Press Release: 2026 Awards Recipients

For immediate release

The sixth annual Ethical and Impact Investment Awards were held in Auckland on 18^th June, presented by the charity, Mindful Money. These awards showed strong commitment to shifting investment towards positive real world outcomes, a theme of the awards and preceding conference.

These awards come at a time of political challenges to the approach of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) investing in the US. However, there are also strong commitments to sustainable investing in other markets globally. This reflects growing financial risks from climate and environmental impacts, as well as massive opportunities from the rapid shift towards sustainability and the climate transition. These awards are more relevant than ever.

Mindful Money’s Founder and Co-CEO, Barry Coates commented: “These awards celebrate innovation and excellence in ethical and impact investing. They set a high bar for the sector and have become the standard for excellence in ethical and impact investing. We encourage others in the investment sector to respond to public demand and move further and faster towards high standards of sustainable investment.”

Mindful Money’s Co-CEO, Kate Vennell added: “Transitioning towards net zero and a more sustainable economy will need capital to be re-directed from harm to positive outcomes, such as climate solutions, water and nature, community development, health and a circular economy. These awards show the investors that are leading the way.”

Best Integration of Positive Outcomes

This is a new award, reflecting the exciting opportunities for mainstream investment providers to contribute to social and environmental solutions. In recent years, there has been an increased allocation towards positive real world outcomes from mainstream KiwiSaver and managed funds.

Generate was Highly Commended for their pioneering work in investing KiwiSaver and managed funds into opportunities in affordable housing and venture capital.

Pathfinder was the inaugural award winner. Their strategy integrates investments for positive outcomes across their investment portfolios. They have made innovative and impactful investments into a range of private capital companies with positive outcomes.

Best New Ethical and Impact Investment fund 2026

This is always an exciting award category, highlighting the funds that are bringing new ideas and options to the New Zealand investment scene.

Te Piringa and Home Capital Partners were Highly Commended. Support for community housing partnerships is at the core of the fund, allowing partners access to capital that will support a scale up of social and affordable housing provision.

Climate Venture Capital Fund 2 was the winner of this award. Starting a follow-on fund for climate solutions is a challenge and there are important innovations in this second fund. They make a strong contribution in supporting investee companies to commercialise global-scale climate solutions and building climate investing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Best Ethical or Impact Overseas Fund
This award is open to overseas investment funds that are actively marketed in New Zealand. The judges were looking for overall excellence in all aspects of funds management.

Pella Global Generations PIE Fund was Highly Commended for a sound ethical investment framework, including strong engagements with investee companies to raise their standards.

Australian Ethical Emerging Companies Fund was the award winner. Their Ethical Charter, applied across all fund holdings, is effective in avoiding investment harm and integrating positive outcomes investing. They have a comprehensive stewardship approach, with strong research, escalation pathways and divestment triggers.

Best Media Reporting on Ethical Investment
This category is for the best journalism about ethical or impact investment. The judges were looking for high standards of journalism, attuned to the interests of their audiences.

Frances Cook was Highly Commended and congratulated by the judges for her podcast and multimedia interviewing skills and insights. Her stories are compelling.

Susan Edmunds won the award for her ability to make stories interesting and relevant, reaching RNZ audiences far beyond those interested in finance. Her reporting has provided ways for large audiences to find out more and take action.

Best Ethical Financial Adviser
Financial advisers have an important role in providing informed, independent and appropriate advice on ethical and impact investment. They provide New Zealand investors with financial advice that reflects their values and financial aspirations, and those of their family.

Dr. Rodger Spiller of Money Matters was Highly Commended. Rodger is a thought leader for ethical and impact investing, through the delivery of research papers for the sector and high quality resources for clients.

Carey Church of Moneyworks was the winner of the award. Carey combines a strong client-centred approach with deep research into investment options to meet clients’ needs. Ethical issues are integrated throughout her practice and in her work across the financial advice sector.

Best Ethical or Impact Asset Owner

This new award category recognises the crucial role played by the institutions that hold capital for investment, including trusts and foundations, charities, faith-based organisations, financial institutions and family offices. They are the ones who set the mandate for investing and the ethical and impact investment policies.

Clare Foundation was Highly Commended for their innovative approach, focused on investments that generate positive outcomes.

BayTrust was the award winner. They have built an impact-oriented investment approach, benefiting the communities in the Bay of Plenty and beyond. They have forged strong partnership with local partners, iwi and communities in projects such as the Bay of Plenty Housing Equity Trust and Taumata Hauha. They are showing leadership in investing community capital for good.

