RI option for Mercer KiwiSaver customers

Martin Lewington, Head of Mercer in New Zealand said Mercer made the move to add the RI option to its investment platform in response to feedback from its members.

"We conducted a survey of members late in 2008 which revealed that 81 per cent considered it important to have a responsible investment option.

"In New Zealand responsible investing has been on the radar for some time, but in the wake of the global financial crisis many are taking greater reassurance in the knowledge that the environmental, social and governance factors, which may impact positively upon long-term returns, have been considered," he said.

Lewington said Mercer joins a pool of very few KiwiSaver schemes to offer a balanced investment option that also takes into account social and environmental investment factors.