Source: Rātā Foundation
The South Island’s most significant community investment fund, Rātā Foundation has reported a solid financial result for the year ending 31 March 2026, with its investment portfolio valued at $717 million and a return of 8%.
This enabled the organisation to provide over $24 million to communities across its funding regions of Canterbury, Nelson/Tasman, Marlborough and the Chatham Islands.
Rātā supports communities by funding initiatives that help people connect, learn, participate, access support, and care for the environment. Through local partnerships, Rātā backs work that strengthens wellbeing, reduces barriers to opportunity, and helps communities across its regions thrive. Since its inception in 1988, Rātā has invested over $631 million through community investment programmes and grown the trust fund by $352 million.
Board Chair Josiah Tualamali’i says the year’s community investment highlights the importance of walking alongside local communities and directing resources where they can make the biggest impact. “Communities are adapting to increasingly complex challenges, and our role is to back the organisations closest to that change. By responding to needs now, strengthening the community sector, and investing strategically for long-term change, we can create lasting, equitable and sustainable outcomes. On behalf of Rātā Foundation, thank you to all the people, communities and organisations we have partnered with this last year who serve our communities.”
The financial result came despite a challenging global environment, with geopolitical tensions and market turbulence creating headwinds for investors. The organisation’s 10-year return remained close to benchmark, at 7.4% against 7.1%.
Chief Executive Leighton Evans says the results reflect the organisation’s commitment to providing long-term stability for the communities it serves. “An 8% return in a volatile year is a strong result and shows the value of a long-term disciplined investment approach. Our responsibility is to grow and protect the pūtea so Rātā can continue to fund at scale, through changing market conditions and for generations to come.”
In recent years, Rātā has also shifted more capital into direct investments in New Zealand, outside the volatility of listed exchanges. This year the organisation invested with Direct Capital into Beca and continued to invest in financial services with its shareholding in SPH Wealth growing, to enable the acquisition/merger of Salt Asset Management. This is part of a wider investment partnership approach alongside major institutional investors to help advance nationally significant opportunities that align with its responsibilities.
Watch the Rātā Foundation Year in Review Video here.
The Consolidated Financial Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2026is available on the Rātā Foundation website.