Gareth Hedges

New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZSF) is a Government of New Zealand investment fund that accumulates and invests Crown contributions. Established under the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act of 2001, the NZSF is financed by capital contributions from the Government to assist future Governments to meet the cost of providing retirement income to New Zealanders. With offices in Auckland and Wellington, the Fund's mandate is to invest in a way that maximizes returns without undue risk and avoids prejudice to New Zealand's reputation as a responsible member of the world community. As the cost of providing New Zealand superannuation escalates, the Crown will draw on the Fund to help smooth the impact on their finances. The NZSF is governed by a separate Crown entity called the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation (Guardians) which is overseen by the Guardians Board, selected by the Minister of Finance for their skills and experience. The Guardians are charged with managing and administering the Fund's assets in a prudent, commercial manner, including establishing the long-term investment objective. The Guardians work with a number of external investment managers around the world to execute the Fund's investment strategy, providing them with necessary skill sets and ensuring diversification by asset class, geographic market, sector and investment style. NZSF acts as a responsible investor, promoting positive environmental, social and governance behavior.