Best Impact Investor

This award is for funds that intentionally invest for positive impact as well as financial return. This is a growing and important part of the investment sector, in New Zealand and internationally. Unusually, the judges decided to give a joint award to two impactful and exciting investment funds.

Climate Venture Capital Fund, joint winner, has built impressive momentum from their first fund into their growth-oriented follow on fund. They have built a diverse base of investors, including philanthropists, KiwiSaver and institutional investment, private investors and AIP visa migrants. Their investments are providing well-documented impacts in terms of emissions reductions and avoidance, with opportunities to scale globally.

Te Pae ki te Rangi, Soul Capital, joint winner, is innovating in its approach, with investments ranging from flaxroots initiatives in te Tai Tokerau to rapidly growing global companies. Soul Capital brings academic rigour and strong values, along with clear financial aims. They have a clear articulation of impact, linked to the focus of the founders, and a robust theory of change.

Best Ethical Investment Provider (sponsored by Public Trust)

The award has been expanded this year, so that it covers both KiwiSaver and managed funds. Despite a turbulent market, these funds have continued to grow into a significant pool of domestic capital. now totalling over $230 billion.

Pathfinder Asset Management won this year’s award. Pathfinder is continuing to innovate and provide leadership in the ethical investment sector. They have increased their investment in positive outcomes and made a commitment to the Net Zero Asset Manager Initiative for climate action. Ethical values are core to their strategy and investments.

David Callanan, Public Trust Corporate Trustee Services GM, says he’s proud the organisation is returning as principal sponsor of the main awards for the third year in a row, plus sponsor of the Best Ethical Investment Provider award. As the supervisor for 14 KiwiSaver schemes, Public Trust plays a significant role in investment fund oversight.

Callanan says: “Ethical and impact investing is evolving quickly, driven by New Zealanders who want their money invested in line with their values. Investors are asking better questions about where their money goes, and they expect greater transparency, accountability and choice. That is a positive shift for the sector, because credible ethical investment claims help build confidence, lift standards, and support better outcomes for investors and the communities they care about. The Mindful Money Awards play an important role in recognising that leadership and helping investors see who is setting the standard.”

Jono Broome, Morningstar Sustainalytics commented that “The Aotearoa sustainable fund market has continued to stand out from other markets around the world with consistent and impressive demand. Net positive inflows have been recorded in every quarter of the past four years across managed funds and ETFs. Morningstar Sustainalytics is pleased to support Mindful Money in the annual fund awards to acknowledge the best of New Zealand's ethical funds in 2026.”

Notes for Editors:

The keynote speaker for the awards event, held at the Maritime Room, Princes Wharf, Auckland CBD, was Jono Ridler, endurance swimmer, ocean advocate, and co-founder of the Swim4TheOcean initiative. The awards MC was Jesse Mulligan, well-known as a leading radio presenter on RNZ, writer, comedian, restaurant critic and media personality.

Prior to the awards ceremony, Mindful Money’s conference started with Barry Coates announcing two major developments. Mindful Money has launched transparency tool in Australia, providing free information to Australians on where their super funds are invested. Mindful Money will also launch a new website tool providing Kiwis with information on the degree to which their KiwiSaver and managed funds are invested in companies that generate positive outcomes.

This issue of positive outcomes was the focus of the first panel, facilitated by Kate Vennell, with panelists: James Palmer, Community Finance; Yasmin Winchester, Fisher and Paykel Healthcare; and Gary Holden, Lodestone Energy.

The second panel focused on political issues that should be discussed in the forthcoming election. The panel was facilitated by Bridget Coates, with panelists: Mike Casey, Re-Wiring Aotearoa; Nicola Toki, formerly Forest & Bird; Fraser Whineray; and Helen Robinson, Auckland City Mission.

Facilitated roundtables with the audience identified key initiatives to move forward on positive outcomes and election priorities.

Photos from the conference and awards ceremony can be found here: Conference and Awards 2026 photo gallery

Sponsors:

Sponsors for the conference were: lead sponsor Morningstar Sustainalytics; sponsorship contributions from Australian Ethical, First Sentier, Generate and Trust Investments; and community support from Foundation North.

Mindful Money has secured generous support for the awards ceremony from: lead sponsors Public Trust and Morningstar Sustainalytics; silver sponsor New Zealand Super Fund; sponsorship contributions from Always Ethical and Generate; and community support from Foundation North.

Media Contact:
Tash McGowan
Marketing & Events Manager
Mindful Money
natasha@mindfulmoney.nz
+64 21 265 2270