US-listed · NYSE Arca · FIF-eligible (above NZ$50K)
VanguardVOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF
Vanguard's ultra-low-cost S&P 500 ETF with just 0.03%expense ratio. The same 500 companies as SPY, but with lower fees for long-term investors.
Updated Reviewed quarterly
About this fund
What is VOO?
VOO is the US-listed ticker for Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, issued by Vanguard. Tracks the S&P 500 index. Lowest-cost S&P 500 ETF. TER is 0.03% per year, with a trailing 12-month distribution yield of approximately 1.0%. Distributions are paid quarterly.
Next typical distribution: December.VOO typically pays in Mar · Jun · Sep · Dec. Most recent verified distribution: US$1.9622 per unit, ex-date 2026-06-26. Issuer sets the exact date — verify on the distribution calendar before relying on a payment date.
Platform availability
Where to buy VOO 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 SharesiesSharesies | 1.9% per trade | 0.5% | NZ$0 | Beginners, fractional shares, mixing NZ + US ETFs |
 HatchHatch | 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) |
 StakeStake | US$0 trades | 0.70% | NZ$0 | Frequent US-share traders who hate per-trade fees |
 Interactive BrokersInteractive 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 BrokersTiger Brokers | US$2 flat per US trade (to 200 shares) | 0.50% | NZ$0 | NZ investors who want NZ + US + Asian markets in one account |
 Invest DirectInvest Direct | From NZ$29.90 per trade | Undisclosed margin on conversion | NZ$0 | US trading must be switched on by request, and covers a curated list of US securities — check this ticker is on it. |
 ASB SecuritiesASB 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 VOO taxed for NZ investors?
VOO 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.
US dividends carry 15%(source) withholding under the NZ–US tax treaty (file W-8BEN; default rate without it is 30%(source)). The withheld amount can be claimed as a foreign tax credit on your IR3.
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.
Similar ETFs
ETFs with similar focus to VOO
Same asset class, issuer cousins, and exchange peers — ranked by closest match. Click any row to compare side-by-side in the multi-compare tool.
| Ticker | Name | TER | Yield | Distribution | NZ tax | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USF | US 500 (USF) Smartshares · NZX | 0.34% | 0.7% | Semi-annual | PIE | VOO vs USF |
| USG | US Growth (USG) Smartshares · NZX | 0.51% | 0.0% | None | PIE | VOO vs USG |
| USS | US Small Cap (USS) Smartshares · NZX | 0.51% | 0.8% | Semi-annual | PIE | VOO vs USS |
| USH | US 500 NZD-Hedged (USH) Smartshares · NZX | 0.38% | 0.7% | — | PIE | VOO vs USH |
| SPY | SPY State Street · NYSE Arca | 0.09% | — | Quarterly | FIF | VOO vs SPY |
Distribution history
Recent distributions — VOO
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per unit (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-26 | 2026-06-30 | US$1.9622 |
| 2026-03-27 | 2026-03-31 | US$1.8724 |
| 2025-12-22 | 2025-12-24 | US$1.7710 |
| 2025-09-29 | 2025-10-01 | US$1.7400 |
| 2025-06-30 | 2025-07-02 | US$1.7447 |
| 2025-03-27 | 2025-03-31 | US$1.8121 |
Dates are the issuer-published record/reinvest dates; under US T+1 settlement these coincide with the ex-date.
Source: Vanguard distribution records, verified 2026-07-05. Amounts are cash distributions per unit before tax — verify against the issuer source before relying on a payment. VOO typically distributes mar · jun · sep · dec; next typical month: December.
See /calendar/distributions/ for the rolling 12-month forward calendar across all covered ETFs.
What is VOO ETF?
VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks the same S&P 500 index as SPY but with Vanguard's trademark low-cost approach. At just 0.03% expense ratio, it has one of the lowest published TERs of any S&P 500 ETF.
Launched in 2010, VOO has become the second-largest S&P 500 ETF globally. For NZ investors focused on long-term wealth building, the lower fees can make a meaningful difference over decades.
Why Choose VOO Over SPY?
- Lower fees: 0.03% (VOO) vs 0.09% (SPY) — on every NZ$100,000 invested the annual difference is NZ$65
- Same exposure: Identical S&P 500 holdings and performance
- Vanguard reputation: Trusted provider focused on investor interests
- Slightly higher yield: Lower fees mean more dividends pass through
Fee Comparison Over 30 Years
On a $100,000 investment growing at 8% annually, VOO's lower fees would save you approximately $4,500 over 30 years compared to SPY. For larger portfolios, the savings are proportionally greater.
How to Buy VOO ETF in New Zealand (2026)
Platforms Offering VOO
Interactive Brokers
Near-zero trading fees and lowest FX rates. Used by larger portfolios.
