Alvarium (NZ) Wealth Management Holdings Ltd (Alvarium), parent company of Alvarium Wealth and Pathfinder Asset Management, is pleased to announce the effective acquisition of 100% of Salt Funds

Management for an undisclosed sum. The transaction increases Alvarium's total assets under advice to more than NZD$4.3 billion.

Alvarium has completed this strategic acquisition to expand its investment platform capabilities. The acquisition enhances the firm's existing service architecture and expands its product suite to deliver greater investment diversification and client optionality. Solely owned by New Zealanders, this news reinforces their long-term vision and commitment to New Zealand.

As a specialised financial services firm serving high-net-worth families and individuals, foundations, and next-generation wealth holders, Alvarium delivers bespoke advisory services, alternative investment strategies, and proprietary investment solutions, and through the Pathfinder KiwiSaver Plan and Managed Fund solutions.

The integration aligns with Alvarium's boutique positioning while enhancing its institutional capabilities and broadening its investment management platform.

“Salt has built an exceptional reputation as an active fund manager with robust investment processes and successful track record of style-agnostic investing,” said Alvarium Wealth Chair, Shane Edmond. “We are looking forward to working with their experienced investment team as we align to further grow these strong funds management businesses and considerable wealth advisory platform.”

Salt is committed to active fund management and places great emphasis on its rigorous in-house fundamental research. Salt is well known for its innovative products such as the Salt Long Short Fund, the listed Carbon Fund, and the Salt NZ Dividend Appreciation Fund. Continuity under the existing investment management teams will ensure preservation of Salt's established investment processes and the managers' proven track record of generating strong risk-adjusted performance for investors.

“Alvarium has been very successful in bringing together multiple businesses with a focus on creating wealth for their clients,” said Salt Managing Director, Matthew Goodson. “Alvarium is an ideal fit for the Salt team. They have a tremendous franchise with their Pathfinder KiwiSaver Plan and funds, with market-leading ESG practices and capability. We are excited by the outlook when we add our fundamental research skills to this.”

Since inception Salt has been wholly owned by its investment personnel, and these individuals will remain co-owners, via equity ownership in Alvarium.The Alvarium family of wealth advisers, investment and operations professionals will not change, and we welcome the Salt team to support our continued delivery of best-in-class financial advice and wealth management.

On 1 April 2025, Rātā Foundation made a strategic direct investment in Alvarium Wealth/Pathfinder, acquiring a 25% stake in the firm.

Rātā Chief Executive Leighton Evans says, “The investment in Alvarium reflects our long-term strategy to grow the capital base of Rātā through direct, values-aligned partnerships. The acquisition of Salt Funds is a natural extension of that strategy—bringing together strong investment capability with a shared commitment to ethical outcomes. This is about more than financial growth; it’s about ensuring our investments reflect the aspirations of the communities we serve and enable us to increase our impact over time.”

As the South Island’s largest community investment fund, Rātā Foundation manages a $700 million pūtea, supporting social initiatives across its region with approximately $26 million annually.

Background

On 1 April 2025, Rātā Foundation made a strategic direct investment in Alvarium Wealth/Pathfinder, acquiring a 25% stake in the firm.

Alvarium has now acquired 100% of Salt Funds to expand its investment platform capabilities, increasing total assets under advice to over NZD$4.3 billion.

Q1: Why did Alvarium acquire Salt Funds Management?

Salt brings a strong track record in active fund management and a suite of high-performing products, including the Salt Long/Short Fund, Carbon Fund, and Dividend Appreciation Fund.

Q2: How does this acquisition align with Rātā Foundation’s investment strategy?

This acquisition is a natural extension of the Rātā direct investment strategy. It strengthens Alvarium’s institutional capabilities and broadens its product suite—enhancing diversification and values-aligned investment options. It also supports the Rātā goal of growing its capital base through strategic partnerships that deliver both financial and social returns.

Q3: What does this mean for Rātā commitment to ethical investing?

Salt’s investment philosophy—focused on structural market inefficiencies and risk-adjusted returns—complements Rātā ESG-I values. The acquisition reinforces Rātā leadership in ethical investment and its commitment to Tiakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga, and Kotahitanga.

Q4: Is this consistent with Rātā SIPO?

Yes. The Rātā Foundation Statement of Investment Policies and Objectives (SIPO) allows up to 30% of its portfolio to be allocated to direct investments. These are expected to improve long-term financial returns, increase distributions to communities, and align with Rātā purpose of creating equity, sustainability, and ESG-I aspirations.

Q5: What are the risks and how are they being managed?

Risks include market volatility, stakeholder scepticism, and reputational exposure. These are mitigated through clear values-based messaging, transparent governance, and ongoing alignment with Rātā ESG-I standards.

Q6: What impact will this have on South Island communities?

The partnership enhances Rātā ability to deliver impact through ethical investment. It supports community wellbeing by increasing the capital available for grants and aligning investments with local aspirations—particularly in Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, and the Chatham Islands.

Q7: What future growth opportunities does this acquisition unlock?

The acquisition of Salt Funds positions Alvarium—and by extension Rātā—as a key player in the evolving landscape of ethical and values-aligned investment. With over NZD$4.3 billion in assets under advice, the expanded platform offers:

• Enhanced diversification: Salt’s fund suite adds new investment strategies, including long/short, carbon-focused, and dividend appreciation funds.
• Stronger institutional capability: Alvarium’s boutique advisory model is now backed by Salt’s robust investment processes and style-agnostic approach.
• Scalable impact: The combined entity is better equipped to pursue larger, more complex investments that align with Rātā strategic pou—housing, health, education, and environment.

Q8: How does this benefit our stakeholders?

Stakeholders—including community partners, fund managers, and grantees—stand to gain from:

• Increased distributions: Improved financial returns from direct investments will grow the Rātā pūtea over time, enabling more funding for community initiatives.
• Greater transparency: Rātā leadership in ethical investment and its commitment to ESG-I (ESG + Indigenous) principles ensure that stakeholders can trust the integrity of its investment decisions.
• Stronger partnerships: The acquisition strengthens the ability of Rātā to co-invest with aligned organisations, iwi, and community trusts, fostering collaborative growth.

Q9: What is the social impact of this investment?

This transaction is more than financial—it’s a strategic move to amplify Rātā purpose:

• Values-aligned investing: Salt’s ethical investment philosophy complements Rātā Foundation’s commitment to Tiakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga, and Kotahitanga.
• Community wellbeing: Increased investment returns mean more resources for grants, loans, and local ventures that directly benefit Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, and the Chatham Islands.
• Leadership in impact investing: Rātā is setting a precedent for how other community trusts and foundations can create social impact while maintaining financial discipline.

Visit www.ratainvest.org.nz for more on our investment approach.

Park Hyatt Auckland is the first hotel in New Zealand to be awarded the coveted 4-star Green Star Performance Rating by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC).  

Green Star Performance sets out a range of criteria that is used to determine if a building and its operations are best practice in terms of sustainability. This was adopted and adapted for the New Zealand market from the Australian tool with input from the New Zealand property sector.

ASB provided lending through its Sustainable Transition Loan along with advisory services, to support Park Hyatt Auckland through the rigorous certification process and ultimately achieve the impressive certification. The Green Star Rating ensures sustainability claims are substantiated and backed up by a commitment to continuously maintain and improve performance, with energy and water efficiency monitored annually and a full re-certification completed every three years.

From its innovative 85,000-litre collection tank that filters rainwater through the building to flush toilets and water plants, the philosophy flows right down to the ground floor kitchen, where food waste is converted into renewable energy. With the hotel generating an average of 45 bins of food waste per month, each weighing around 150kgs, this amounts to approximately 6,700 kilos of food waste per month that's diverted from landfill. Other leftover ingredients are either composted or donated to charitable organisations.

“We’re proud of leading the way by achieving this prestigious performance rating, and we’re thrilled the Council has recognised our commitment to balancing a superb guest experience with responsible resource use,” says Park Hyatt Auckland General Manager Brett Sweetman. “When the hotel project began in 2015, we already had sustainability in mind, and it continues to be very important to us – right down to locally sourced ingredients and even the sustainably sourced paper we use in the meeting room.”

“This is a tremendous achievement and shows real leadership for the sector,” says NZGBC Senior Manager Bobby Shen. “By going through this process, the Park Hyatt Auckland team has benchmarked vital elements like indoor air quality, temperature comfort, and efficiency that will support visitors to Tāmaki Makaurau to have a healthy, comfortable stay, while also ensuring they’re measuring and working to reduce their impact on the planet.”

“Discerning travellers increasingly expect luxury hotels to demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability. At Park Hyatt Auckland, we believe true luxury lies not only in exceptional experiences, but also in operating responsibly and with respect for our environment and community,” says Mr Sweetman. “ASB has been instrumental in joining the dots of what’s possible and how to bring those ideas to fruition to make them not only commercially viable and but also to lower emissions.”  

ASB’s General Manager Commercial Banking and Business Strategy Ben Speedy describes sustainability as a ‘win-win’.

“We see time and time again that enabling building owners to analyse their operations from an environmental perspective inevitably leads to lower costs,” he says. “It’s not just ‘feel-good’ factor, it’s also about the bottom line. Sustainable business decisions make commercial sense, and our role is to support our customers to grow their business while working towards their sustainability goals.”

ASB has now issued $1.5b of sustainable finance to support the decarbonisation of New Zealand’s property sector over the past four years. The bank is actively engaged with business customers across all sectors to help progress New Zealand’s transition to Net-Zero by 2050.

“We offer funding that kicks in straight away to back the customer while they work toward their desired goal,” says Mr Speedy. “This means that as soon as you've identified the next step of your sustainability journey, you'll have ASB’s support to hit the 'go' button. At ASB we’re always monitoring and working to reduce our own emissions, so we share values with Park Hyatt Auckland when it comes to meaningfully contributing to our country’s net zero aspirations.”

Source: NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is calling on political parties to adopt their new policy to establish a Workplace Education Agency. The agency would provide support for unions to build their capacity and better engage with employers.

The proposal is the first in a series of NZCTU policies that political parties will be expected to adopt if they want the support of working people. 

“We have an opportunity to build democratic workplaces and productive industries. We can transform how unions and employers work together,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“We have done this before, and it worked. From 1986-1992 the Trade Union Education Authority coordinated and delivered trade union education and built union capacity to carry out their role more effectively.

“The agency would support unions with training and developing their organisational capabilities.

“Trade unions are fundamental for strong democratic workplaces, and productive economies. Respecting and valuing workers is good for the economy.

“If we want fair and productive workplaces, we must invest in dedicated support for union development. 

“Government supports business as standard practice yet doesn't give any support to unions. That must change.

“Support for this proposal will tell us whether political parties are truly committed to workers,” said Wagstaff.

Port of Auckland General Manager Phil Doak has said the company supports workplace education and training and partnering with unions to achieve better outcomes.

“Port of Auckland support building and developing its people and a great workforce. We believe that there is mutual benefit from safety, leadership and business acumen training. We’ve seen immense benefit in partnering with our unions through High Performance, High Engagement (HPHE) over the past few years and encourage the adoption of HPHE as a model for collaboration in other organisations,” said Doak.

Source: NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi 

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is renewing its call on the Government to stop their planned health and safety reforms. This follows the news today that confirms the reforms have no evidential basis and are instead being driven by Act party ideology.

“It is disappointing to once again see the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety push uninformed policies that are not supported by evidence or by leaders in health and safety,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“The feedback from officials is damning and confirms what we said from the outset. These reforms will not improve health and safety outcomes at work.

“The regulatory impact statement does not state how the reforms would lead to improved safety outcomes. This shows that the intent behind these changes is not a focus on improving safety.

“The Pike River disaster was a wakeup call to up our game on health and safety. It was clear we had to improve our regulator and enforcement, as well as our laws and regulations. A broad consensus emerged to do just that. These new changes will undermine that effort.

“New Zealand has a long way to go to improving its health and safety record. Every week a worker is killed on the job, and 17 more are killed from the impact of work-related illnesses. Every year there are over 30,000 injuries that require more than a week away from work.

“The Minister seems intent on bringing back the regulatory settings that enabled the Pike River disaster. This simply is not acceptable. Her proposed changes to health and safety laws are an insult to those killed and injured at work,” said Wagstaff.

• Aucklanders hit with steepest price rise between one and two-bedroom homes
• Extra bedroom in Central Otago/Lakes District commands $500,000 increase in average asking price 
• Wellington records 45% increase in average asking price between one and two-bedroom homes.

New data from realestate.co.nz highlights the additional value extra bedrooms can add to a property’s asking price; showing number of bedrooms is one of the clearest indicators of price difference in New Zealand’s property market.

Nationally, the average asking price increased by 32% when going from a one to two-bedroom property, and by 31% between a two and three-bedroom home.

The price difference continued to escalate as the number of bedrooms increased, with a 43% difference between three-bedroom and four-bedroom homes and a 40% difference between four-bedroom properties and those with five or more.

Vanessa Williams, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz says homeowners willing to renovate could be rewarded for their efforts at sale time.

“At a national level, we’re talking about an almost $400,000 jump between a three-bedroom and a four-bedroom home and almost half a million dollars in increased value between a four-bedroom and a five-bedroom home.

“Property owners who are willing to roll up their sleeves and add another bedroom through a smart renovation will likely benefit when selling. Not only can adding an extra bedroom make a property more liveable, but it can also deliver one of the most significant value boosts when it comes time to sell.

“On the flip side, buyers need to be aware of the price differences when upsizing,” Williams says.

Auckland: the sharpest jump between one and two bedrooms

In Auckland, buyers who purchased homes between July 2024 and July 2025 paid 50% more on average to move from a one-bedroom property to a two-bedroom home – the steepest price jump recorded among New Zealand’s major regions.

The average asking price for a one-bedroom home sat at $513,668, rising to $772,483 for two bedrooms. Prices continued to climb steadily as the bedroom count increased.

Wellington also recorded a substantial increase in prices between one and two-bedroom homes, with prices increasing 45% from $435,116 to $629,991. However, the increase in average asking price between three, four, and five-bedroom properties was more gradual in the capital, 33%, 28% and 31% respectively.

Waikato and Canterbury see more value in four and five-bedroom homes

In Waikato and Canterbury, the biggest increase came when upsizing from a three-bedroom home to a four-bedroom home, reinforcing the value of homes with four or more bedrooms in these markets.

The difference in average asking price between a three-bedroom and a four-bedroom home in Waikato was $288,519 or 39%, while the difference between a three and four-bedroom property in Canterbury was $255,437 or 36%.

An extra bedroom valued at half a million dollars in Central Otago/Lakes District

Another region of note was Central Otago/Lakes District, which recorded a 64% increase in average asking price between two and three-bedroom homes during this 12-month period. The average asking price of a two-bedroom home in this sought after region was $858,387, but this increased to $1,412,870 for a three-bedroom home, a jump of $554,483.

An additional 53% increase in the average asking price was recorded for four-bedroom properties in the region, a difference of $754,970. There was almost a million-dollar jump from $2,167,840 for a four-bedroom to $3,091,115 for a five-plus-bedroom home.

Williams says the price increases for extra bedrooms across the country show just how strong demand is for properties that suit growing families and lifestyles.

“These homes are often seen as the ‘forever home,’ so buyers are willing to stretch further to secure them.”

The Auckland Museum Store presents Kōkōwai, a one-night-only, evening of fashion, art, live music and performance on Friday 12 September at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Kōkōwai, named for the sacred red ochre pigment once used to adorn bodies and mark the tapu, will showcase the work of two acclaimed wāhine ringatoi Māori, Shona Tāwhiao (Ngāi Te Rangi) and Stevei Houkāmau (Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui).

Shona Tāwhiao is know for her distinctive “Harakeke Couture” style, which has been presented at fashion weeks in New Zealand, London, Malaysia, and beyond. Tāwhiao will present a special showing of her woven couture and streetwear, and will showcase new works that fuse traditional weaving with contemporary design, highlighting her unique blend of heritage and innovation.

Stevei Houkāmau carved uku (clay) works speak to whakapapa, whenua and tīpuna, and have earned national and international recognition, including winning the 2023 Kiingi Tūheitia Portraiture Award and representing Aotearoa at Munich Jewellery Week. At Kōkōwai, Houkāmau’s clay forms will be brought into dialogue with movement and ritual, extending her practice into a live performance setting.

The evening will culminate in a performance taking place under the Museum’s tanoa. Invoking the sacred, the ancestral, and the earthly, Tāwhiao and Houkāmau’s works will be brought to life through movement and ritual.

Charged with the sonic force of 2025 Taite award-winner Mokotron’s live fusion of hiko (Māori electronic music), with taonga puoro, and expertly woven together by director Te ‘Okota’i Paitai, Kōkōwai is no ordinary night at the Museum.

Hokohoko Musuem Store, Retail Manager, Karyn Watson invites visitors to be curious, “Kōkōwai is a chance to experience firsthand the powerful creativity of two extraordinary wāhine ringatoi we represent at Hokohoko Museum Store. Along with DIVA open late for the evening, audiences can immerse themselves in artistry, story telling and cultural expression. A stunning selection of Shona and Stevei’s work will be available to purchase on the night. Come and explore, come adorned, be inspired!”

Tickets also include entry to DIVA, the spectacular international exhibition direct from London’s V&A. Featuring over 50 looks rarely seen by the public, DIVA showcases costumes worn by some of the world’s most iconic performers, some from their own collections.

Highlights include Maria Callas’ stage ensemble as Norma (1952), Marilyn Monroe’s fringed black dress from Some Like it Hot (1959), and the only known surviving dress worn by silent film star Clara Bow. Visitors can also see Bob Mackie designs worn by Tina Turner, P!nk and Cher; Elton John’s Louis XIV–inspired 50th birthday costume with a towering powdered wig and train, designed by Sandy Powell; and Shirley Bassey’s couture pink gown by Julien MacDonald, complete with diamanté-studded wellington boots, worn at Glastonbury in 2007.

Tickets for Museum Store Presents: Kōkōwai are on sale now at aucklandmuseum.com

Museum Store Presents: Kōkōwai
Friday 12 September 2025 7pm–10:30pm
Te Ao Mārama South Atrium, Auckland Museum
$55 adults, $65 door sales. Includes entry to DIVA. 10% discount for Museum Members.

7 pm – Doors open / DIVA open
8 pm – Kōkōwai performance
8:30 pm – DJ Miss Bee
10:30 pm – Event ends

About the artists:

Shona Tāwhiao
Artist, designer, and weaver Shona Tāwhiao, Ngāi Te Rangi, has exhibited her distinct style of raranga woven work for 25 years.

Having trained in traditional Māori raranga weaving techniques and methods, by Kahutoi Te Kanawa, Tāwhiao’s talent has been described as exquisite and undeniably unique.

The fusing of her love of fashion and culture with her specialised techniques in weaving has enabled Tāwhiao to create Haute Couture from flax fibre known to Māori as harakeke. This has resulted in her unique style being dubbed “Harakeke Couture”.

Tāwhiao’s multi award-winning collections of Harakeke Couture have been presented at New Zealand London Malaysia Fiji Hong Kong and Melbourne Fashion Weeks since 2010.

Tāwhiao has showcased her works internationally at the MaMo Arts Festival in Honolulu, Chapel St Roch in Paris and in London at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich to an international group of museum curators.

In 2016 Tāwhiao was invited by Dr Maia Nuku to participate in a three-week residency at the Oceanic Department of the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

Tāwhiao leant her creative influence to films such as the Māori Merchant of Venice and River Queen and in 2012 designed costumes for ‘The Māori Troilus and Cressida’ that opened Shakespeare’s Olympics at The Globe Theatre in London to rave reviews. This led to her being nominated and winning the Brancott Estate ‘Best Costume Designer of the Year’ at The Chapman Tripp Theatre awards in Wellington New Zealand.

Stevei Houkāmau
Stevei Houkāmau, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, is a Wellington‑based contemporary Māori uku (clay) artist whose work speaks to whakapapa, whenua, and tīpuna. Since 2011, she’s drawn on traditional Māori patterns and narratives to craft sculptural, carved clay forms embodying spiritual and ancestral connection.  

Her acclaimed work Kia Whakatōmuri te haere whakamua, a derived lineage piece honoring her great-great-grandmother Hinemaurea, earned her the prestigious 2023 Kiingi Tūheitia Portraiture Award, judged at Pipitea Marae before King Tūheitia.  

In March 2025, Stevei represented Aotearoa at Munich Jewellery Week through KOHĀ Moana, a collaborative activation with Neke Moa and Sofia Tekela‑Smith, that explored koha, reciprocity and connection with moana in public adornment performances.  

Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including FESTPAC (Guahan), various Indigenous art gatherings, and a solo exhibition at Objectspace, Auckland. Stevei was also the inaugural Māori Artist-in-Residence at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre and maintains pieces in public and private collections at home and abroad.

MOKOTRON
MOKOTRON is a Tāmaki-based Māori producer from Ngāti Hine, who spreads seismic waves of low frequency Indigenous electronic music. Exploring ancient futurism through music, MOKOTRON imagines a reality without colonisation, where the ancestors transition from the ancient world into the modern, creating futures of hope juxtaposed with the hard realities of urban disconnection.

2022 was a breakout year for MOKOTRON, releasing three 12” EPs on Spanish label Electro Records, as well as featuring on a number of digital compilations at home and abroad.

In March 2024 MOKOTRON released THE UNITED TRIBES OF BASS, a landmark remix project, exclusively featuring Māori and Cook Island Māori electronic practitioners from throughout the motu. This was followed in December by the release of the album WAEREA, Mokotron’s debut album which reached Number 4 on the Aotearoa Album Charts and is close to selling out its third pressing on vinyl. MOKOTRON rounded off the year by winning Te Tohu Kaipuoro Toa (Favourite Solo Act) at the 2024 Mighty Aotearoa Alternative Awards and performing at Boiler Room Aotearoa.  

2025 has seen MOKOTRON reaching new levels of national and international recognition. After headlining Port Noise Festival and touring across the country, they were awarded the prestigious Taite Music Prize and Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau Best Electronic Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards for the album WAEREA. MOKOTRON has just returned from their first UK tour, performing at Glastonbury Festival and London dates at Foundation FM and Colour Factory in East London as part of Lady Shaka’s Pulotu Underworld collective.    

Te ‘Okota’i Paitai
Teokotai Paitai (Ta’i) is a multidisciplinary artist with ancestral ties to Rarotonga, Mangaia, Samoa (Moata‘a), and Scotland (Clan Colquhoun). Born and raised in Central Auckland, Ta’i’s creative practice is grounded in both lineage and lived experience.

It’s been over 30 years since Ta’i entered into the contemporary performing arts scene, starting out as a dancer. He’s been fortunate to work alongside and for many of his heroes, some of whom are now shining stars looking down at us.

He is currently exploring and teaching weaving, not only as an artistic expression but also as a tool for well-being. Through this practice, Ta’i actively challenges colonial narratives that seek to dismiss or erase the living cultural traditions of Oceania and Indigenous communities worldwide. For him, weaving is an act of resistance, reclamation, and cultural continuity.

Watch:min World
Amplifying the voice of Wāhine through movement since 2017. Watch:min have been leading in spaces within Street Dance and Krump in Aotearoa uplifting women through programmes, shows, and events.  

ABOUT AUCKLAND WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM

Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand's first museums and is free for Aucklanders. The Museum tells the story of New Zealand, its place in the Pacific and its people. The Museum is a war memorial for the province of Auckland and holds one of New Zealand's top three heritage libraries.

It has pre-eminent Māori and Pacific collections, significant natural history resources and major social and military history collections, as well as decorative arts and pictorial collections.