Updated Reviewed quarterly
ARKK ETF: Innovation Fund
TER0.75%·Yield (TTM)0.0%·DistributionNone·NZ taxFIF (US-domiciled, > NZ$50K cost-basis)
Cathie Wood's flagship fund betting on disruptive innovation: AI, genomics, fintech, and autonomous vehicles. Extremely volatile but potentially high reward.
ARKK Key Stats (2026)
Important Risk Warning
ARKK suffered a major drawdown from its 2021 peak (publicly reported in ARK's own filings; verify the current vs-peak figure on the issuer fact sheet). This is an extremely volatile fund suitable only for investors who can afford to lose a significant portion of their investment.
What is ARKK ETF?
ARKK is ARK Invest's flagship actively managed ETF, led by Cathie Wood. It invests in companies expected to benefit from "disruptive innovation" across multiple sectors.
Unlike passive index funds, ARKK's holdings change frequently based on ARK's research and convictions. This active management comes with a higher 0.75% expense ratio.
Investment Themes
- • AI & Automation: Tesla, Palantir, UiPath
- • Genomics: CRISPR, Exact Sciences
- • Fintech: Block (Square), Coinbase
- • Next-Gen Internet: Roku, Roblox
The Risks of ARKK
Extreme Volatility
ARKK can swing 5-10% in a single day. It fell 75%+ from its 2021 high of $159 to under $40. This isn't for the faint-hearted.
Concentrated Bets
With only 30-50 holdings, ARKK is highly concentrated. A few bad picks can devastate returns. Tesla alone can be 10%+ of the fund.
High Expense Ratio
At 0.75%, ARKK is materially more expensive than a passive total-market ETF like VTI (0.03%). On every NZ$10,000 invested, the difference is NZ$72/year in fund-management fee.
Manager Risk
ARKK's performance depends heavily on Cathie Wood's decisions. If her thesis is wrong, or she leaves, the fund suffers.
ARKK Performance History
* Past performance does not guarantee future results. ARKK's volatility cuts both ways.
How to Buy ARKK from New Zealand
Choose a Platform
ARKK is available on Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, and Interactive Brokers.
Decide Your Allocation
Most financial experts suggest limiting speculative positions like ARKK to 5-10% of your portfolio maximum. Never invest money you can't afford to lose.
Buy ARKK
Search "ARKK" and place your order. Current price is around US$55 per share. Consider dollar-cost averaging given the volatility.
ARKK: Pros & Cons
Pros
- Exposure to disruptive innovation themes
- Potential for outsized returns in bull markets
- Active management with clear investment thesis
- Transparent — ARK publishes holdings daily
Cons
- ✕ Extreme volatility — can lose 50%+ quickly
- ✕ High 0.75% expense ratio
- ✕ Concentrated holdings increase risk
- ✕ Many investors bought at the top and lost big
Consider Instead: QQQ or VGT
If you want tech/growth exposure with less risk, consider QQQ (Nasdaq-100) or VGT (Vanguard Information Technology). Both offer tech exposure with lower fees and more diversification.
Related to ARKK
QQQ ETF — Nasdaq-100 alternative
Lower-risk innovation exposure via the Nasdaq-100.
VGT — Pure US tech sector
Sector-pure tech ETF, 0.10% TER vs ARKK 0.75%.
QQQ vs VGT comparison
Two more conservative tech routes side-by-side.
How to buy US ETFs from NZ
Hatch, Stake, Sharesies, Interactive Brokers.
FIF tax explained
When the FIF regime kicks in (NZ$50K threshold) + how it lands on your IR3.
NZ-listed ETFs (no FIF)
PIE-tax alternatives with NZX listing.
ARKK does not distribute. Returns are reflected in unit price (accumulating / no distribution).
