The Ākina Foundation (Ākina) has today released a comprehensive paper outlining an approach that, if adopted, would
supercharge a social investment approach within a New Zealand context.
The white paper, Developing a successful social investment approach: Supercharging social investment in Aotearoa New Zealand, explores the range of opportunities that social investment could create in addressing New Zealand’s complex and
multifaceted social issues, and its transformative potential for government, stakeholders, and communities.
Ākina CEO Nicola Nation says that the white paper aims to catalyse the conversation about how social investment could
work in New Zealand, offering insights into its benefits, challenges, and opportunities. “We want to move the
conversation forward from a focus on data and analytics. While we agree these are vitally important in any social
investment approach, they must also work in unison with other factors - namely, the community.”Nicola Nation, CEO Akina Foundation / Supplied
“Social issues have become increasingly complex and multifaceted and the importance of aligning New Zealand’s financial
investment with long-term social outcomes has never been more pressing. Social investment not only provides significant
long-term opportunities, but also addresses critical societal issues such as poverty, education, and health. By
leveraging our capital for social good, across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, we can create resilient
communities and a more equitable Aotearoa,” she says.
“With such an approach, it is critical that we incorporate the voices of those already delivering social returns in our
communities, alongside the voices of the vulnerable New Zealanders they serve. Our community has deep experience in
designing and delivering solutions to our most difficult social issues. We need to work closely with the community
instead of enforcing changes on them.”
The paper fosters a better understanding of the dynamics and components of social investment across the board. It
incorporates commentary from a range of voices operating in the social investment space – from Ākina itself, through to
Jamie Newth, CEO of pioneering impact investment fund manager Soul Capital, Te Rūnanga O Toa Rangatira Tumu Whakarae
(CEO), Helmut Modlik, Impact Investing Network Chair Alastair Rhodes, and Chair of Victoria University of Wellington
School of Government, Professor Jonathan Boston.
“We felt it important to include a range of voices in the conversation on social investment, to ensure inclusivity and
diversity, and to accurately articulate the power of Social Investment in the Aotearoa New Zealand context. There is
still much uncertainty about what the government means by social investment. It is our intention that this paper
catalyses further conversations,” says Nicola Nation.
The full white paper is available here: https://www.akina.org.nz/impact-stories/social-investment-white-paper