Which investments you choose is personal to your situation, tolerance for risk, time horizon and general preferences. We have a few great resources on how to select investments, including what to consider - 

. You may also wish to consult a financial adviser (especially with complex situations). 

 for independent financial adviser suggestions. 

How do I choose my investments?

You can choose between our three diversified funds - Kernel Cash Plus, Balanced and High Growth Funds - or create a custom KiwiSaver Plan with a mix of the Kernel funds. Read about whether the Kernel KiwiSaver Plan is right for you 

Which fund should I choose?

Five minutes of your time, your IRD number, your New Zealand identification and your NZ bank account details. If you don’t have NZ I.D. you can contact us for other options. 

What do I need to get started?

The adviser fee is separate, but overlayed, to Kernel’s underlying fund management fees. 

Advisers can charge a fee of up to 0.50% in addition to our underlying annual fund management fee - for example, if our High Growth Fund’s annual management fee is 0.25%, the adviser fee is an additional 0.50% - the total fee that the customer would therefore pay is 0.75% (maximum).

How do fees work for the Advised KiwiSaver Solution?

Kernel is regulated and licensed by the Financial Markets Authority and our Funds are supervised by Trustees Executors Limited, who set our requirements to operate. Read more on investment security 

How safe is my investment?

Yes! You can switch between investment funds online at any time for free. You can invest in any combination of funds that suit your retirement goals. Find out how it works 

Can I switch between investment funds?

A diversified fund made up of over 98% growth assets.

High Growth

A diversified allocation of 60% shares and 40% cash and bonds.

Balanced

Made up of short-term interest bearing assets and other NZ fixed income and floating rate note assets.

Cash Plus

A diversified allocation of 30% shares and 70% cash and bonds.

Conservative

Diversified

Own your piece of 100 blue chip companies across major equity markets. The biggest household names, they provide global diversification and long-term capital growth.

Global 100

A globally diversified fund that adjusts companies based on their S&P Global ESG score and alignment with the 2016 Paris Agreement.

Global ESG 

This fund invests in global real estate companies with weighting towards sustainable practices. 

Global Property (NZD Hedged)

A globally diversified investment in mostly infrastructure lines of business, e.g. utilities, storage and telecommunications, providing relatively stable cash flow and inflation hedging.

Global Infrastructure

Own your piece of 500 US companies listed on the New York or Nasdaq stock exchanges. The S&P 500 is considered a proxy for the U.S. stock market, and this Fund is designed for growth and well-diversified.

S&P 500 (Unhedged)

Own your piece of 500 US companies listed on the New York or Nasdaq stock exchanges. The S&P 500 is considered a proxy for the U.S. stock market, and this Fund is designed for growth, well-diversified and hedged against currency fluctuations.

S&P 500 (NZD Hedged)

Invests in global companies involved in the production or provision of Clean Energy.

S&P Global Clean Energy

After a strong, regular distribution payment? Look no further than Dividend Aristocrats. This Fund includes global companies that have a record of maintaining a high dividend over a sustained period of time.

S&P Global Dividend Aristocrats

 

Own your piece of 100 blue chip companies across major equity markets, hedged against currency fluctuations. The biggest household names, they provide global diversification and long-term capital growth. 

Global 100 (NZD Hedged)

A globally diversified fund that adjusts companies to be in alignment with the 2016 Paris Agreement. Hedged against currency fluctuations.

Global ESG (NZD Hedged) 

A globally diversified investment in mostly infrastructure lines of business, e.g. utilities, storage and telecommunications, providing relatively stable cash flow, inflation hedging and also hedged against currency fluctuations.

Global Infrastructure (NZD Hedged)

Invest in the world’s biggest bond market, hedged to the New Zealand dollar. 

US Bond

Gain broad exposure to global developed markets, excluding the United States.

World ex-US

Gain broad exposure to global developed markets, excluding the United States, with currency movements hedged to the New Zealand dollar.

World ex-US (NZD-Hedged)

Global

Designed for long-term capital growth, the NZ 20 fund invests in 20 of the largest companies listed on the NZX.

NZ 20

This fund includes and adjusts companies in the S&P/NZX 50 according to sustainability factors.

NZ 50 ESG Tilted

The Commercial Property Fund delivers diversification in the property sector by investing in the eight largest REITs on the New Zealand Exchange (NZX).

