Craigs Investment Partners is one of New Zealand’s largest investment firms — a stockbroker and wealth manager that also operates a KiwiSaver scheme. Craigs KiwiSaver is less widely known than bank or large independent providers, but serves a specific segment: investors who are already Craigs clients or who prefer a relationship-based investment management approach.
Disclosure: MoneyBalance may earn a referral fee from Craigs. This does not influence our analysis or ratings.
Craigs KiwiSaver at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Investment firm (NZX-listed) |
| Default provider | No |
| Investment approach | Active management |
| Growth fund fee | ~1.00%–1.30% |
| Growth fund 5-yr return (indicative) | ~7.0%–8.5% p.a. |
| Client base | Investment firm clients + KiwiSaver-only members |
| Service model | Adviser-based and direct |
| Ethical option | Limited |
Who Is Craigs Investment Partners?
Craigs Investment Partners (formerly ABN AMRO Craigs) is one of New Zealand’s leading investment advisory firms, with offices across NZ. The firm provides share trading, portfolio management, and wealth advice to both retail and institutional clients. KiwiSaver is one component of its broader investment management business.
Craigs is not a traditional KiwiSaver-first provider — it is an investment firm that includes KiwiSaver as part of its service offering. This context matters for understanding who it suits.
Fund Range
Craigs offers a standard fund range with an actively managed approach:
| Fund | Risk level | Fee (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | Growth assets | ~1.00%–1.30% |
| Balanced | Balanced | ~0.90%–1.10% |
| Conservative | Defensive | ~0.70%–0.90% |
| Income | Fixed interest/cash heavy | ~0.60%–0.80% |
Fees are on the higher end of the independent provider range — in line with Fisher Funds and above Milford, Generate, and Booster.
Fees
Craigs’ fees are notably higher than most independent providers:
| Balance | Craigs (~1.15%) | Milford (~0.95%) | Simplicity (0.31%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $690/year | $570/year | $186/year |
| $100,000 | $1,150/year | $950/year | $310/year |
| $200,000 | $2,300/year | $1,900/year | $620/year |
The fee premium over Milford is approximately $400/year on a $100,000 balance. For this premium to be justified, Craigs would need to demonstrate after-fee outperformance over Milford — which its track record does not currently support.
Performance
Craigs’ KiwiSaver growth fund has delivered broadly in line with or slightly below mid-market providers:
| Fund | 5-yr return (indicative, after fees) |
|---|---|
| Growth | ~7.0%–8.5% p.a. |
| Balanced | ~5.5%–7.0% p.a. |
| Conservative | ~4.0%–5.5% p.a. |
This performance range — delivered at fees of 1.00%–1.30% — puts Craigs in a similar position to Fisher Funds: high fees with returns that don’t justify the premium over cheaper alternatives.
Who Uses Craigs KiwiSaver?
Craigs KiwiSaver is most commonly used by:
- Existing Craigs Investment Partners clients who consolidate their investment relationship with Craigs
- Members referred by Craigs advisers as part of broader wealth management relationships
- Investors who value face-to-face adviser relationships over digital self-service
This adviser-relationship model explains why Craigs can charge higher fees despite below-average performance — members are paying partly for access to Craigs’ wider adviser network and investment expertise, not just KiwiSaver management.
Honest Assessment: Craigs vs the Market
For members considering Craigs solely as a KiwiSaver provider (without the broader Craigs adviser relationship), it’s hard to recommend at current fees given the alternatives:
- Milford delivers better 5-year performance at lower fees (~0.95%)
- Simplicity delivers competitive index returns at 0.31%
- BNZ delivers competitive passive-blended performance at ~0.40%–0.55%
The fee-performance case for Craigs KiwiSaver as a standalone product is weak. Where it makes sense is as part of a holistic Craigs client relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Craigs KiwiSaver a good choice? For members already using Craigs as their investment adviser, it may make sense as part of an integrated relationship. For members choosing a KiwiSaver provider independently, Craigs’ fees are high relative to better-performing alternatives.
What are Craigs KiwiSaver fees? Approximately 1.00%–1.30% for growth funds, depending on the specific fund. These are above the market median for independent providers and significantly above the lowest-cost options.
Can non-Craigs clients join Craigs KiwiSaver? Yes. You don’t need to be a Craigs investment client to join their KiwiSaver scheme. However, without the broader adviser relationship, the fee premium is harder to justify.
How does Craigs compare to Milford? Milford charges less (~0.85%–1.05%) and has a stronger 5-year after-fee performance record. For active management in NZ, Milford or Generate are the stronger choices relative to Craigs on a fees-and-performance basis.
What to Read Next
- Best KiwiSaver Providers NZ — full provider rankings
- Milford KiwiSaver Review — leading active manager
- KiwiSaver Fees Comparison — all providers ranked by fee
- Cheapest vs Best Performing KiwiSaver — the fee vs return framework
- Switching KiwiSaver Providers — how to move to a better provider
- Bank vs Independent KiwiSaver NZ — the full provider landscape