# The New Zealand Anglican Church Pension Fund

The New Zealand Anglican Church Pension Fund is a Pension Fund based in Wellington, New Zealand.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Pension Fund
- **Headquarters:** Wellington, New Zealand
- **Region:** Oceania
- **Address:** Wellington, New Zealand
- **Founded:** 1972
- **Assets under management:** <$500M (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** anglicanpension.org.nz
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/anglican-financial-care

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The New Zealand Anglican Church Pension Fund serves the retirement needs of clergy and lay employees across Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The fund operates under the authority of the General Synod / Te Hīnota Whānui, the church's governing body. Margaret Bearsley leads the organization as CEO, while Brendan O'Donovan chairs the investment committee. The board's chair, the Reverend Lawrence Kimberley, provides a direct link to the church's pastoral mission. The investment strategy spans direct holdings and external fund commitments across several asset classes. Direct assets include the Hapua Forest in Hawke's Bay's Tukituki Valley, a residential mortgage portfolio, and New Zealand Carbon Units — a position tied to the country's emissions trading scheme. Fund commitments target global buyout strategies via vehicles including LGT Crown Impact Fund, Crown Global Opportunities VI and VII, Legg Mason Brandywine GOFI, and the Pimco GIS Global Bond Fund, all domiciled in Ireland. This mix blends local real assets with global private equity and fixed-income exposure. The pension fund also oversees two related vehicles: the Christian KiwiSaver Scheme and the Retire Fund, broadening its role in faith-aligned retirement savings. A philanthropic layer includes the Supplementary Support Fund and a Welfare Fund, both designed to assist clergy in financial hardship. The fund operates from Wellington and maintains a lean governance structure typical of New Zealand faith-based institutional investors. The fund's dual structure as both a direct asset owner and manager of third-party KiwiSaver capital sets it apart from many denominational pension funds. It acts as a fiduciary for church workers while competing in New Zealand's retail superannuation market through the Christian KiwiSaver Scheme.

## Sectors

- Timberland & Natural Capital
- Real Estate
- Private Credit
- Buyout

## People

- The Reverend Lawrence Kimberley — Chair of the Board
- Margaret Bearsley — Chief Executive Officer
- Simon Brodie — Chief Investment Officer
- Brendan O'Donovan — Chair of the Investment Committee

## Questions

### Who oversees investment decisions at the fund?

Simon Brodie serves as Chief Investment Officer. The Investment Committee is chaired by Brendan O'Donovan. The board chair, the Reverend Lawrence Kimberley, and CEO Margaret Bearsley provide governance and executive oversight.

### Does the fund invest directly or only through fund commitments?

It does both. Direct holdings include the Hapua Forest, a residential mortgage portfolio, and New Zealand Carbon Units. Fund commitments include LGT Crown Impact Fund, Crown Global Opportunities vehicles, Legg Mason Brandywine GOFI, and a Pimco GIS bond fund.

### How is the Christian KiwiSaver Scheme related to the pension fund?

The pension fund's board also manages the Christian KiwiSaver Scheme. This allows the same investment team to serve both the church's internal retirement needs and external savers seeking a faith-aligned KiwiSaver option.

### What natural capital assets does the fund hold?

It owns Hapua Forest, a timberland property in the Tukituki Valley in Hawke's Bay. It also holds New Zealand Carbon Units, giving it exposure to the country's emissions trading scheme.

### Does the fund maintain any structures to support clergy beyond retirement benefits?

Yes. The Supplementary Support Fund and a Welfare Fund provide financial assistance to clergy facing hardship. These operate as separate philanthropic structures alongside the retirement scheme.

## Related profiles

- [The Nelson Trust](https://altss.com/profile/the-nelson-trust)
- [The Norinchukin Bank](https://altss.com/profile/the-norinchukin-bank)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/the-new-zealand-anglican-church-pension-fund

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology