Insights
The Panel: Is your KiwiSaver helping to fund wars?
Over $900 million of New Zealand investors savings is invested in weapons companies – is yours?
Do I really want my money funding global conflict and am I missing out if I choose to invest ethically?
Returns from munitions stocks are on the rise in the wake of global conflicts. But what if you don’t want to invest in companies producing weapons?
New figures released this week from Mindful Money show the amount of KiwiSaver funds invested in weapons companies jumped 40% this year. Over $900 million of New Zealand investors savings is invested in weapons companies, including those supplying the conflict in Gaza.
It’s not surprising that shares in weapons companies have surged in value, and consequently more fund managers are buying in, or the stocks they already hold are increasing in value. But the reality is stark: when you invest in a weapons manufacturer, you have no say over where their products are sold, how they’re used, or which side of a conflict they end up on.
Pathfinder excludes all investments in companies that earn any identifiable revenue from the development, production and/or distribution of controversial weapons and civilian automatic and semi-automatic firearms and their magazines or parts. You can read more about the revenue thresholds and exclusions in our Ethical Investment Policy.
Listen to Radio New Zealand’s ‘The Panel’ with host Wallace Chapman, Financial Adviser, Jenny Moreton and Sue Kedley, former member of Parliament as they discuss a question many Kiwi’s are asking “Do I really want my money funding global conflict and am I missing out if I choose to invest ethically?”
If you want to check your KiwiSaver or investment fund to see if you are currently investing in weapons, here are two quick things you can do:
1) Ask your provider directly if they invest in weapons.
2) Visit MindfulMoney.nz to see where your provider invests (and pick an alternative that does align with your values).
Listen to the full discussion:
