The latest Demand for Ethical Investment in New Zealand 2025 event, co-hosted by Mindful Money and the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), highlighted the growing momentum behind ethical investing across Aotearoa.
The event revealed some powerful insights, particularly around gender differences and generational engagement in responsible investment.
Spotlight on women investors:
Women, along with younger New Zealanders (Gen Z and Millennials), those with higher education, and those with larger investments, consistently hold higher expectations for ethical investing.
Women are significantly more likely than men to want to avoid investments in sectors such as:
- Weapons
- Pornography/adult entertainment
- Genetic engineering/toxic chemicals
- Fossil fuels
Research highlights:
The research explored reveals strong public support for ethical investing, with 75% of New Zealanders wanting their KiwiSaver or other investments to reflect their personal values. Only 5% of respondents expressed disagreement with this approach, showing a clear majority in favour of responsible investment.
However, concerns about greenwashing are prominent. Half of the respondents are worried about misleading claims from fund providers. As a result, 54% of New Zealanders say they are more likely to choose funds that have independent certification, and 66% want transparency around which companies their money is invested in.
When it comes to values, investors are placing increasing importance on ethical business practices. A significant majority want to avoid investments in companies that violate human rights (91%), abuse labour rights (91%), or damage the environment (89%). These concerns now outweigh more traditional exclusions such as tobacco and gambling.
There is also growing interest in investments that create positive change. 76% of respondents would choose a fund that delivers social and environmental benefits. Of these, 60% expect the fund to deliver returns comparable to traditional investments, while 16% are willing to accept lower financial returns in exchange for a meaningful positive impact.
Explore the full report Voices of Aotearoa: Demand for Ethical Investment in New Zealand 2025
New Zealanders continue to show strong commitment to ethical investing, despite shifting political sentiments overseas. This growing demand presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the finance sector to meet evolving expectations and drive meaningful change.
