Welcome to the first edition of the quarterly newsletter under the Christian KiwiSaver Scheme banner.

As you know, in March we relaunched our KiwiSaver scheme with a new name. Underneath the new name, there are three simple words: ethical at heart. We chose these words because ethics run through everything we do, not just how we invest your money. We apply Christian values to the way we conduct our business and interact with you, our members, and others. It’s the way we’ve always done it.

As Christians, we want to be good stewards of the resources we have been given. In the Bible, stewardship is interpreted as a concept which goes beyond financial management, it’s also about the good we do for others. While making profits is acceptable and necessary, it should not be at any expense, for example through dishonesty, theft, monopoly or the exploitation of the poor. Our mission at Christian KiwiSaver Scheme is to try and ‘do good’ with your money – seeking healthy long-term returns whilst avoiding certain industries that would generally be inconsistent with a Christian worldview, and investing positively in others. We’ve just uploaded a short video on to our website of me explaining what it is to make investment choices that resonate with what we believe.

The quarter ended March was an interesting one. In our last newsletter, we heralded the long overdue return of volatility to the markets. Volatility between quarters, including negative returns, is normal and not a time to panic. The three Funds all returned positive returns for the year ending 31 March 2018. There’s more on this below.

Later in May, we will be sending you your personal annual statement for the year ended 31 March 2018. You can also log-in to your account on the Scheme’s website to check your account details.

Thank you again for your ongoing support of Christian KiwiSaver Scheme!

Mark Wilcox
Chief Executive