Your Spring Newsletter

Spring has finally sprung and I'm grateful for the extra light in the evenings, even if it is still a bit chilly.
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Market Update with Harbour Asset Management

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Prepare Your Whanau for the Future

We totally get it – life can get pretty hectic and you’ve got a lot on your plate. But we wanted to remind you about our cool SuperEasy member-only campaign – Caring for Whānau!
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Give your whanau a super start and be in to win

I’m thrilled to announce our first-ever, exclusive, and member-only campaign launches today – called Caring for Whānau!
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Your Winter Newsletter

I don’t know about you but, boy, it's pretty full-on at work. So, I thought I would share a couple of timely messages.
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Investment Market Commentary

Comments from Harbour Asset Management

Markets continue to be volatile as if they are caught in a “catch-22” – a dilemma from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions. If inflation remains high, central banks will have to hold interest rates higher for longer.

However, if the economy slows quickly in response to higher rates, then earnings forecasts may be too high.

Equity investors are increasingly moving their focus from inflation and central banks to the impact of a slower economy on earnings expectations.

In New Zealand, company updates during April were generally in line with or better than expected. Investors added to investment in sectors that may sustain and grow earnings through a period of slower economic growth, which includes shares in the healthcare and tech sectors.

The New Zealand market was led by defensive utility, telecommunication and infrastructure sectors, and the largest company in the New Zealand market, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.

Globally share markets rallied as investors focused on stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and an easing in bank stress and inflation concerns.

Returns for New Zealand-listed real estate stocks were mixed with a further round of negative independent asset valuations, reflecting higher interest rates and physical property asset transactions.

In contrast, Australian returns were strong with residential real estate shares driving the performance reflecting strong net migration and a pause in Reserve Bank of Australia official interest rate increases.

Ainsley McLaren
Executive Director

Comments from ANZ

US equity markets have been strong recently as hopes of a debt ceiling resolution and some upbeat economic data saw several indices trade to multi-month highs.

The best-performing of the bunch – the technology-laden NASDAQ – continued its stellar start to the year, and now has year-to-date gains of more than 25%.

In New Zealand, our local equity market has displayed more modest performance compared to its global peers, with the concern being that the recent Budget may stoke inflation pressures.

What’s happening in markets

The New Zealand Budget was the focal point, with Finance Minister Grant Robertson delivering a larger-than-expected headline spending figure highlighted by significant infrastructure spending and childcare support.

In its economic update, the Treasury forecasts that New Zealand will avoid a recession, while it expects unemployment will rise to 5.3% and inflation will fall back to its target range by the end of 2024.

Meanwhile, in the US, the ongoing debt ceiling saga continued to play out in Washington DC, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle sounding somewhat optimistic they can get a deal done.

Although details of what a possible bipartisan deal may look like are unknown, it appears the focus will be on a percentage cap on discretionary government spending. The White House 2024 Budget is a ~9% increase from a year prior, while the Republicans are hoping to drop this number to below 5%.

After a rough patch of economic data earlier in the year, things have improved slightly in the US with employment data and some manufacturing reports both showing mild signs of improvement. The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits has decreased recently and the key survey of US manufacturers appears to have rebounded slightly from earlier in the year.

What’s important in the near term

The key issues for investment markets continue to be around central bank actions which are intended to suppress inflation. The next meeting for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) is Wednesday 24th May and it is expected that the Official Cash Rate (OCR) will increase by another 25 basis points. However, after the larger-than-expected spending in the recent Budget, interest rate markets moved to price in a small chance of a 50-basis point rise in rates.

In the US, debt ceiling news will continue to dominate the headlines as 1 June comes closer, the day Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the US may run out of money to pay its bills.

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Investment Market Commentary

We have invited the ANZ New Zealand Investment Limited, one of our Fund Managers to provide some market commentary for June 2022.

