Booster

What Booster does

Booster Investment Management Limited is a privately-held New Zealand financial services company headquartered in Wellington, founded in 2001 and serving over 200,000 New Zealanders across KiwiSaver, direct investments, superannuation, and insurance. The company's flagship is the Booster KiwiSaver Scheme, a government-supported long-term savings product offering 14 fund options spanning Conservative through High Growth categories, including RIAA-certified socially responsible variants. Booster is a government-appointed default KiwiSaver provider, holding that designation since 2014 and reappointed in 2021, which provides a structural inflow of new members.

Booster's product stack is anchored by specialist proprietary investment funds unavailable through typical retail channels: the Tahi Fund (unlisted NZ SMEs), the Booster Innovation Fund (BIF, NZX-listed early-stage tech), and the Private Land and Property Fund (PLPF, NZX-listed agricultural and horticultural property). The firm has expanded into adjacent financial services including Booster SuperScheme with ROPS status for UK pension transfers, life insurance products (SmartCover and Super Simple Life Insurance), the Savvy debit card integrated with the Booster NZ app, and a free budgeting tool (mybudgetpal). Distribution is hybrid: direct digital via website and app, an extensive nationwide network of independent financial advisers, the regulatory default channel, and NZX-listed fund vehicles.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual fund charges ranging from 0.35% to 1.74% of net asset value depending on fund type and balance tier, a $3 monthly member fee (waived for balances under $500), performance-based fees of 1-2% on BIF and geared funds when returns exceed hurdles, and withdrawal charges of up to 10% on BIF. Booster Investment Management Limited is Kiwi-owned, holds Financial Advice Provider and Financial Institution licences, and operates exclusively within the New Zealand market.

Name

Booster

Legal name

Booster Investment Management Limited

Website

https://booster.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Booster is a privately-held New Zealand financial services firm operating a KiwiSaver scheme, investment funds, superannuation, life insurance, and the Savvy debit card for over 200,000 New Zealand members, with proprietary NZX-listed specialist funds including BIF and PLPF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retirement Savings & Investment Management

NAICS

Open-End Investment Funds (525910), Pension Funds (52511), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Life Insurance (6311)

akta.pro primary industry

Fund Governance Support (Board/Trustee, Minutes, Policies, Oversight) (FSAAAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Impact Investment & Development Investment Funds (BPADACAO), Transition / Engagement & Stewardship Funds (FSANAJAO), Saving & Emergency Funds (EDAAAJAB)

Keywords

• Retirement savings schemes
• Investment fund management
• KiwiSaver scheme administration
• Wealth management services
• Superannuation and insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Annual Fund Charges: Annual fund charges are deducted directly from investment funds and include annual management fees, portfolio administration costs, and performance-based fees. Charges vary by fund, ranging from 0.35% to 1.74% of net asset value.
2. Member Fees: Monthly member fee of $3 per month ($36 per year) for account administration, waived for balances under $500.
3. Performance-based Fees: Performance-based fees charged on Booster Innovation Fund (BIF) when returns exceed hurdle rates. Fee ranges from 1-2% where investment return is 15-20% in a year. Also applies to Geared Growth funds.
4. Withdrawal Charges: Withdrawal charges apply to certain funds. BIF charges up to 10% withdrawal charge. PLPF charges no exit fees on withdrawals up to $50,000 per year, with 1-5% fee for withdrawals over $50,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Booster is a New Zealand financial services firm that administers the government-supported Booster KiwiSaver Scheme (14 funds from Conservative to High Growth including socially responsible options) and Booster Investments platform, complemented by the Savvy debit card, Booster SuperScheme (ROPS-approved for UK pension transfers), life insurance products, and free budgeting tools. The company invests members' funds through proprietary NZ-focused vehicles including the Tahi Fund, NZX-listed Booster Innovation Fund (BIF), and Private Land and Property Fund (PLPF), with services delivered directly online or through a nationwide network of independent financial advisers.

Product overview

Booster is a New Zealand financial services company offering a multi-product financial platform centred on the Booster KiwiSaver Scheme (14 fund options spanning Conservative to High Growth, including Socially Responsible variants) and Booster Investments (15+ funds with direct and adviser-accessible options). The product ecosystem includes a debit card (Savvy), superannuation (SuperScheme with ROPS status for UK pension transfers), insurance (SmartCover, SSLI, and free Accidental Death Cover for KiwiSaver members), a free budgeting tool (mybudgetpal), and three specialist investment funds: Tahi Fund (unlisted NZ company investments), Booster Innovation Fund (BIF, NZX-listed early-stage tech), and Private Land and Property Fund (PLPF, NZX-listed agricultural/horticultural property). Supplementary tools include a KiwiSaver Calculator, the Booster NZ App (all-in-one financial hub), and access to financial advisers. Booster positions itself as a Kiwi-owned provider with RIAA-certified ethical investment options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Savvy: Debit card product - Save and spend better with Savvy card
• Booster Innovation Fund (BIF)
• Private Land and Property Fund (PLPF)
• Tahi
• mybudgetpal
• Booster SuperScheme
• Booster Foundation

