The Centre was established to accelerate progress towards an equitable, inclusive, sustainable financial system. Our work is anchored in the Sustainable Finance Forum’s 2030 Roadmap for Action, which calls for financing transformation, transforming finance and changing mindsets.
Published NZ Taxonomy for Agriculture and Forestry - Version 1.
Commenced work on the NZ Taxonomy for the construction and building sector.
Finalised NZ Taxonomy criteria for the agriculture and forestry sector
Submitted an indicative business case for a Commercial & Industrial fuel switching financing solution.
Published a paper on blended finance options to accelerate private sector financing for Commercial & Industrial fuel switching.
Commenced work on the NZ Taxonomy for the energy sector.
Published a report and held a webinar on the NZ Taxonomy's contributions to voluntary nature credits market
Second public consultation on the draft NZ Taxonomy agriculture and forestry climate change adaptation and resilience criteria.
Published a paper on System Level Financing Solutions to Accelerate the Deployment of Private Capital into Energy Transition in New Zealand.
First public consultation on the draft NZ Taxonomy agriculture and forestry climate change mitigation criteria.
In partnership with Deloitte New Zealand, CSF prepared a discussion paper on the Priority Sustainability Data Requirements of New Zealand’s Financial Services sector.
Published a paper on the barriers and opportunities for abundant, affordable, and clean energy across the residential, commercial / industrial, and grid-level sectors.
Formation of inaugural Funders’ group and Board which enabled the establishment of the separate charitable entity, Thriving Communities Aotearoa.
Scoping and identify financing solutions for affordable, abundant clean energy.
Submit industry recommendations to support development of a national sustainable finance strategy.
CSF convened and provides the secretariat for the New Zealand sustainable finance reference group, that supports the Minister for Climate Change, and the Ministry for the Environment, by testing ideas and providing nonbinding advice regarding policy development in relation to the financial sector.
Published guidance on simplifying sustainability reporting for SMEs
Commenced development of the NZ Taxonomy for the agriculture and forestry sector.
Supported MBIE and the Financial Markets Authority to convene an investor discussion to identify actionable policy interventions and investor-led initiatives that encourage and enable more investment by managed funds and KiwiSaver in private and illiquid assets and other productive parts of the NZ economy.
At the request of the Minister of Climate Change, CSF convened an Independent Technical Advisory Group to provide independent non-binding expert advice to the Minister to inform the design of a sustainable finance taxonomy fit for the New Zealand market.
CSF commissioned Chapman Tripp and MinterEllisonRuddWatts to prepare a joint legal opinion on legislative impediments to KiwiSaver investment in private assets. CSF submitted the legal opinion and working group recommendations to the Minister of Commerce & Consumer Affairs.
Convened roundtable discussions with Ministers, international experts, senior government, iwi and financial sector representatives on financial stability, climate resilience and mobilising private capital into transition and adaptation.
CSF convened an investor-led working group and published a joint paper on key recommendations to reduce barriers and challenges for KiwiSaver funds to invest in private assets.
Submission on the NZ ETS review and redesign of the permanent forest category.
Establishment of Thriving Aotearoa Partnership steering committee.
Submission to the Climate Change Commission on the Draft Advice for the Second Emissions Reduction Plan.
CSF, in partnership with NZ Super Fund, convened a roundtable discussion with the Minister of Finance and key public, private sector and Kiwi/Māori leaders on building long-term resilience into recovery from the Auckland Anniversary Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
Submission to the RBNZ on Managing Climate- Related Risks: Guidance for Entities.
Submission to the RBNZ on Risk Weights Omnibus Consultation Paper.
State of net zero investment in Aotearoa New Zealand report, prepared in partnership with Mindful Money and Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC)
Published Directors’ Guide to Climate Governance supporting non-executive directors better understand their role in managing and mitigating climate risk.
Collaborated with KPMG on the 'Mobilising Capital for Impact' report, which further highlights systemic blocks to 'financing the transformation'
CSF, in consultation with key stakeholders and market participants, developed accepted definitions and principles for impact investment in New Zealand.
Sponsored and supported the development of an industry-led Aotearoa New Zealand Stewardship Code for investors. CSF and RIAA jointly host the Code secretariat.
Prepared papers and engaged with government on the need for a sustainable finance taxonomy, securing an action on developing definitional tools (taxonomy) in the National Adaptation Plan.
CSF convened an Inclusion Summit, with attendees from Māori/Iwi organisations, corporates, community organisations and government/regulators. The purpose was to consider new models to reduce barriers to people living independently, with access to the services they need.
Sustainable Agriculture Finance Initiative Data Project Findings Paper published
Established the Aotearoa New Zealand Investor Coalition for Net Zero with Mindful Money and Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) and convened investment professionals to form the Net Zero Community of Practice.
CSF submission on the Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) discussion document, Te haumārohi ki anamata | Transitioning to a low-emissions and climate-resilient future
The Centre for Sustainable Finance was formed to accelerate progress towards an equitable, inclusive, sustainable financial system, in line with the 2030 Roadmap for action.
The first initiative of the Circle was the Sustainable Finance Forum, which produced the 2030 Roadmap for action.
Sir Rob Fenwick co-founded the Aotearoa Circle, bringing together leaders from the public and private sectors to focus on New Zealand's natural capital.