Platform availability
Where to buy ARKK from New Zealand
Based on each platform's advertised market coverage and fee schedule. Verify with the platform before transacting — instrument coverage can change.
| Platform | Per-trade fee | FX | Min | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sharesies Sharesies | 1.9% per trade | 0.5% | NZ$0 | Beginners, fractional shares, mixing NZ + US ETFs |
 Hatch Hatch | US$3 per trade (≤300 shares) | 0.5% | NZ$0 (US$1 to invest) | NZ investors who want US-only ETFs (SPY, VOO, QQQ, SCHD, JEPI) |
 Stake Stake | US$0 trades | 0.70% | NZ$0 | Frequent US-share traders who hate per-trade fees |
 Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers | From US$0.35 / trade (Tiered) or US$1 flat (Fixed) | ~0.002% (US$2 min) | US$0 | Larger portfolios, frequent traders, multi-market investors |
 Tiger Brokers Tiger Brokers | US$1.99 per US trade | 0.50% | NZ$0 | NZ investors who want NZ + US + Asian markets in one account |
 Jarden Direct Jarden Direct | NZ$29.90 per NZX trade | ~0.40% | NZ$0 | Larger NZX trades and global market access through one NZ broker |
 ASB Securities ASB Securities | NZ$30 per NZX trade | Bank rates (~1%) | NZ$0 (ASB customer) | Existing ASB customers wanting one login for banking + brokerage |
Showing 7 platforms that list this ETF. Full platform comparison: all 11 NZ brokers → · Full coverage matrix: availability matrix →
NZ tax treatment
How is ARKK taxed for NZ investors?
ARKK is US-domiciled. NZ investors apply Foreign Investment Fund rules once total overseas-share cost basis crosses the de-minimis threshold. Below it, only dividends are taxable.
The FIF de-minimis threshold is NZ$50,000 (source) of overseas-share cost basis. Below it, FIF rules do not apply and only dividends are taxable.
Most NZ retail investors use Fair Dividend Rate (FDR): deemed income = 5% × opening market value × your marginal rate. Comparative Value (CV) can be lower in flat or down years.
FDR vs CV method → · PIE vs FIF comparison →
🧮 Model your own after-tax outcome
Mechanical NZ-tax calculator comparing PIE @ PIR vs FIF @ FDR vs FIF @ CV on your principal, assumed return, time horizon, PIR, and marginal rate. → Open the after-tax calculator
General information only — not personalised tax advice. Confirm your treatment with a registered NZ tax adviser before transacting.
Add up to 4 more tickers to compare TER · yield · distribution · NZ tax structure.
FAQ
Common questions about ARKK
What is the ARKK ETF?⌄
ARKK is the ARK Innovation ETF — Cathie Wood's actively-managed ETF focused on "disruptive innovation" themes: genomic sequencing, robotics, AI, fintech, and energy storage. 0.75% TER (much higher than passive index ETFs). Concentrated portfolio of ~30-40 holdings, primarily small and mid-cap growth stocks.
ARKK vs index ETFs — how does the comparison stack up?⌄
ARKK is actively managed with a thematic mandate (innovation / disruption). Index ETFs (VTI, VOO) hold market-cap-weighted broad baskets passively at much lower fees. ARKK has historically shown higher volatility and larger drawdowns — e.g. dropped over 70% peak-to-trough in 2021-2022. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Can NZ residents buy ARKK?⌄
Yes — via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies (US market), and Interactive Brokers. As a US-listed ETF, ARKK is subject to NZ FIF rules above NZ$50,000 cost base. Distributions are typically minimal (this is an accumulating-style growth ETF) but FDR taxation applies regardless of distributions actually received.
Is ARKK appropriate for a retirement portfolio?⌄
ARKK is high-volatility, sector-concentrated, and actively managed — a different risk profile from broad-market passive index ETFs typically used for retirement. Whether it suits any specific portfolio depends on time horizon, existing diversification, and risk tolerance. ETFs.co.nz is not a registered financial adviser; consult a licensed adviser.
