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The University of Auckland Foundation
The University of Auckland Foundation is a New Zealand-based entity established in 2008. It manages entrusted funds for educational charitable purposes...
The University of Auckland Foundation
The University of Auckland Foundation is a New Zealand-based entity established in 2008. It manages entrusted funds for educational charitable purposes associated with the University of Auckland. The foundation invests in private equity, private debt, and infrastructure, with a sector focus on biotech and life sciences.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1883
Location
Region
Oceania
Country
New Zealand
City
Auckland
Corporate office
Auckland, New Zealand
Principals
David Carter
Chair
Alice Mew
Chair of the Investment Committee
Jonathan Mason
Trustee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the University of Auckland Foundation?
The Investment Committee is chaired by Alice Mew, who also serves as head of investment strategy at Craigs Investment Partners and a manager of external investments at the NZ Super Fund. The full board is chaired by David Carter, executive chair at Beca Group. This combination brings infrastructure and sovereign-wealth governance discipline into an endowment setting.
How does the foundation source investment managers?
The foundation states that all its external investment managers are signatories to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment. It does not disclose a public RFP process, but the investment committee's connection to the NZ Super Fund suggests a manager selection lens that favours institutional-grade due diligence and long-term partnership structures.
Does the foundation only invest in pooled funds, or does it also hold direct assets?
Beyond its Endowment Investment Pool, the foundation holds a portfolio of direct New Zealand real estate assets, including a Princes Wharf penthouse and a commercial property on Epsom Ave. It also stewards the Goldie Estate vineyard and the University of Auckland Art Collection, operating assets that are unusual for a university endowment.
How is the foundation's wealth distributed?
Investment income is distributed to specific charitable educational purposes tied to the University of Auckland. This includes dedicated sub-vehicles such as the Medical and Health Sciences Foundation. Donor intent governs the direction of distributions, aligning with the foundation's charitable trust structure.
Is the University of Auckland Foundation the same as the university's internal investment office?
No. The foundation is an independent charitable trust that pools endowment gifts and manages them separately from the university's own balance sheet. It invests across a mix of financial assets, direct real estate and operating assets like a vineyard, all held under the trust for the benefit of the university's defined charitable purposes.
What is the foundation's relationship with the NZ Super Fund?
The relationship is professional, not structural. Alice Mew, chair of the foundation's investment committee, holds a concurrent role as a manager of external investments at the NZ Super Fund. This gives the foundation informal access to sovereign-wealth thinking on asset allocation, manager selection and co-investment, particularly in New Zealand infrastructure.
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