News & Insights

The Impact Investment report provides the rationale for impact investing in New Zealand. It looks at the need for new methods of funding social and environmental impact. The report also shows the scale, breadth and momentum of impact investing globally, the potential for New Zealand and presents a plan for developing the field.

On Friday 29th September, Ākina Foundation, EY, JBWere, and Philanthropy New Zealand hosted the Impact Investment Breakfast as part of the Social Enterprise World Forum 2017 in Christchurch. At the breakfast, Ākina Foundation released the 'Growing Impact in New Zealand' report, produced with contributions from EY and JBWere.

JBWere are delighted to support the Social Enterprise World Forum and the Ākina Foundation as a contributor to this report. The report highlights advancements globally, closer to home and in New Zealand, offering thoughts on what next steps should be to maintain current momentum.

Some Key Facts as Presented in the Report

• Increasing demand for socially responsible investments is spreading with individuals and institutions demanding investment solutions (eg recent KiwiSaver moves on tobacco and controversial weapons).

• Currently 26% of global professionally managed funds or US$23 Trillion are managed with one or more types of social strategy.

• While negative screening is the most common strategy, impact investments are the fastest growing and reached US$248 Billion in 2016, up 150% in 2 years.

• Impact investments are the pointy end of socially responsible investments, often private equity or debt types and more focused on social returns than other investments.
  They are still small in New Zealand but are projected to rise to around $5 Billion over the next decade.

Source: Growing Impact in New Zealand Report 2017

JBWere is proud to be part of this initiative and the ongoing development of impact investment in New Zealand.

To read the full report, download here