Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua

What Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua does

The Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua (CSF) is a New Zealand non-profit organization established in July 2021 to accelerate progress toward an equitable, inclusive, and sustainable financial system in Aotearoa New Zealand. It operates in partnership with the NZ Government — with the Ministry for the Environment providing oversight, the Council of Financial Regulators providing quality assurance, and the Minister of Climate Change setting priorities — and convenes an ecosystem of major banks, Big-4 professional services firms, legal firms, superannuation funds, and iwi/Māori organizations to develop practical tools for sustainable finance.

CSF's core product is the NZ Taxonomy, a classification system that defines economic activities contributing to environmental objectives and applies consistent Substantial Contribution (SC), Do No Significant Harm (DNSH), and Minimum Social Safeguards (MSS) criteria to assess performance. The taxonomy currently covers Agriculture and Forestry (Version 1 published March 2026), with Energy and Construction & Buildings sectors under active development and Industrial Manufacturing and Transport on the roadmap. Technical methodology contributions come from the Climate Bonds Initiative, which has supported over 20 sustainable finance taxonomies globally. Complementary products include the Starter for Ten SME sustainability reporting guide (developed with KPMG), Clean Energy and Adaptation & Resilience Financing Solutions, KiwiSaver Private Assets work, the Sustainable Finance Monitor, the Partners' Hub portal, and policy submissions.

CSF generates revenue through partner contributions from financial institutions and professional services firms, supplemented by government partnership funding. It does not sell commercial products; all frameworks, guidance documents, and tools are distributed at no direct cost via the website, Partners' Hub, public consultations, and webinars. The organization is governed by a board of experts and operates with 17 staff. In 2025, CSF established Thriving Communities Aotearoa as a separate charitable subsidiary, and in June 2026 received the Climate Bonds Award for "Most Innovative Taxonomy."

Name

Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua

Legal name

Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua

Website

https://sustainablefinance.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua is a New Zealand non-profit established in 2021 that develops the NZ Taxonomy and sustainable finance frameworks in partnership with government, banks, professional services firms, and iwi/Māori organizations to align capital flows with environmental objectives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Finance Policy and Taxonomy Frameworks

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Finance Strategy (CapEx planning, green finance, incentives & grants) (EUABAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Target-Setting, Transition Planning & Performance Management Platforms (EUABAEAF), Climate Finance, Carbon Markets & MRV Systems (BPADALAB), Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD) (EUABAKAH), Adaptation & Resilience Planning Platforms (CAPEX Prioritization, Cost–Benefit, NBS) (EUABALAH)

Keywords

• Sustainable finance taxonomy
• Green finance classification
• Climate finance frameworks
• Impact investment reporting
• Environmental risk management

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Partnership Contributions: CSF operates with partner organizations from the financial sector including major banks and professional services firms who participate in the organization's workstreams and governance.
2. Government Partnership: The organization was formed in partnership with the NZ Government and continues to receive government support for developing the NZ Taxonomy and other initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua develops and maintains the NZ Taxonomy, a standardized classification system for sustainable economic activities, and produces policy guidance, financing solutions, and practical tools to align New Zealand's financial system with environmental objectives. The organization convenes financial institutions, government agencies, professional services firms, and iwi/Māori organisations to develop frameworks addressing climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. Outputs include the NZ Taxonomy, SME sustainability reporting guidance, clean energy and adaptation financing solutions, policy recommendations, and a Sustainable Finance Monitor tracking progress against the 2030 Roadmap.

Product overview

Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua is a non-profit organization developing a portfolio of interconnected products and services to align financial markets with sustainable outcomes. The core offering centers on the NZ Taxonomy (a classification system for sustainable economic activities), complemented by sector-specific financing solutions (Clean Energy Financing, Adaptation & Resilience Financing), guidance tools (Starter for Ten for SMEs, Policy & Insights), and initiatives to unlock capital flows (KiwiSaver Investing in Private Assets). These products are supported by a Partners' Hub for stakeholder engagement and a Sustainable Finance Monitor for tracking progress against the 2030 Roadmap.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NZ Taxonomy A classification system that defines economic activities contributing to environmental objectives (climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience) and provides consistent criteria to assess their environmental performance. Currently covering agriculture and forestry sectors, with energy and construction/buildings sectors under development.
• Starter for Ten A sustainability reporting guide providing 10 topics for SMEs to begin measuring and reporting on sustainability-related matters, reducing risk, increasing resilience and enabling informed business decisions. Developed with KPMG New Zealand and major banks.
• Clean Energy Financing Solutions Novel financing solutions accelerating investment in affordable, abundant clean energy. Includes development of blended finance options for Commercial & Industrial fuel-switching and system-level financing solutions.
• Adaptation and Resilience Financing Solutions Financing solutions addressing the significant capital demands for adaptation and resilience activities required due to climate change impacts, working with government and financial sector partners.
• Sustainable Finance Strategy

