Ethical and responsible-investment KiwiSaver scheme funds
KiwiSaver scheme funds with explicit ESG exclusion lists or responsible-investment mandates — ethical, SRI, sustainable, impact.
General Information Only: This page provides factual data for comparison purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Individual circumstances vary.Read our disclosure
Ranked by annual fee (lowest first)
| # | Fund | Scheme | Annual fee | 1y return | 5y avg | Fund size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kernel NZ 50 ESG Tilted Fund | Kernel | 0.25% | 4.98% | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 11 April 2022 is less than five years before March 2026. | $55M |
| 2 | Kernel Global ESG (NZD Hedged) Fund | Kernel | 0.25% | 14.23% | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 3 July 2023 is less than five years before March 2026. | $436M |
| 3 | InvestNow Mercer Ethical Leaders Hedged Global Fixed Interest Index Fund | FundRock | 0.44% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | No 5-year average return figure held for this fund. | $1M |
| 4 | Responsible Conservative Fund | Mercer | 0.49% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | 2.35% | $781M |
| 5 | QuayStreet Socially Responsible Investment Fund | Smartshares | 1.12% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | 7.76% | $18M |
| 6 | Socially Responsible Moderate Fund | Booster | 1.21% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | 2.81% | $81M |
| 7 | GoalsGetter Amova SRI Equity Fund | Nikko | 1.23% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | 2.40% | $2M |
| 8 | InvestNow Mercer Ethical Leaders Balanced Fund | FundRock | 1.27% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | No 5-year average return figure held for this fund. | $1M |
| 9 | Sharesies Pathfinder Ethical Growth Fund | Sharesies | 1.32% | 8.87% | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 25 January 2023 is less than five years before March 2026. | $38M |
| 10 | Socially Responsible Balanced Fund | Booster | 1.33% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | 5.25% | $441M |
| 11 | InvestNow Pathfinder Ethical Growth Fund | FundRock | 1.34% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 19 April 2021 is less than five years before March 2026. | $7M |
| 12 | Socially Responsible Growth Fund | Booster | 1.34% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 30 March 2022 is less than five years before March 2026. | $122M |
| 13 | Socially Responsible High Growth Fund | Booster | 1.35% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | 8.85% | $904M |
| 14 | Socially Responsible Geared Growth Fund | Booster | 1.46% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 30 March 2022 is less than five years before March 2026. | $166M |
| 15 | GoalsGetter Harbour Sustainable Impact Fund | Nikko | 1.61% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 9 May 2024 is less than five years before March 2026. | $0M |
| 16 | GoalsGetter Pathfinder Ethical Growth Fund | Nikko | 1.61% | No 1-year return figure held for this fund. | No 5-year average return figure held. Recorded fund start date 9 May 2024 is less than five years before March 2026. | $1M |
About “—” in return figures: it means no figure is held, not a return of zero. Of the 16 funds listed, 3 have a 1-year return and 6 have a 5-year average return. Figures are drawn from fund disclosures on the FMA Disclose register, chiefly quarterly fund updates. Each fund shows the most recent figure held, with 1-year returns up to March 2026; the latest quarter broadly covered across all funds is March 2026. A fund too new to report a period has no figure for it; other gaps are figures not yet captured from the updates ingested so far.
Funds matched by name pattern against the ethical / responsible criteria. Annual-fee ranking is mechanical — does not factor in returns, risk, manager skill, or the precise underlying-index methodology. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest ethical / responsible KiwiSaver scheme fund in NZ?
Based on the most recent FMA-filed Quarterly Fund Updates, the lowest-fee ethical / responsible option in our coverage is Kernel — Kernel NZ 50 ESG Tilted Fund at 0.25% per year. Mechanical fee ranking only — does not factor in returns, risk, or manager skill. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
How many ethical / responsible KiwiSaver scheme funds are available?
16 KiwiSaver scheme funds matching ethical / responsible criteria across 7 schemes in our coverage, with annual fees from 0.25% to 1.61% (median 1.29%).
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Disclaimer: This page provides general information only and does not constitute financial advice under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. FundCompare.co.nz is not a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FAP).
We do not assess suitability, make recommendations, or provide personalised advice. The information shown is sourced from publicly available data and may not reflect current offerings. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Investment returns can be negative, and you may receive back less than you invested.
Before making any decisions: Always verify current information directly with the relevant KiwiSaver provider and read their Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
Need personalised advice? Consult a licensed Financial Advice Provider. Find advisers at fma.govt.nz
Compare every fund on the FMA Disclose register. Refreshed quarterly. Independent — FundCompare is not a Financial Advice Provider; general information only.
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