Products and services

• Booster KiwiSaver Scheme A New Zealand government-supported long-term savings and investment scheme offering 14 fund options across Conservative, Balanced, Growth, High Growth, and Socially Responsible categories, enabling members to save for first home purchase or retirement.
• Booster Investments

Quantifiable outcome

• Over NZ$5 billion in returns paid to members from Jan 2009 to Jan 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Public TrustcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPublic Trust serves as the independent supervisor of the Booster KiwiSaver Scheme, making decisions on all financial hardship withdrawal applications. This is a regulatory requirement ensuring scheme oversight.
• NZ Innovation Booster (NZIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Booster, Wellington UniVentures, Otago Innovation, and Auckland UniServices that directly invests in science and innovation from Victoria University of Wellington, University of Otago, and University of Auckland. Key vehicle for BIF's investment activities.
• Wellington UniVenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology transfer office of Victoria University of Wellington. Partner in NZ Innovation Booster (NZIB) joint venture for commercializing university research and innovation.
• Otago InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology transfer company of University of Otago. Partner in NZ Innovation Booster (NZIB) for commercializing university-born innovations.
• Auckland UniServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercialization company of University of Auckland. Partner in NZ Innovation Booster (NZIB) for technology transfer and innovation investment.
• MoneyTalksminorOthersPartnership with MoneyTalks free financial support service to help Booster members experiencing financial hardship. Provides referral pathway for members needing budgeting help, foodbank connections, and income support navigation.
• Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA)coreOthersRIAA provides independent certification of Booster's Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) funds. Booster was the first KiwiSaver provider to receive this certification.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AMP New Zealand: Long-standing NZ wealth manager offering KiwiSaver, investment funds, superannuation, and insurance—broader incumbent with multi-decade history; directly comparable to Booster on KiwiSaver, managed funds, and life insurance product mix.
• Mercer New Zealand: Global asset manager and KiwiSaver scheme provider operating in NZ, offering KiwiSaver, superannuation, and investment solutions; broader incumbent with global institutional capabilities but directly comparable to Booster in the NZ KiwiSaver and advised superannuation market.
• ANZ Investments (ANZ KiwiSaver): Bank-owned KiwiSaver scheme and investment fund business of ANZ New Zealand, one of the largest default KiwiSaver providers; broader incumbent with greater scale and balance-sheet resources, but directly comparable on KiwiSaver product, distribution, and ethical fund range.

Direct peers

• SuperLife (Smartshares / NZX): NZ online superannuation and KiwiSaver scheme operated by Smartshares (NZX-owned), offering low-cost KiwiSaver, superannuation, and investment fund products—directly comparable to Booster on digital direct-to-consumer distribution and KiwiSaver/superannuation product overlap.
• Fisher Funds Management: One of the largest NZ-owned KiwiSaver and investment fund managers (acquired Kiwi Wealth in 2021), managing multi-billion-dollar AUM across KiwiSaver, direct investment, and superannuation products—directly comparable to Booster's core KiwiSaver + investment fund + SuperScheme offering for NZ retail investors.
• Generate KiwiSaver: NZ-focused KiwiSaver and investment fund specialist (Generate Investment Management), offering active and indexed KiwiSaver schemes plus managed investment funds—competing head-to-head with Booster for NZ KiwiSaver members and adviser-distributed investment flows.
• Simplicity (Simplicity KiwiSaver & Living): NZ low-cost KiwiSaver and investment fund manager, also offering life insurance and a home-loan scheme; competes directly with Booster on KiwiSaver fees, ethical investment options, and increasingly on insurance cross-sell—comparable product breadth and NZ-only footprint.
• Milford Asset Management: Major NZ KiwiSaver provider and active investment manager with a full range of KiwiSaver, investment fund, and superannuation products aimed at NZ retail and advised segments—closely comparable to Booster on product mix, distribution (adviser + direct), and KiwiSaver market positioning.

Others

• Nikko Asset Management NZ:

Emerging players

• QuayStreet Asset Management: NZ boutique active investment manager offering KiwiSaver, managed funds, and superannuation products, distributed via advisers—comparable emerging player to Booster with similar boutique positioning and adviser channel focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BoosterNZ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpFXJGhlVmgCswxT0oI5c5g
• Facebookfacebook.com/boostermoneynz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/booster-nz
• Instagraminstagram.com/boosternz

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments23 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Booster