ANZ Investments makes brief comment on recent events in investment markets

It been a tough period for financial markets with inflation, and the response to it, very much the focus for investors around the world. Both equity and bond markets have been under pressure.

Inflation, at its highest level since 1981, has forced the US Federal Reserve (Fed) into what will likely be the fastest series of interest rates hikes in three decades (i.e., this week saw a rise of 0.75% in the Fed’s main policy rate) By raising borrowing costs aggressively, the Fed and other central banks hope to cool spending and growth enough to curb inflation without tipping the economy into recession.

The New Zealand and Australian share markets also fell, but they did not fall by as much as their international counterparts. The Australian share market was adversely affected by the recent surprise interest rate hike from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). While the markets had expected interest rates to rise, they did not forecast the 50-basis point hike that the bank implemented

Meanwhile, in Europe, the European Central Bank confirmed its intention to raise interest rates by 25 basis points at its July meeting, with a further hike to come in September – the size of which will be determined by the inflation outlook nearer the time.

Bond markets have also been weak. The yields on key US government bonds (2-year and 10-year) have risen quite sharply as investors seek higher yields to reflect the rising interest rate environment.

The hope for investors is that the rising interest rate regime implemented by central banks will contain inflation without sending economies into recession. Markets are likely to remain volatile until there is evidence of inflation being controlled and again, the hope is that this can be done without forcing economies into widespread recession.

DGL Group

The recent comments made by the CEO of the DGL Group has raised concerns with several of our members who do not want to be associated with this group! Members want to know if SuperEasy has any investments with this group. Please see below the responses received from both of our Fund managers.

ANZ

ANZ Investments’ wholesale funds hold no shares in DGL. We consider the comments made by the CEO to be offensive. ANZ Investments operates a comprehensive responsible investment framework, which includes a focus on diversity. Given the recent comments by the CEO, DGL would not meet our diversity standards, and we would not currently invest in the company.

HARBOUR ASSET MANAGEMENT

We confirm that no Harbour Fund has ever had any investment in the DGL Group.

Investment Market Commentary

We have requested one of our Fund Managers, Harbour Asset Management, to provide our members with a current outlook in the investment market. Given the feedback from our recent members survey, moving forward we are keen to provide regular updates from each of our fund managers.

Please see the commentary below.

Global share markets were mixed in March, with the US, Australian and New Zealand markets higher while European and Asian markets drifted lower. Greater certainty of higher long term interest rates came from the US Federal Reserve, while continued Russian - Ukraine military action contributed to volatility over the month. Commodity prices were higher, including the price of oil increasing another 7% over the month.

The S&P/NZX50 Portfolio index finished the month ending 31 March 2022 up 2.07% and the year down -0.74%.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and Ryman Healthcare were the key drag on New Zealand share market returns, alongside Air NZ, which announced its long-awaited capital raising. Smaller-capitalisation companies, Pushpay, Eroad and Sky TV saw their share prices recover.

The S&P/NZX All Real Estate Industry Group Gross with Imputation Index returned 1.31% in March 2022 to be up 1.30% for the last 12 months.

Lower-than-expected COVID support for tenants contributed to REITs reporting better-than-expected net property income over the month.

More clarity about long term interest rate settings favoured investments with structural tail winds, such as real estate investment managers Home Consortium and Goodman Group.

Upcoming Event:
We have organised a lunch time webinar with staff from Harbour Asset Management, Portfolio Manager Shane Solly and Executive Director Ainsley McLaren, especially for our SuperEasy members. Wednesday 4th May 12.30pm – 1.30pm

They will be talking about Harbour, how they invest, the outlook for investments and will be available to answer member’s questions about the investment markets (without providing personalised financial advice).

Click here to access the invite and register to join the webinar!

INVESTMENT UPDATE – from ANZ Investments

We have requested the ANZ New Zealand Investment Ltd, one of our Fund Managers to provide some market commentary, please see below comments.

The Russia-Ukraine situation moves to front and center

As we have previously reported it’s been a busy start to 2022, with volatility reaching levels not seen since the early stages of the pandemic as geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe spilled over when Russia invaded Ukraine.

As we start March, it’s apparent that the geopolitical unrest in Eastern Europe will be a predominant driver of market sentiment. However, before we start, it would be remiss not to mention the civilian tragedy we have already seen as Vladimir Putin seeks to extend his power beyond Russia.

From an investment perspective, we are looking at the situation from several angles. Firstly, we have seen a spike in the price of commodities, with Russia a significant exporter of many of these – most notably oil and gas. Should commodity prices continue to rise, or even remain elevated, it will only add to the ongoing concerns around inflation. Furthermore, rising energy prices will cause headwinds for the European economy, which sources a significant amount of its energy from Russia.

Secondly, we are monitoring the implications of the sanctions placed on Russia, and any retaliatory measures that could destabilise western companies and industries.

No Investments in Russia

In spite of the current significance and influence of the Russian – Ukraine situation it is important to note that, in respect of the assets managed by ANZ Investments, there are no investments in Russian equities or bonds.

ANZ is still constructive on the global economy

Despite the abundance of news, most of which may seem negative (Russia’s invasion, elevated inflation, COVID-19), we remain relatively optimistic about the global economy on a medium to long-term basis. We are coming to the end of what was another relatively good earnings season, with numbers showing most companies continue to rebound nicely as the global economy continues its COVID-induced recovery.

Update Investment Market Commentary

We have requested one of our Fund Managers, Harbour Asset Management, to provide our members with a current outlook in the Investment market. Please see their commentary below.

Uncertainty around interest rate increases and the Russian - Ukraine military action saw equity market volatility spike higher in February. A solid profit reporting season and potential for a slower rate hike cycle due to the conflict saw markets end the month higher.

The New Zealand equity market as measured by the S&P/NZX50 Portfolio Index, which is the benchmark for the Harbour NZ Index Shares Fund, finished the month up +0.89%, to be down -0.8% over the last 12 months. This compares to the broader market index (S&P/NZX50 Gross with imputation credits) which finished the month up +0.7%, to be down -2% over the last 12 months.

Uncertainty about the speed of central bank interest rate hikes and the risk of military action hit equity markets early in February. Market rate hike expectations were unwound towards month end as military action raised the risk of slower economic growth. Production disruption and Russian sanction constraints contributed to a further increase in commodity prices, with the price of oil increasing another 5% over the month.

In New Zealand, defensive stocks including electricity generators/retailers Meridian and Contact, Spark NZ and infrastructure owner, Infratil, outperformed reflecting solid profit updates and lower interest rates. In contrast, the energy and resources sectors led the Australian market higher as commodity prices increased.

New Zealand stocks delivered a solid reporting season where earnings “beats” against expectations exceeded “misses”, and subsequent consensus earnings expectations were net positive. The reaction to the better profit results has however been muted with geopolitics weighing on investor sentiment.

The S&P/NZX All Real Estate Industry Group Gross with Imputation Index returned -2.78% in February 2022 to be up 1.52% for the last 12 months.

New Zealand Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) ended the month lower despite delivering better-than-expected profit updates. The prospect of higher interest rates including a more hawkish (implying rates higher) statement by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand saw investors switch into fixed interest investments. Australian REITs delivered a positive return supported by better-than-expected results from retail mall owners as the Australian economy re-opened from its Omicron wave.

Our Fees are reducing again for the third year in a row from 1 April 2022

We lowered our fees on 1 April 2020 and then again on 1 April 2021 and delighted to announce a further reduction to our fees again this year, from 1 April 2022

Good news for members of our Schemes

• Low fees – when you join and saving towards retirement.
• After you leave Council – you still enjoy the same low fee structure that apply to Local Government staff – and receive any further fee reductions.
• This is important – as fees do not stop when you retire.
• Up until retirement – Schemes are long-term savings accounts.
• Throughout your retirement – Schemes transform to a long-term savings management account.

On 1 April 2020: We lowered our base management fee from 0.50% per annum to 0.44% per annum

On 1 April 2021: We lowered our base management fee from 0.44% per annum to 0.40% per annum

From 1 April 2022: We will be lowering our base management fee to 0.37% per annum.

There are three components that make up our total fee structure.

• We have the same low base investment management fee of 0.37% per annum for all our members irrespective of what fund or combination of funds they are invested in.
• For SuperEasy KiwiSaver - a monthly administration fee of $4.50 per month being $54.00 per year.
• For SuperEasy Employer Scheme – a monthly administration fee of $6.00 being $72 per year. Note: this monthly administration fee is not payable while you are working for a council.
• In-fund costs of between 0.02% - 0.03% pa.

To help make sense of these numbers we have set out some examples below.

When is our office closed over the Christmas holiday?

Our office will be closed from the 24th December and will re-open on Wednesday 5th January 2022.

On behalf of the Team at SuperEasy can we wish you and your families a safe and happy time over the Christmas holiday period and look forward to working with you throughout 2022.

Investment Market Commentary – Quarter to November 2021

To recap and provide an overview of what has happened during the quarter ending 30 November 2021 we have asked one of our Fund Managers, ANZ New Zealand Investments Ltd to provide some market commentary. Please see below their comments.

Global equity markets were generally buoyant across the quarter, supported by a slew of strong economic data and strong corporate profit announcements. However, the news of a new Covid-19 variant, ‘Omicron’, spooked equity markets at the end of the quarter as investors digested what impact this variant may have on future economic prospects.

The ultra-low interest rate environment seems to be coming to an end with many central banks signalling their intent to increase interest rates in the near term. In New Zealand, the Official Cash Rate saw its first increases since 2014.

Equities

Most global equity markets were buoyant in the quarter, as companies returned to ‘business as usual’ after developed economies continued to re-open after a series of lockdowns. The US market hit an all-time high early in November, before retreating after the announcement of the Omicron variant. Earnings levels were almost universally stronger across a broad spectrum of sectors and as a whole are expected to be higher in 2022 than what they were pre Covid levels.

Locally, the New Zealand equity market retreated. The annual inflation rate rose to 4.9%, which was higher than market expectations and was the highest recorded inflation rate since the second quarter of 2011. This in turn increased expectations that we would see a sharper increase in interest rates than originally contemplated. Higher interest rates tend to have a detrimental effect on higher dividend yielding stocks, such as listed property trusts and electricity generators, as the difference between the dividend yield and fixed income and cash security yields reduces.

Bonds

It was a challenging period for bond investors as rising inflation and the resulting expectation of higher future interest rates weighed on returns. In general, if the market expects interest rates to rise, then bond yields rise as well, forcing bond prices, in turn, to fall. The yield on the New Zealand 10-year government bond rose to 2.6% during the quarter, its highest level since 2018.

Locally, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) maintained its rhetoric that it believes interest rates need to be higher and delivered two 0.25% hikes in the quarter. These were the first increases since 2014, and it is widely anticipated that the RBNZ will deliver a series of hikes in the cash rate in the next year.

Globally, the theme of rising inflation and expectation of higher future interest rates was also at the forefront of investors’ minds. The US federal reserve signalled its intention to be particularly cognisant of employment levels before considering increasing interest rates. Consequently, the trajectory of rate increases is expected to be much more moderate than what we are likely to see in New Zealand.

The ANZ philosophy is to maintain well-diversified portfolios, and despite the short term challenges for bond investors we believe high quality bonds form a very important part for a diversified portfolio.

Outlook

We are cautiously optimistic that the global recovery will continue in 2022 and the environment will remain supportive for corporate profits for now,

We remain alert to a number of key risks. Particularly, that high inflation will force early withdrawal of monetary support and that supply chain disruptions and wage pressures will have a longer lasting impact, leading to a more challenging outlook for growth.

New Fund Manager, Product Disclosure Statements and Lower Fees from 2 August 2021

New Fund Manager: The Scheme Trustees have recently conducted a review of the Schemes and taken independent advice to ensure the structure of the funds and fund managers are appropriate for the needs and purpose of the members of the Schemes. As a result of this review and advice the Trustees have decided to change one of our fund managers, namely AMP Capital Investors (NZ) Ltd and replace with another NZ based fund manager, Harbour Asset Management. This will mean our Scheme funds from 2 August 2021 will be managed by existing fund manager ANZ New Zealand Investments Limited and newly appointed fund manager Harbour Asset Management. These two fund managers are listed in our new Product Disclosure Statements registered and dated 2 August 2021.

New Products Disclosure Statements (PDS): We have registered and dated new PDS’s for our SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme AND SuperEasy Employer Scheme (Local Government Superannuation Scheme) with an effective of 2 August 2021. These new PDS’s can be viewed or downloaded from our SuperEasy website.

Reduced Fee Structure: As a result of lower in-fund costs our fee structure from 2 August 2021 has reduced. There are three components that make up our total fee structure.

• Base Investment Management Fee: we have the same low base investment management fee of 0.40% per annum for all our members irrespective of what fund or combination of funds they are invested in.
• Monthly Administration Fee: for SuperEasy KiwiSaver $4.50 per month being $54.00 per year; and for SuperEasy Employer Scheme $6.00 per month being $72 per year. Note: the SuperEasy Employer Scheme monthly administration fee is not payable while you are working for a council.
• In-Fund Costs: of between 0.02% - 0.03% per annum.

To help make sense of these numbers we have set out some examples below.

Your 2021 Annual Statement is now available

To view your statement, just log in to your SuperEasy account and click on ‘Online Statements’.

If you’ve forgotten your password, click on ‘Forgot password?’ and enter in your username and email address that is associated with your account. Just follow the instructions in the email you receive to reset your password.

Our 2021 Annual Reports are also available:
SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme 2021 Annual Report
Local Government Superannuation Scheme 2021 Annual Report

Our fees are reducing - again!

We lowered our fees last year on 1 April 2020 and are delighted to announce a further reduction to our fees again this year, from 1 April 2021

Good news for members of our Schemes

• Low fees – when you join and saving towards retirement
• After you leave Council – you still enjoy the same low fee structure that applies to Local Government staff – and receive any further fee reductions
• That is important – as fees do not stop when you retire
• Up until retirement – the Schemes are long-term savings accounts
• Throughout your retirement – transform to a long-term savings management account

Our fees have three components: a base management fee, a monthly administration fee, and in-fund costs. From 1 April 2021 our base management fee will be reducing from 0.44% per annum to 0.40% per annum.

SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme Fees From 1 April 2021: the base management fee of 0.40% pa, a monthly administration fee of $4.50, being $54.00 per year, and in-fund costs of between 0.03% and 0.06% pa, depending on the fund you are invested in – the average in-fund cost is around 0.05% pa. To help make sense of these numbers we have set out some examples below to show you what our fees will be from 1 April 2021.

SuperEasy Employer Scheme Fees From 1 April 2021: the base management fee of 0.40% pa, a monthly administration fee of $6.00, being $72.00 per year, and in-fund costs of between 0.03% and 0.06% pa, depending on the fund you are invested in – the average in-fund cost is around 0.05% pa. Note: the monthly administration fee is not payable while you are working for a council. To help make sense of these numbers we have set out some examples below to show you what our fees will be from 1 April 2021.

The new fee structure is set out in our Product Disclosure Statements which can be downloaded here:
SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme
SuperEasy Employer Scheme

New Product Disclosure Statements and Lower Fees

We have new Product Disclosure Statements for both our SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme, and SuperEasy Employer Superannuation Scheme.

Our Product Disclosure Statements have been updated to include:

• new privacy legislation that came into effect in December of 2020, and
• new regulatory tax information about PIE tax, and
• details of a further fee reduction to our Schemes’ existing low base management fee that takes effect from 1 April 2021.

From 1 April 2021 our schemes’ base investment management fee will be reducing from a rate of 0.44% per annum to 0.40% per annum. We are delighted to be able to announce this further fee reduction for our existing members.

Your 2020 Half Yearly Statement is now available

To view your statement, just log in to your SuperEasy account and click on ‘Online Statements’.

If you’ve forgotten your password, click on ‘Forgot password?’ and enter in your username and email address that is associated with your account. Just follow the instructions in the email you receive to reset your password.

If you have any questions, contact us.

Investment Market Half-Year Commentary-September 2020

To recap and provide an overview of what has happened during the six months ending 30 September 2020 we have asked one of our Fund Managers, AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand) Limited to provide some market commentary. Please see below their comments:

Global equities staged a major recovery over the six-month period to 30 September, as the balance of data and economic expectations was weighed and investors on the whole took a cautiously positive view. This gradual return of guarded optimism was built on government and central bank stimulus actions and on hopes that a COVID-19 vaccine or treatment programme might become available within a compressed timeframe. However, market gains since 31 March, which had been in excess of 30% for world equities and above 20% for New Zealand and Australian shares, peaked at the end of August.

In September, global equity markets suffered a modest pullback, led by the technology sector which later broadened to other sectors. Energy was also impacted as the oil price pulled back from a four-month high, stabilising around USD 40 per barrel. Gold prices rallied sharply through to early August as investors adapted to the new monetary measures, but likewise have trimmed its safe-haven gains in the course of September. The US dollar continued to decline against most developed market currencies, as the US Federal Reserve signalled enduring near-zero interest rates. In New Zealand, the Reserve Bank indicated further moves will be required but the prospect of a zero (or negative) Official Cash Rate next year only had limited impact on the NZ dollar, which has maintained the greater part of its mid-year gain.

Growing confidence around the speed of the global economic recovery, better than expected US corporate earnings, improved manufacturing activity data and reasonably strong US jobs figures all contributed to the improving sentiment. This was despite some renewed fears around further waves of COVID-19 and more specifically, how governments might react to renewed outbreaks. Renewed draconian lockdowns have so far been avoided, though travel and social restrictions remain in hotspots. Investors are focusing increasingly on a rebound in corporate profits in 2021, although sentiment remains fragile at times.

COVID-19’s ultimate impact on economic conditions and the outlook remain uncertain, with the global death count from the pandemic now exceeding the one million mark and rising ‘third wave’ impacts in localized US and European regions. So far, treatment advanced have kept mortality rates from spiking. Escalating tensions between the US and China have also elevated uncertainty, as has the looming November US election. However, these risks are now more understood and markets as well as governments are actively working to increase liquidity, circulating credit to encourage recovery. Plans to mitigate the sort of acute financial stress that pushes individuals into difficulties has been a feature of the global response to the pandemic challenge this year.

Geopolitical tensions abounded, though this was mostly treated as noise by markets. Amid a strong Chinese economic recovery and growing demand for commodities, emerging markets also rose over the period, outperforming developed markets. Developed market equities, emerging market shares and commodity prices all rallied over the period. Taken together, these gains are indicative of a greater level of global demand resilience than had earlier been feared, in the depths of the COVID-19 first wave back in March and April. However, the Northern Hemisphere winter and the resumption of no-deal Brexit risk could test sentiment before year-end.

Investment Market Commentary: September 2020 Quarter

We recognise these are still interesting times in the investment markets and have asked for some market commentary from both our Fund Managers, AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand) Limited and ANZ New Zealand Investments Limited for this recent September 2020 quarter. Please see below their comments:

ANZ New Zealand Investments Limited

The third quarter largely saw a continuation of the previous quarter as investment markets continued their rebound from the severe pullback experienced in quarter 1. On the back of a low interest rate environment and with governments and central banks continuing to show a willingness to support the economic recovery, investors were able to enjoy positive returns in nearly all asset classes.

Equities: Despite September being the first negative returning month for equities since March, returns were positive in nearly all major equity markets over the quarter. Equity prices continued to rise as optimism that Covid-19 will have only a temporary impact on the earnings of most companies. The US market hit an all-time high in September with strong performances from technology related companies being a key driver. Locally, the New Zealand NZX-50 also challenged its high point, before ultimately surpassing it in October. Universally, we have seen strong demand for good quality companies from investors, who are seeking higher returns in an ultra-low interest rate environment. The low interest rate theme has carried through to the local residential housing market where strong demand and low mortgage rates have seen rising prices, defying widespread predictions of lower prices.

Bonds: It was a busy quarter in domestic fixed interest market and there was strong demand from investors for new non-government bond issuance that offered interest returns of over 2%. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand, at its August meeting, increased its bond-buying programme to $100 billion and added that a negative Official Cash Rate (OCR) is a policy tool it would consider implementing. There are wide spread expectations that we are likely to see negative cash rates introduced in New Zealand next year. It was a similar picture globally, with the United States Federal Reserve projecting there would be no lift in interest rates until at least the end of 2023. With expectations of lower future interest rates for the foreseeable future, bond prices rose and investors enjoyed positive returns in the quarter.

Outlook: Uncertainty is a key theme for the next twelve months as markets contemplate what the near-term future holds. With an uncertain outcome of the US Presidential election and the timing of a Covid-19 vaccine, investors may experience elevated levels of volatility. That said, we have started to see some positive data which would indicate the worst of the downturn may be behind us, from an economic point of view. We are cautiously optimistic that we will continue to see an improvement in the economic picture and are maintaining a disciplined long-term focussed investment approach.

AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand) Limited: September 2020 quarter

Global share markets rose strongly in the first half of the September quarter, before pulling back somewhat towards the end of the period. Growing confidence around the speed of the global economic recovery, better than expected corporate earnings, improved manufacturing activity data and reasonably strong US jobs figures all contributed to the strong rise. This was despite some renewed fears around further waves of COVID-19 and more specifically, how governments might react to renewed outbreaks. Escalating tensions between the US and China have also elevated uncertainty.

Towards the end of the quarter, a marked correction in technology stocks occurred following prior strong gains, which in turn pulled the broader market down somewhat. Amid a strong Chinese economic recovery and growing demand for commodities, emerging markets also rose over the period, outperforming developed markets.

Global government bond yields moved lower in July, as heightened geopolitical tensions and the ongoing struggle to contain COVID-19 held sway over upside surprises in US company earnings. Yields subsequently rebounded amid the inflationary implications of a move by the Fed to adjust its inflation target and with sales and re-financing data pointing to sustained strength in the US housing market. The global economy appears to be tracking towards a V-shaped recovery, as central banks around the world remain vigilant, reemphasizing that policy would remain ultra-accommodative for some time.

Global listed real estate markets generally rose early in the period but gave back most of those gains in September and ended the quarter little changed. The dominating influence remained the impacts of COVID-19, with investor sentiment initially improving as economies continued to reopen, news of potential vaccines increased, additional economic stimulus programmes were announced, and very low interest rates prevailed. The retail sector continued to underperform over the period.

In New Zealand, economic activity slowed as Auckland re-entered Level 3 lockdown amid a second COVID outbreak. However, the outbreak appeared to be contained by late September with the economy returning to some semblance of normality, excluding the impact of border closures. A resilient housing market and strong demand for our exports from China helped underpin activity. GDP data confirmed the economy to have contracted 12.2% in the June quarter, with forecasts for a 10% rebound in September.

Your 2020 Annual Statement is now available

To view your statement, just log in to your SuperEasy account and click on ‘Online Statements’.

