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SuperLife KiwiSaver Scheme

Ethica Fund logo

Ethica Fund

Smartshares Limitedsuperlife.co.nz
Fund start date
31 March 2008
Data as at
30 June 2026
Balanced

Recent material changes

Diffs we track across PDS, SIPO, holdings + fee history

Overview

About this balanced fund

The Ethica Fund sits within the SuperLife KiwiSaver Scheme as a balanced KiwiSaver scheme fund. It holds 60% in growth assets and 40% in income assets, positioning it in the middle of the risk spectrum. This allocation aims to balance capital growth with regular income, making it a moderate-risk option within the scheme's range of offerings.

Over the five years to 30 June 2026, the fund delivered an average annual return of 5.16%. The annual fee is 0.70%, which is below the peer-median fee of 0.85% for balanced KiwiSaver scheme funds in its cohort. The fund manages $78.2 million across 1,476 members. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

On the FMA risk indicator scale, this fund sits at 4 out of 7, reflecting moderate risk. This risk level is typically considered suitable for members with a medium investment timeframe who can tolerate some year-to-year fluctuations in their balance but prefer less volatility than growth-focused options. Members should consider their own circumstances, investment horizon, and comfort with market movements when assessing any KiwiSaver scheme fund.

Holdings

As of 2026-06-30 Ethica Fund reports an asset mix of 60% growth assets (shares, listed property, alternatives) and 40% income assets (cash, bonds, fixed interest). This split is typical for a balanced fund. The full asset-mix breakdown including overseas vs domestic and listed vs unlisted exposure appears in the asset-allocation chart below.

Performance

Ethica Fund has 35 quarters of QFU data on file (2017-09-30 to 2026-06-30). The 5-year average annual return reported in the most recent QFU is 5.16%. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Fees

At 0.70% in annual charges, Ethica Fund's fee sits 0.15 percentage points below the median for Balanced KiwiSaver scheme funds in our coverage (median 0.85%). 23 of the 76 funds in this cohort charge a lower annual fee (this fund ranks 24 cheapest of 76). Fee level is a mechanical signal — does not factor in returns, risk, or manager skill.

Risk and suitability

Ethica Fund carries a risk indicator of 4/7 on the FMA risk scale. Risk indicator 3-4 funds are typically considered for members with a medium investment horizon (3-10 years) or those balancing growth potential against shorter-term volatility. FundCompare does not provide personalised advice; consult a licensed financial adviser to understand whether this risk profile fits your circumstances.


Snapshot

5.16% a year over five years, at a 0.7% annual fee

Five-year return

5.16%

Five Year Average Return

Returns (green) show the fund’s growth over the five years to 30 June 2026, after fees and taxes. Compare these results with the average Balanced KiwiSaver scheme fund (light green).

Category comparison — five-year return

5.16% for this fund — category median 4.5% across 15 Balanced KiwiSaver scheme funds at 30 June 2026. This fund ranks 4 of 15 (73rd percentile) by five-year after-fee return.

Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.

Annual fee

0.7%

One Year Average Fees

Fees shown here (blue) represent what you would pay over a year if you had $30,000 invested in this fund. Compare them with the average fees for Balanced KiwiSaver scheme funds (light blue).

Growth / income split

The fund’s mix of growth assets (shares, property) and income assets (bonds, cash) as of 30 June 2026. The average mix for balanced KiwiSaver scheme funds is shown in light blue.

In the provider’s words

What the provider says about this fund

Here’s the provider’s overview of the managed fund:

Designed for investors that want a balance between stability of returns and growth of their investment over the long term. Provides exposure to a diverse selection of global companies and income assets that align with our Responsible Investment Policy. We exclude assets that do not meet our socially responsible investment standards, and increase or decrease exposure to companies based on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.


When can I get my money out?

This is a fund within a KiwiSaver scheme, which means generally you can withdraw only to purchase a first home, after the age of 65 or in cases of financial hardship.

Asset mix

60% growth assets, 40% income assets

This fund's asset mix

Average for balanced funds

Your investment mix shapes your outcome

The balance of assets you choose — your asset allocation, has the biggest impact on how your investments perform and how much their value may rise or fall along the way. Selecting that balance is crucial. By adjusting the proportion of growth-oriented investments you include, you’re effectively setting your preferred level of risk. Generally, taking on more risk can increase the potential for higher returns, but there’s never a guarantee — that’s the nature of risk. To find an allocation suited to your personal circumstances (sometimes called your risk profile), you can start with an investor risk questionnaire or a KiwiSaver-specific guide.

Largest holdings · 30 June 2026

Top 10 holdings — 78.63% of this fund

Top-10 turnover this quarter
11% (1 in / 1 out)

These assets make up 78.63% of this fund as at 30 June 2026.

AssetAsset ClassTypeCountry% of Fund
Hedged18.98
Dimensional Global Sustainability PIE Fund17.62
Class)15.87
Dimensional Australian Sustainability PIE Fund7.12
Hedged ETF6.54
NZ Government Bond 15/05/304.50
NZ Government Bond 14/04/333.50
NZ Government Bond 20/04/293.0
NZ Government Bond 15/05/311.50

Top-10 holdings changes

31 Mar 202630 Jun 2026

Entered top 101
  • NZ Government Bond 20/04/293.00%
Dropped out of top 101
  • NZD Cash Account (ANZ Bank)was 1.70%
Grew3
  • Hedged17.45% → 18.98% (+1.53 pp)
  • Hedged ETF6.24% → 6.54% (+0.30 pp)
  • Dimensional Australian Sustainability PIE Fund6.95% → 7.12% (+0.17 pp)
Shrank2
  • Dimensional Global Sustainability PIE Fund18.08% → 17.62% (-0.46 pp)
  • Class)16.09% → 15.87% (-0.22 pp)

Fees in context

How this fee compares with the category

0.7%

This Fund

0.78%

Average Balanced KiwiSaver scheme funds

The blue segment shows the annual fees you’d pay if you invested $30,000 in this fund. The grey segment represents the typical yearly fees for an average Balanced KiwiSaver scheme fund, so you can compare them directly.

Smaller Fees, Bigger Potential

When it comes to investing, spending more doesn’t automatically lead to stronger results. In fact, higher fund fees can often eat into your returns. Remember, what you keep is calculated after fees and taxes are deducted. Because no one can predict how any fund will perform, it’s generally wise to look for options with lower costs whenever you can.

Fee breakdown

What makes up the 0.7% annual charge

Fee Type% Over a yearAmount paid on a 30k balance
total

Total fund charges

0.70%
administration

Administration fee

30

Returns in context

How the five-year return compares with the category

5.16%

This Fund

4.44%

Average Balanced KiwiSaver scheme funds

Over the past five years, this fund delivered the average annual return shown here (in green) to investors, after fees and taxes (28% PIR) were applied. For comparison, the average return over the same period for all Balanced KiwiSaver scheme funds is shown in grey.

Returns: Reflecting the Past

Investing is about seeking returns, but the figures shown here represent historical performance—they cannot be relied upon to continue in the future. Selecting a fund solely based on past performance is not advisable. A well-informed decision should consider factors such as an appropriate investment mix for your goals and reasonable fees.

Risk

Risk indicator: 4 of 7

Risk indicator

This indicator reflects how much the investment’s value has fluctuated over time. It is calculated from the fund’s five-year performance, or from a comparable market index if the fund has a shorter history.

Lower riskHigher risk
Potentially lower returnsPotentially higher returns

Fund details

The numbers that don’t make headlines

Manager information

NameSMARTSHARES LIMITED
TypeNZ Limited Company
Websitesuperlife.co.nz
NZBN9429038512483
FSP NumberFSP26531

Fund information

Asset liquidity ratio100.00%
Total value of fund$78,244,322
Debt ratio

Fee + return history

View detailed history →

Quarterly fees and after-tax returns recorded against this fund since inception. Sourced from FMA Disclose Quarterly Fund Updates. The detailed view shows the full chart + per-quarter data table.

Material changes to the Product Disclosure Statement over time — fee adjustments, asset-allocation shifts, scheme-rule amendments. Diff against the previous PDS shown side-by-side in the detailed view.

Top-10-holdings additions, removals, and weight changes across quarters. Shows the manager's actual portfolio decisions over time, sourced from the fund's Quarterly Fund Update.

Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives revisions — investment objective rewrites, asset-class target shifts, ESG policy changes, derivatives policy changes. The detailed view diffs against prior SIPO versions.

AI · API · Markdown

Machine-readable surface

Every fund page on FundCompare ships with structured JSON and a plain-markdown summary alongside the HTML — so LLMs, MCP clients, and analysts can cite the same regulator-sourced data the page renders. Source documents come from FMA Disclose, IRD, and Sorted Fund Finder.

Identifiers

FMA fund code
FND2458
FSP number
FSP26531
NZBN
9429038512483
Provider
Smartshares
Scheme
SuperLife KiwiSaver Scheme

Endpoints for Ethica Fund

GET/api/fund/smartshares/ethica-fund/facts.jsonapplication/jsonStructured fund facts (fees, returns, asset mix, identifiers, sources).
GET/api/fund/smartshares/ethica-fund/summary.mdtext/markdownPlain-markdown summary citable by LLMs without HTML parsing.
GET/api/provider/smartshares/facts.jsonapplication/jsonProvider-level facts including every fund this provider operates.

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Quick examples

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MCP (Claude Desktop / ChatGPT)

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Important Information and Disclosure

The information provided on this website is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial products. Nothing on this website constitutes financial advice for the purposes of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. FundCompare.co.nz is not a licensed Financial Advice Provider.

Investing involves risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you put in. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Before making any investment decision, you should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the fund carefully. If you have questions or are unclear about the implications of your investment decision, you should seek advice from a licensed Financial Advice Provider.

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