CSF aims to monitor Aotearoa New Zealand’s progress towards aligning capital flows with a resilient, prosperous Aotearoa New Zealand and the objectives of the Paris Agreement. To achieve this alignment, the Sustainable Finance Forum’s 2030 Roadmap outlines twelve recommendations across the three categories: Changing Mindsets, Transforming Finance, and Financing Transformation.
Our monitor looks at activities and initiatives that are advancing progress toward each of the twelve SFF 2030 Roadmap recommendations. Activities or developments that are seen to impede or reverse progress are not included in the monitor.
The monitor is organised by the organisations identified in the roadmap as having primary accountability for progress. Click on the category below to view progress towards the recommendations most relevant to you.
If you would like to make a submission for inclusion in the monitor please email us.
Roadmap Recommendation 2.1: Build the sustainable finance capability of professionals and Financial Services Licenses
Roadmap Recommendation 2.3: Provide education and training for directors, management and trustees
Roadmap Recommendation 4.2: Identify key data needs and gaps that would enable quality climate-related financial disclosures
Roadmap Recommendation 1.1: Explicitly include the consideration of environmental and social factors within fiduciary duties
Roadmap Recommendation 1.2: Remove barriers to purpose-led business and investment models
Roadmap Recommendation 2.1: Integrate sustainability and sustainable finance explicitly into the Financial Advice Code and Financial Services Licences
Roadmap Recommendation 2.2: Build the sustainable finance capability of the public sector, prioritising policymakers initially
Roadmap Recommendation 2.5: Educate and strengthen the capability of consumers and the public
Roadmap Recommendation 3.1: Improve public sector governance and accountability for positive environmental and social outcomes
Roadmap Recommendation 4.1: Establish clear leadership and accountability for data infrastructure
Roadmap Recommendation 4.3: Establish trusted governance infrastructure to enable open or shared data
Roadmap Recommendation 4.4: Utilise FinTech solutions to equip the financial system to deliver on environmental and social outcomes
Roadmap Recommendation 5.1: Develop consistent foundational metrics and disclosures
Roadmap Recommendation 5.2: Extend disclosure requirements to asset owners, fund managers, and large private companies
Note: Policy changes affecting progress.
Roadmap Recommendation 5.3: Improve the approach to, and uptake of, third party verification and assurance
Roadmap Recommendation 5.4: Use the value of quality reporting to drive positive environment and social outcomes
Roadmap Recommendation 7.2: Introduce market mechanisms and fiscal incentives to internalise environmental and social outcomes
Roadmap Recommendation 7.3: Broaden financial regulation to integrate and encourage positive environmental and social outcomes
Roadmap Recommendation 7.4: Account for environmental and social outcomes
Roadmap Recommendation 7.5: Government procurement to include positive environmental and social outcomes
Roadmap Recommendation 8.6: Address age discrimination in the KiwiSaver Scheme
Roadmap Recommendation 9: Co-develop with iwi/Māori, a Whole-of-Government sustainable finance strategy, capturing the Central and Local Government. Embed tikanga principles and approaches into the financial system. This also needs to be aligned with the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Roadmap Recommendation 10.1: Monitor systemic climate risks
Roadmap Recommendation 10.2: Reflect long-term risk in capital adequacy requirements
Roadmap Recommendation 10.3: Prepare for uninsurable markets
Roadmap Recommendation 10.4: Investigate financial impacts of other systemic risks beyond climate change, commencing with biodiversity loss
Roadmap Recommendation 11.1: Develop standards for sustainable finance and investment
Roadmap Recommendation 11.2: Improve regulatory oversight and enforcement
Note: Policy changes affecting progress.
Roadmap Recommendation 11.3: Liquidity requirements for KiwiSaver
Roadmap Recommendation 11.4: Same class exemption for green, social, and sustainability linked bonds
Roadmap Recommendation 11.5: Transform public sector investment to deliver on sustainable outcomes
Roadmap Recommendation 3.2: Incorporate long-term thinking and the need for positive environmental and social outcomes more explicitly within the Governance Codes and purpose statements
Roadmap Recommendation 2.4: Incorporate sustainable finance into the formal education system
Roadmap Recommendation 3.3: Introduce a Stewardship Code for financial institutions and link this to the licensing requirements of KiwiSaver and managed fund providers
Roadmap Recommendation 8.1: Remove account and transaction fees for customers in vulnerable circumstances
Roadmap Recomendation 8.2: Provide affordable digital access to all
Roadmap Recomendation 8.3: Develop guidelines and develop a better approach to coordination between service providers responding to customers in vulnerable circumstances
Roadmap Recomendation 8.4: Provide support for innovative impact products and services targeted at underserved groups
Roadmap Recomendation 8.5: Scale financial mentoring, advocacy and budgeting programmes to all requiring access
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Read more about the Centre for Sustainable Finance.
Grounded in the Sustainable Finance Form’s 2030 Roadmap for Action.
Learn more about our Board and Executive Team.
Our work would not be possible without the support of our partners.
Financing sustainable growth in Aotearoa New Zealand.
A classification system for sustainable economic activities.
Accelerating financing solutions for affordable, abundant clean energy.
Guidance for SMEs to start sustainability reporting.
Promoting greater options for New Zealand investors
