exclusions like tobacco and gambling.
- Growing demand for positive impact: 76% would invest in a fund that creates positive benefits for society and the environment, with 60% seeking comparable returns and 16% willing to accept lower returns.
Watch the launch event for the research, held on 7th April 2025 at KPMG Auckland, here.
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Report & Seminar Sponsored by:
