Independent · Updated weekly · NZ tax-aware

Every ETF a Kiwi investor needs to know · in one place.

Q: Are NZ ETFs better than global ETFs?

NZ ETFs provide local exposure and income, while global ETFs offer broader diversification. Some investors hold both to balance local and international exposure.

Q: Can I buy US ETFs from New Zealand?

Yes, NZ investors can buy US-listed ETFs like VTI, SPY, and QQQ via platforms such as Interactive Brokers, Hatch, or Stake.

Q: What's the difference between ETFs and managed funds?

ETFs are traded on the stock exchange and generally have lower fees and more flexibility, while managed funds are bought directly from fund managers.

Q: How do I invest in ETFs in NZ?

You can invest in ETFs using NZ platforms like Kernel, Smartshares (via Sharesies or InvestNow), and SuperLife. For global ETFs, use Hatch or Interactive Brokers.

Compare 62 ETFs accessible to New Zealanders — Smartshares, Kernel, Vanguard, State Street and more — across fees, yields, FIF/PIE tax treatment, and the platforms that offer them.

Browse NZ-listed ETFs Compare 11 NZ platforms

ETFs covered

NZX-listed

NZ platforms

2026-05-02

Data updated

Primer

What ETFs are, and why Kiwis use them.

An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is a basket of investments — shares, bonds, gold, property — that trades on a stock exchange like a single share. Buy one unit and you own a slice of the entire basket.

For New Zealanders, ETFs solve three problems at once: low fees (typically 0.05–0.55% per year, vs 1–2% for managed funds), instant diversification (one trade gets you 50–500+ companies), and tax clarity when you choose NZ-domiciled PIE funds (max 28% tax, no FIF calculations).

Smartshares and Kernel run the NZX-listed funds. Hatch, Stake, Sharesies and Interactive Brokers give access to US-listed funds like SPY, VOO and QQQ. Pick by tax structure, fee, and which markets you want exposure to — that's the whole game.

Featured

Six ETFs Kiwis ask about most.

See all 62 ETFs →

High Yield

Smartshares NZ Dividend ETF

DIV · Smartshares

Focuses on high-dividend NZ companies

Yield

5.3%

MER

0.54%

1Y Return

—

Platform

InvestNow

Popular

Kernel High Growth Fund

KGH · Kernel

Low-cost global diversification

Yield

2.1%

MER

0.25%

1Y Return

—

Platform

Kernel

Popular

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

SPY · State Street

Tracks the S&P 500 index

Yield

1.3%

MER

0.09%

1Y Return

—

Platform

Hatch/IB

SPY tracks the S&P 500 index, giving you exposure to 500 of the largest US companies including Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon.

Commodity

SPDR Gold Shares

GLD · State Street

Physical gold exposure

Yield

0.0%

MER

0.40%

1Y Return

—

Platform

Hatch/IB

Gold ETFs like GLD provide exposure to physical gold prices without needing to store actual gold bullion.

High Yield

JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF

JEPI · JPMorgan

Income-focused US equity ETF

Yield

7.5%

MER

0.35%

1Y Return

—

Platform

Hatch/IB

JEPI combines equity exposure with covered call strategies to generate higher income for investors.

Growth

Invesco QQQ Trust

QQQ · Invesco

Nasdaq-100 technology focus

Yield

0.7%

MER

0.20%

1Y Return

—

Platform

Hatch/IB

QQQ focuses on the Nasdaq-100, heavily weighted toward technology companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla.

Sliced three ways

Top yields. Lowest MER. NZ PIE-only.

Three quick rankings off the canonical 62-ETF dataset. Click any ticker for the detail page, or sort the full universe in the screener.

As at 2026-05-02

Top 5 by yield

Trailing 12-month distribution yield

JPMorgan	JEPQ	JEPQ	9.0%
Global X	SRET	SRET	8.0%
JPMorgan	JEPI	JEPI	7.5%
Invesco	BKLN	BKLN	7.5%
iShares	HYG	HYG	7.0%

Lowest 5 by MER

Annual fund-management fee

State Street	SPLG	SPLG	0.02%
Vanguard	VOO	VOO	0.03%
Vanguard	VTI	VTI	0.03%
Schwab	SCHZ	SCHZ	0.03%
Vanguard	BND	BND	0.03%

NZ PIE — lowest MER

FIF-free for NZ investors

Kernel	KGH	Kernel High Growth	0.25%
Kernel	KSC	Kernel NZ 20 (KSC)	0.25%
Kernel	KGM	Kernel Global 100	0.25%
Kernel	NZ20	Kernel NZ 20	0.29%
Smartshares	USF	US 500 (USF)	0.34%

Reference data reviewed quarterly against issuer fact sheets. Methodology →

Frequently asked

ETF FAQs for Kiwi investors.

Are NZ ETFs better than global ETFs? ⌄

NZ ETFs provide local exposure and PIE-tax simplicity (max 28% PIR, no FIF). Global ETFs (US-listed) offer broader diversification and lower TERs but trigger FIF tax above NZ$50K cost-basis. Many investors hold both — NZ ETFs in the FIF-exempt portion, global ETFs for the broader-market slice.

Can I buy US ETFs from New Zealand? ⌄

Yes. NZ investors can buy US-listed ETFs like VTI, SPY, VOO and QQQ via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, Tiger Brokers, Interactive Brokers, Jarden Direct, or ASB Securities. See the platforms comparison for fees and FX.

What's the difference between ETFs and managed funds? ⌄

ETFs trade on a stock exchange and typically have lower fees and intraday liquidity. Managed funds are bought directly from a fund manager and priced once per day. NZ-domiciled ETFs from Smartshares and Kernel are PIE-taxed at the same rates as PIE managed funds — the structural distinction is mostly liquidity and fees.

How do I invest in ETFs in NZ? ⌄

For NZ-listed ETFs (Smartshares, Kernel): Sharesies, Kernel direct, InvestNow, BNZ Direct Broking. For US-listed ETFs: Hatch, Stake, Tiger Brokers, Interactive Brokers. Compare platforms by fee structure, FX cost, and which exchanges they support.