Hatch NZ-Owned Hatch Review 2026
Updated Reviewed quarterly
An NZ-built platform focused on US shares and ETFs. Simple interface, beginner-friendly, locally operated (now part of Fisher Funds).
Editorial scorecard
Hatch — 3.7 / 5
NZ-built platform focused on US shares + ETFs. Strong tax-statement support and NZ onboarding; mid-tier on fees; US-only market access is the main constraint vs Sharesies or IB.
As at 2026-05-04
| Fees & FX | ●●●◐○ 3.5 | US$3 flat per trade plus ~0.5% FX margin — mid-tier cost at typical retail order size. |
| Market access | ●●◐○○ 2.5 | US-listed shares + ETFs only; no direct NZX, ASX, or global market access. |
| NZ tax fit | ●●●●◐ 4.5 | NZ-built; annual IR3-style tax statements include FIF cost basis + dividend totals. |
| UX & onboarding | ●●●●○ 4 | Clean web + mobile flow; ID verification streamlined for NZ residents. |
| Support | ●●●●○ 4 | NZ business-hours support; chat + email; team based in Auckland (Fisher Funds owned). |
Five-criterion 1-5 editorial scoring. Overall is the unweighted mean. Methodology →
US$3
Per trade
0.5%
FX spread
$0
Minimum
3,000+
US ETFs
What is Hatch?
Hatch is a New Zealand-owned investment platform that gives Kiwis easy access to US shares and ETFs. Founded in 2018, it's backed by Kiwi Wealth (part of Fisher Funds) and is designed specifically for NZ investors.
Your investments are held with DriveWealth in the US, giving you direct ownership of actual shares — not derivatives or CFDs. This means real ownership and real dividends.
Hatch Fees Explained
| Buy/Sell Commission | US$3 per trade |
| FX Conversion | 0.5% spread |
| Monthly Fee | US$3/month OR US$36/year |
| Deposit | Free (bank transfer) |
| Withdrawal | Free to NZ bank |
Example Cost
Investing $1,000 NZD: ~$5 FX fee (0.5%) + US$3 brokerage = ~$10 NZD total cost (~1% of investment).
Pros & Cons
Pros
- NZ-owned and operated
- Mobile-first interface with auto-invest
- No minimum investment
- Auto-invest feature
- Fractional shares available
- Simple interface suited to beginners
Cons
- ✕ US markets only (no NZ, AU, or other markets)
- ✕ Monthly subscription fee
- ✕ Higher fees than Interactive Brokers for large amounts
- ✕ No tax reports (you manage your own FIF)
Who Typically Uses Hatch?
May Suit:
- • Beginners wanting a simple experience
- • Kiwis wanting US market access only
- • Those who value NZ-based support
- • Regular investors using auto-invest
May Not Suit:
- • Large portfolios ($100k+) — fees add up
- • Those wanting NZ or AU shares
- • Frequent traders
- • Advanced investors wanting research tools
FAQ
Common questions about Hatch
Is Hatch a regulated NZ investment platform?⌄
Hatch is operated by Hatch Invest NZ Limited, an FMA-licensed Discretionary Investment Management Service (DIMS) provider. Customer holdings are custodied via a US-regulated broker. Hatch is now part of Fisher Funds (acquired 2021), which holds an MIS Manager licence under the Financial Markets Conduct Act.
What does it cost to buy US$1,000 of VOO via Hatch?⌄
Roughly NZ$8–10 all-in: a flat US$3 trade fee + ~0.5% FX margin on the NZD→USD conversion. Compare to Stake (US$0 commission + 0.7% FX) and Interactive Brokers (~US$1 + ~0.002% FX, but more friction). Verify current fees on Hatch directly before transacting.
Can I move my Hatch holdings to another broker?⌄
Yes. Hatch supports outbound transfers (US-listed shares move via DRS — Direct Registration System). Allow 2–4 weeks; some platforms charge an outbound transfer fee. Smaller positions are sometimes simpler to sell-then-rebuy at the destination broker (taxable event under FIF rules — confirm with a tax adviser).
How does Hatch report income for my IR3?⌄
Hatch provides an annual tax statement summarising US dividend income (gross + 15% withholding), realised gains/losses, and FIF cost-base for holdings above NZ$50,000. Statements are downloadable from your account dashboard. Cross-check against IRD's FIF disclosure forms; a tax adviser is sensible for portfolios over NZ$200K.
Summary
Hatch is a NZ-owned platform offering straightforward US market access with a user-friendly interface. Fees are competitive for smaller portfolios. As portfolio size increases, comparing total costs across platforms becomes more important.
Related platforms + ETFs
Stake — commission-free US-only alternative
No per-trade commission, slightly higher FX.
Interactive Brokers — low FX margin at scale
Low FX margin (~0.002%) for larger portfolios.
Compare all 11 NZ platforms
Side-by-side fee + market-access table.
How to buy US ETFs from NZ
Step-by-step for SPY, VOO, QQQ, etc.
SPY ETF guide
Largest US ETF — easy buy via Hatch.
FIF tax explained
When the FIF regime kicks in (NZ$50K threshold) + how it lands on your IR3.