NZ Commercial Property

The Fund invests in a broad range of smaller companies listed on the New Zealand Exchange (NZX), and is the first NZ Index fund to invest outside of the S&P/NZX 50.

NZ Small & Mid Cap Opportunities

Invests primarily in New Zealand issued bonds, deposits and more. 

NZ Bond

An accessible alternative to investing in individual bonds or income-generating assets maturing in March 2027. 

March 2027 NZ Bond

An accessible alternative to investing in individual bonds or income-generating assets maturing in March 2029. 

March 2029 NZ Bond

Local

Sustainability

This fund is closed to investment as of 22 May 2025

S&P Kensho Moonshots Innovation

S&P Kensho Electric Vehicle Innovation

Own your share of the fastest growing economies across the globe.

Emerging Markets

Future

Income

Get access to the 100 largest companies on the ASX, spanning banks, miners, and more.

Australia 100

KiwiSaver

Kernel fund returns are after fees, assuming distributions are reinvested and at 0% PIR tax. Returns for periods of more than a year are annualised to be per annum (p.a.).

Fund management fees are per annum (p.a.). 

Please note that past performance is not an indicator of future performance.

Choose between our range of funds to suit your goals and timeframe.

Our Funds

Index returns are gross index returns, not including fees or taxes. All yearly returns are annualised. In some cases, 10-year data is not available. 

Whether you're looking to invest locally, internationally or sustainably, Kernel's diversified funds are the building blocks to your long-term investment portfolio.

Funds

A person from the US giving a package to AUS

2 construction workers wearing hard hats working by the bridge

illustration of a woman on the phone by the office

A happy kiwi flying using balloons tied to its chest

illustration of a farmer fixing a fence beside a cow

2 Women taking a selfie in front of the Rakaia Salmon Statue

A map of the USA with different states highlighted

2 workers with hard hats looking at solar panels

A person on their phone clicking continue in dividend reinvesting

Fund name	3M	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y
Australia 100	9.66%	16.54%	12.87%	13.08%	9.90%
Balanced	5.46%	10.51%	10.77%	7.49%	N/A
Cash Plus	0.85%	4.21%	4.91%	3.25%	N/A
Conservative	2.89%	6.88%	6.88%	4.04%	N/A
Emerging Markets	10.45%	24.24%	13.24%	9.62%	8.71%
Global 100	13.76%	26.00%	24.23%	19.57%	N/A
Global 100 (NZD Hedged)	11.91%	17.72%	21.06%	16.13%	N/A
Global ESG	8.95%	23.78%	22.98%	17.12%	N/A
Global ESG (NZD Hedged)	7.23%	15.82%	20.31%	14.18%	N/A
Global Infrastructure	2.33%	19.34%	9.74%	12.44%	8.57%
Global Infrastructure (NZD Hedged)	0.44%	11.46%	6.92%	9.44%	N/A
Global Property (NZD Hedged)	3.74%	1.33%	4.51%	6.57%	N/A
High Growth	7.81%	14.92%	15.63%	12.94%	N/A
March 2027 NZ Bond	1.63%	4.74%	4.88%	1.69%	2.55%
March 2029 NZ Bond	1.63%	4.74%	4.88%	1.69%	2.55%
NZ 20	3.82%	3.02%	4.78%	2.50%	10.38%
NZ 50 ESG Tilted	6.40%	8.63%	6.69%	4.75%	N/A
NZ Bond	2.42%	5.24%	4.62%	-0.22%	2.51%
NZ Commercial Property	11.68%	4.73%	1.59%	1.01%	6.61%
NZ Small & Mid Cap Opportunities	6.25%	12.60%	2.39%	1.80%	N/A
S&P 500 (NZD Hedged)	9.28%	14.70%	18.31%	13.49%	13.87%
S&P 500 (Unhedged)	10.92%	22.88%	21.08%	17.90%	15.41%
S&P Global Clean Energy	15.93%	9.12%	-10.84%	0.90%	N/A
S&P Global Dividend Aristocrats	8.25%	16.06%	12.04%	14.36%	7.50%
US Bond	2.13%	2.12%	2.17%	-1.21%	1.81%
World ex-US	7.01%	21.45%	18.34%	13.57%	8.79%
World ex-US (NZD-Hedged)	5.07%	13.74%	16.49%	13.88%	10.05%

Our Funds

Index Performance

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