Every year,  TDB reviews the corporate structures, investment strategies and investment performance of selected iwi across New Zealand. Our 2019 Iwi Investment report looks at eight of the largest iwi: Ngāi Tahu; Ngāpuhi; Ngāti Awa; Ngāti Porou; Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei; Raukawa; Tūhoe and Waikato-Tainui, which have combined assets of around 60 percent of all post-settlement iwi.

While there has been seen steady growth in the asset bases of New Zealand’s iwi over the five years we have been producing this report, 2019 was not a great year for iwi investment. Despite the strong performance of the public share and bond markets, the more challenging period for a range of investments that iwi are invested in, including commercial and rural property, honey and other equities saw none of the eight iwi achieve our benchmark 10% return this year.

We are however seeing a trend of diversification across a number of iwi through direct investments in new sectors (such as tourism) and further investment in listed and private equities. While these recent investments are yet to provide high returns, some appear to offer promising opportunities for iwi to increase their returns and asset bases in the future.