South Waikato Investment Fund (swif)

What South Waikato Investment Fund (swif) does

South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) is a community-owned intergenerational trust established in 2017 and headquartered at Pūkenga Rau, 34 Chambers Street, Tokoroa, New Zealand. The trust manages an investment portfolio and deploys capital through grants (minimum NZ$25,000 to not-for-profits), business loans (minimum NZ$50,000), scholarships (up to NZ$5,000 per applicant via a NZ$50,000/year scheme running 2024–2028), co-working space leases, and subsidised capability programmes for local SMBs. Toi Ohomai (now Te Pūkenga) is the anchor tenant at Pūkenga Rau, the NZ$14M trades training centre SWIFT owns and which opened in 2023; SWIFT also funds or co-delivers the Driver Licensing Programme, the Generation Programme for forestry training, business growth workshops with SODA inc. and the Regional Business Partner Network, and a governance mentoring programme with Community Governance Aotearoa.

SWIFT's revenue mechanics are not commercial in the conventional sense: income derives from the investment portfolio (a 16.13% return was reported in the most recent period) and co-investment from Provincial Growth Fund, Trust Waikato, and the Ministry for Social Development, which together have unlocked more than NZ$12.5M in partner funding on top of NZ$15.5M+ deployed directly since inception. The organisation operates a small professional team (CEO Clive Somerville, appointed February 2025; Operations Manager Shannon Double; Community Partnerships & Engagement Lead Kiani Tuhua) under a board chaired by James Whetu with deputy chair Kate Searancke and trustee Michael Crawford. The trust's strategic focus is on education pathways, employment outcomes, business capability, and community connection within the South Waikato district, and in 2025 it assumed convening leadership of a regional workforce development strategy following Toi Ohomai's proposed withdrawal from Tokoroa. SWIFT is explicitly not a technology company — it does not develop proprietary software products, sell APIs or SDKs, or employ AI/ML systems internally.

Name

South Waikato Investment Fund (swif)

Legal name

South Waikato Investment Fund Trust

Website

https://swift.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) is a community-owned intergenerational trust based in Tokoroa, New Zealand, that invests a returns-generating portfolio into education, employment, business capability, and community programmes across the South Waikato district. It operates the Pūkenga Rau trades training centre, scholarships, driver licensing, co-working space, and business workshops funded through partner co-investment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Economic Development

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAE

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• Community investment fund
• Economic development trust
• Workforce development programs
• Community grants and loans
• Education scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokoroa

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: SWIFT manages an investment portfolio that generates returns used to fund community initiatives. The trust reported a 16.13% return on its investment portfolio, enabling continued long-term support for economic and community development.
2. Government and Partner Co-Investment: SWIFT receives co-investment from government agencies and partners such as Provincial Growth Fund, Trust Waikato, and Ministry for Social Development, which is leveraged to deliver community programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SWIFT is a community-owned intergenerational trust that invests in the South Waikato district by managing an investment portfolio and directing returns toward community grants, business loans, tertiary education scholarships, driver licensing and workforce training programmes, co-working space, and capability-building workshops for local businesses, rangatahi (youth), and community organisations.

Product overview

South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) is a community-owned intergenerational trust (not a technology company) focused on generating economic and community outcomes in South Waikato. Rather than a unified software product, SWIFT operates a portfolio of community investment programmes and co-working facilities. These include Pūkenga Rau and Level 1 co-working spaces providing professional workspace; the SWIFT Scholarship Scheme supporting tertiary education; the Driver Licensing Programme and Generation Programme addressing workforce development; and various business capability workshops. The organization does not develop or sell technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Level 1 Co-Working Space at Pūkenga Rau Professional co-working space at Pūkenga Rau in Tokoroa offering fully furnished offices, dedicated desks (minimum 3-month term), meeting rooms, a boardroom, silent pod, printing facilities, and free onsite parking for individuals, businesses, and organisations seeking workspace in South Waikato.
• SWIFT Scholarship Scheme A $50,000 annual scholarship programme (2024-2028) providing tertiary education funding for South Waikato residents, with up to $5,000 for course-related costs and study fees for those not eligible for the government fees-free programme, and up to $1,000 for course-related costs in the first year for those who are eligible.
• Driver Licensing Programme Programme providing free driver training, support, and licensing to high school students across South Waikato to remove transport-related employment barriers for rangatahi (youth), delivered with Transform Aotearoa.
• Generation Programme A forestry training programme providing foundational training for local rangatahi (youth) in the forestry sector, leading to the NZ Certificate in Forest Industry Foundation Skills and employment opportunities, led by Central North Island Wood Council (CNIWC).
• South Waikato Business Growth Workshop Series A series of workshops covering ChatGPT, social media, business strategy, and leadership development for South Waikato businesses, subsidised through Regional Business Partner Network funding and delivered in partnership with SODA inc.
• South Waikato Governance Mentoring Programme A six-month governance mentoring programme launched in October 2023 in collaboration with Community Governance Aotearoa and Mentoring Foundation NZ, designed to foster leadership and governance skills for community members across South Waikato.
• Community Grants Grants with a minimum amount of $25,000 for not-for-profit organisations delivering educational, training, or community infrastructure initiatives that benefit the South Waikato district.
• Business Loans Loans with a minimum amount of $50,000 for businesses with high growth potential located in or operating in the South Waikato district, supporting local economic development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $15.5 million invested directly into South Waikato community; more than $12.5 million in partner co-investment unlocked
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Toi Ohomai | Te PukengacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Toi Ohomai is the main tenant at Pukenga Rau and the primary training provider delivering education programmes at the facility. SWIFT owns the building and manages all tenancies. When Toi Ohomai proposed ceasing campus-based delivery from end of 2025, SWIFT stepped up to lead a coordinated workforce development strategy to ensure continued local education access.
• South Waikato District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWIFT works closely with the District Council on workforce development strategy, economic development initiatives, and community programmes. The Council is a key partner in the delegation to Parliament and various community events.
• Raukawa Charitable TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaukawa Charitable Trust is a key iwi partner, providing cultural blessing for the Pukenga Rau facility (which means 'many people' referencing Raukawa) and collaborating on community initiatives including the delegation to Parliament.
• Regional Business Partner (RBP) NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-funded network connecting businesses with advice and resources. SWIFT co-funds the business contribution (up to $4,500) to make RBP support more accessible for South Waikato businesses.
• SODA inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWIFT partnered with SODA inc. to deliver the South Waikato Business Growth Workshop Series, leveraging funding through Regional Business Partner Network.
• Transform AotearoacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTransform Aotearoa took over as lead provider for the South Waikato Driver Licensing Programme in 2023, delivering free driver training to high school students across five schools in the district.
• Pokaiwhenua Catchment GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWIFT partnered with the catchment group for Whakauru Stream restoration, funding 2,200 native trees and shrubs for planting near Pukenga Rau.
• Central North Island Wood Council (CNIWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNIWC leads the Generation Programme for forestry training in Tokoroa, which SWIFT helped fund through business case development and continues to support as a funder alongside MSD, Te Uru Rakau, and industry partners.
• Community Governance AotearoaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWIFT launched the South Waikato Governance Mentoring Programme in collaboration with Community Governance Aotearoa and Mentoring Foundation NZ, a six-month initiative for 12 participants.
• Mentoring Foundation NZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Governance Mentoring Programme alongside Community Governance Aotearoa, providing mentors for the six mentor-mentee pairs.
• The Good Day MatrixminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFacilitated the Workplace Wellbeing & Resilience Event featuring speakers Cam Calkoen, Seamus Marten, and Daz Burns, with follow-up 3-month Leadership Series.
• WorkITcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouth Waikato District Council's employment agency for young people that places youth in jobs or training. Partnered with SWIFT on various workforce development initiatives.
• FirestationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness coaching provider through which SWIFT funded over 60 participants for start-ups, small businesses, and growth acceleration programmes.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NZ Community Trust (NZCT): One of New Zealand's largest gaming/community trusts distributing grants to non-profits nationwide. Operates a near-identical grantmaking and community investment model to SWIFT but at national scale.
• Acorn Foundation: Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty community foundation managing endowments and distributing grants. Same community foundation structure with local grantmaking focus in a neighbouring region.
• Lion Foundation: New Zealand gaming trust providing grants to community organisations nationwide. Highly comparable grantmaking structure, governance model, and community investment mandate.
• Foundation North: Large Auckland/Northland community foundation providing grants, scholarships, and community investment. Comparable as a regional philanthropic grantmaking trust operating with a similar long-horizon endowment model.
• BayTrust: Bay of Plenty regional trust distributing grants to community organisations. Same intergenerational trust model with comparable grantmaking, scholarship, and community investment programmes in a neighbouring NZ region.
• Trust Waikato: Waikato-based community trust that co-funded Pūkenga Rau alongside SWIFT. Operates a similar grantmaking and community investment model in the same region, making it the closest structural peer to SWIFT.
• Raukawa Charitable Trust: Iwi-led charitable trust working alongside SWIFT on community initiatives in South Waikato. Comparable as a regional grantmaking and community development organisation with a focus on social, cultural, and economic outcomes.
• Whanganui Community Foundation: Regional NZ community foundation managing pooled endowments and distributing grants for local community benefit. Directly comparable as a place-based, endowment-funded grantmaking entity.

Regional players

• Toi Ohomai | Te Pūkenga: Main tenant at Pūkenga Rau and SWIFT's primary tertiary training partner. Comparable as a regional education/workforce development provider whose potential withdrawal directly affects SWIFT's programme delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Provincial Growth Fund: Central government fund (administered via MBIE) that contributed approximately $11M to Pūkenga Rau. Comparable as a regional economic development funding mechanism, though operating at national policy scale rather than as a community trust.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-waikato-investment-fund-trust-swift

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about South Waikato Investment Fund (swif)