Stake
Commission-free trades. Good for regular investors.
Hatch
NZ-based platform with NZ support — flat US per-trade brokerage; see live Hatch rate card.
VOO vs SPY: Quick Comparison
| Feature | VOO | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03% | 0.0945% |
| Index Tracked | S&P 500 | S&P 500 |
| Liquidity | High | Highest |
| Typical Use | Long-term investing | Active trading |
VOO ETF FAQs
Is VOO better than SPY for NZ investors?
For long-term buy-and-hold investors, VOO's lower fees make it slightly better. For frequent traders who value liquidity, SPY may be preferable. The performance difference is minimal.
Can I buy fractional shares of VOO in NZ?
Yes, platforms like Stake and Sharesies offer fractional shares. A full VOO share costs approximately US$530-560 (January 2026).
Does VOO pay dividends?
Yes, VOO pays quarterly dividends with a yield of approximately 1.35%. Dividends are subject to 15% US withholding tax under the NZ-US tax treaty.
Explore VOO Platforms
Compare platforms for buying Vanguard's low-cost S&P 500 ETF from New Zealand
FAQ
Common questions about VOO
What is the VOO ETF?⌄
VOO is the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF — a low-cost tracker of the S&P 500 index. At 0.03% TER and ~US$450B AUM, it is among the lower-cost S&P 500 ETFs available. Vanguard is investor-owned, which historically aligns issuer incentives with low ongoing costs.
VOO vs IVV vs SPY — what is the practical difference?⌄
All three track the S&P 500. VOO and IVV (iShares) charge 0.03% TER; SPY charges 0.0945%. SPY has the deepest liquidity and tightest spreads — meaningful for traders, less so for long-term holders. VOO is investor-owned; IVV is BlackRock-owned. For most NZ buy-and-hold investors, VOO and IVV have lower ongoing cost.
How can NZ residents buy VOO?⌄
VOO is available via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies (US market), and Interactive Brokers. Compare per-trade fees and FX spreads — IBKR has the lowest published all-in cost at scale; Hatch and Stake are simpler for smaller, less-frequent trades. Sharesies offers fractional shares.
How is VOO taxed for NZ investors?⌄
US-domiciled ETFs sit in the FIF regime above NZ$50,000 cost base — most NZ investors apply the FDR method (5% of opening market value × marginal tax rate). Dividends carry 15% US withholding tax with a W-8BEN on file (claimable as a foreign tax credit). The NZX-listed Smartshares US 500 (USF) is a PIE-taxed alternative without FIF.
Where to buy VOO from New Zealand
The platforms below all support VOO. Each link opens the platform's site directly — we don't take any payment for placement or for clicks.
Hatch
Sharesies
Interactive Brokers
Stake
Tiger BrokersFees + platform details verified against each provider's published rate card. Always check the current schedule before transacting.Full platform comparison →
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Sources for this VOO data
The figures on this page come from the documents below. We do not pull live prices; the data is reviewed against issuer fact sheets and exchange listings (last reviewed 2026-05-02). Which figures have been checked against the issuer by machine, rather than by eye, is stated below — an unchecked figure is labelled as such rather than left ambiguous.
- ✓Total expense ratioChecked against Vanguard's own fund data on 2026-09-05.
- ✓Distribution yieldChecked against Vanguard's own fund data on 2026-09-05.Measured as SEC 30-day standardised yield.
Issuer product page
investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/voo
Fact sheet (PDF)
fund-docs.vanguard.com/F0968.pdf
External links open in a new tab. We do not earn commission on issuer product pages. See our methodology + disclosure.
Compare
VOO against the alternatives
7 side-by-side comparisons covering fee, yield and NZ tax wrapper. Characteristics, not recommendations.
| Comparison | The other fund | Its TER |
|---|---|---|
| VOO vs SPYM | SPYM | 0.02% |
| VOO vs VTI | VTI | 0.03% |
| VOO vs VOOG | VOOG | 0.07% |
| VOO vs SPY | SPY | 0.09% |
| VOO vs KGM | Kernel Global 100 | 0.25% |
| VOO vs KGH | Kernel High Growth | 0.25% |
| VOO vs USF | US 500 (USF) | 0.34% |
Related ETFs and resources
SPY — most-liquid S&P 500 alternative
Same index, 3× the fee but tighter spreads.
SPY vs VOO comparison
Side-by-side fees + liquidity.
VTI — total US market
S&P 500 + small/mid caps, 0.03% TER.
VTI vs VOO comparison
Total market vs large-cap-only.
Best S&P 500 ETFs for NZ
SPY · VOO · IVV · NZX-listed USF compared.
NZ-listed ETFs (PIE-tax alternative)
Smartshares USF tracks the S&P 500 PIE-taxed.