Quantifiable outcome

• NZ Taxonomy for Agriculture and Forestry Version 1 published March 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• New Zealand GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021CSF was formed in partnership with the NZ Government to accelerate progress toward an equitable, inclusive, sustainable financial system. The Ministry for the Environment provides government oversight while the Council of Financial Regulators (CoFR) provides quality assurance. The Minister of Climate Change directs taxonomy development priorities.
• ANZ Bank New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor banking partner participating in CSF initiatives including Technical Expert Group representation, KiwiSaver private assets working group, and sustainable finance reference group.
• ASB BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner bank contributing to taxonomy development, technical working groups, and sustainable finance policy recommendations.
• Bank of New Zealand (BNZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner bank participating in TEG/TAG groups, KiwiSaver investing in private assets working group, and sustainable finance initiatives.
• Westpac New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner bank with representation on Technical Expert Group and contributing to sustainable finance taxonomy development.
• Ministry for the EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment oversight partner for NZ Taxonomy development, providing direction and regulatory alignment.
• Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner for NZ Taxonomy development, contributing expertise from development of over 20 taxonomies globally including EU, Singapore, Brazil, and Australia.
• Deloitte New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services partner collaborated on discussion paper regarding priority sustainability data requirements of NZ's financial services sector.
• EY New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services partner with representation on Technical Expert Group (Co-Chair Pip Best), contributing to taxonomy design and governance.
• KPMG New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner collaborated on 'Mobilising Capital for Impact' report and developed 'Starter for Ten' guide for SME sustainability reporting.
• PwC New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services partner contributing to sustainable finance initiatives and partner ecosystem.
• Chapman TrippcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal partner commissioned to prepare joint legal opinion on legislative impediments to KiwiSaver investment in private assets.
• MinterEllisonRuddWattscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal partner commissioned to prepare joint legal opinion on legislative impediments to KiwiSaver investment in private assets.
• Rabobank New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner bank with representation on Agriculture and Forestry Technical Advisory Group, contributing agricultural finance expertise.
• McGrathNicolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services partner in the CSF partner ecosystem.
• Mindful MoneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the Aotearoa New Zealand Investor Coalition for Net Zero and State of Net Zero Investment reporting.
• Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Aotearoa New Zealand Investor Coalition for Net Zero, collaborating on State of Net Zero Investment reports.
• Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the Aotearoa New Zealand Stewardship Code secretariat with CSF.
• Thriving Communities AotearoasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeparate charitable entity established through CSF's inaugural Funders' group and Board formation, focused on community outcomes.
• Ara AkesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand's energy innovation agency, represented on Energy sector Technical Advisory Group.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS): NGFS is a global network of central banks and supervisors working on climate-related financial risks. CSF engages with NGFS-adjacent work via RBNZ submissions and climate risk guidance, and shares the macroprudential climate finance mandate.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC): IFC, part of the World Bank Group, operates in emerging markets to mobilize private capital for sustainable development. CSF's work on KiwiSaver private asset investment and blended finance for C&I fuel switching parallels IFC's mandate of unlocking private capital for climate and development outcomes.
• Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI): PRI is a UN-supported network of institutional investors committed to incorporating ESG principles. Both organizations work to align capital markets with sustainable outcomes and engage with superannuation funds and asset managers on responsible investment practices.
• EU Platform on Sustainable Finance: The EU Platform on Sustainable Finance advises the European Commission on the EU Taxonomy, the regulatory benchmark CSF has explicitly designed the NZ Taxonomy to interoperate with. It represents the original, most influential taxonomy framework that CSF's work is intentionally aligned with.

Direct peers

• Green Finance Institute (UK): The Green Finance Institute is a UK-based membership organization that convenes financial institutions, government, and academia to develop green finance frameworks and mobilize capital. It mirrors CSF's convening model and focus on frameworks for sustainable capital allocation.
• Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI): CBI is the global technical partner for CSF's NZ Taxonomy and has contributed to over 20 sustainable finance taxonomies worldwide. Both organizations develop green finance classification frameworks, certify green instruments, and engage with policymakers to define what counts as sustainable economic activity.
• Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC): IGCC is an Australasian investor coalition on climate change and a direct partner of CSF in the Aotearoa NZ Investor Coalition for Net Zero. Both organizations coordinate investor action on climate and produce reporting on net zero investment progress.
• Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI): ASFI developed the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy and operates as a national convening body across government, banks, and industry. Both CSF and ASFI are national taxonomy developers in Asia-Pacific with explicit cross-border interoperability objectives and similar stakeholder models.

Regional players

• Malaysia-Joint Committee on Climate Change (JC3): JC3 is a multi-stakeholder platform involving Malaysian banks, government, and regulators to accelerate climate-aligned finance. It parallels CSF's convening model across financial regulators and industry in another Asia-Pacific market.
• Singapore-Asia Taxonomy (AST): The Singapore-Asia Taxonomy is one of the regional taxonomies CSF's NZ Taxonomy is designed to interoperate with. Both serve as national/regional classification systems for sustainable economic activities in Asia-Pacific markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/toitu-tahua-centre-for-sustainable-finance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū Tahua