If you’ve forgotten your password, click on ‘Forgot password?’ and enter in your username and email address that is associated with your account. Just follow the instructions in the email you receive to reset your password.

Our 2020 Annual Reports are also available:
SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme 2020 Annual Report
Local Government Superannuation Scheme 2020 Annual Report

New Lower Fees from 1 April 2020

Civic Financial Services Ltd is the Administration Manager of the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (commonly known as the SuperEasy Employer Scheme) and the SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme. Both Schemes are provided on an exclusive basis to local government employees and for the SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme, immediate family members of local government employees as well.

From 1 April 2020 we will be lowering our fees for both Schemes. The new fee structure is set out in detail in the replacement Product Disclosure Statements for each Scheme that will be available from 31 March at www.supereasy.co.nz.

Our fees have three components: a base management fee, a monthly administration fee, and in-fund costs. From 1 April 2020 our base management fee will be reducing from 0.50% per annum to 0.44% per annum.

SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme Fees: the base management fee, which is reducing from 0.50% pa to 0.44% pa, a monthly administration fee of $4.50, being $54.00 per year, and in-fund costs of between 0.03% and 0.06% pa, depending on the fund you are invested in – the average in-fund cost is around 0.05% pa. To help make sense of these numbers we have set out some examples below.

SuperEasy Employer Scheme Fees: the base management fee, which is reducing from 0.50% pa to 0.44% pa, a monthly administration fee of $6.00, being $72.00 per year, and in-fund costs of between 0.03% and 0.06% pa, depending on the fund you are invested in – the average in-fund cost is around 0.05% pa. Note: the monthly administration fee is not payable while you are working for a council. To help make sense of these numbers we have set out some examples below.

Your Continuation Options: Once you are a member of a Scheme you can remain a member for as long as you choose, which could be for the rest of your life. This means that even if you leave the services of Local Government you can still enjoy the same low wholesale charging basis that applies to local government employees. This is important, as essentially the Schemes are long-term savings accounts up until retirement that can then be used as long-term savings management accounts throughout your retirement.

Introducing Easy Phone Balance

Easy Phone Balance: Most members log onto our website to check their account balance. We have just made this easier for you. When you login using your mobile phone, you will now be able to enter a 4-digit pin number that will take you directly to your Member Account Balance. Please follow the easy steps below to set up your pin number. If you wish to access the full website you can still do this as before by logging onto www.supereasy.co.nz.

Setting up your pin number: To access the website on your mobile phone either open your favourite browser on your phone or enter supereasy.co.nz in the address bar at the top. All the usual website features have been optimised for your mobile screen. The first time you login to the website on your mobile phone you will have the option to set a PIN number for future access from your phone. This PIN number will only work on your individual phone. You can also set or change this PIN number by logging in and going to the Update My Details page. The Update My Details set PIN function can also be used to add PIN number access to additional mobile devices or if you change phones.

SuperEasy Website Refresh

You will notice a difference when you login onto our SuperEasy website. We have given the site a complete refresh to introduce a more modern look. The new colours are brighter and fresher with a livelier feel, making it easier to navigate, and importantly, more accessible and user-friendly to those on mobile devices.

Investment Market Commentary

We recognise that this is still an uncertain time for our Scheme members and have asked both our Fund Managers, ANZ New Zealand Investments Limited and AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand) Limited for their latest market commentary. Please see below their comments:

ANZ New Zealand Investments Limited. After a period of extreme volatility in March it has been a relief to see something of a rebound in financial markets through to the end of April. Recent weeks have seen a continuation of government and central bank economic support with governments spending vast sums to support workers and businesses with a view to enhancing economic activity after the debilitating effects of lengthy periods of lock-down. While there is universal acceptance that there will be difficult times ahead, with significant unemployment and lower levels of economic activity markets have, broadly speaking, turned a corner and regained some of the ground lost since March.

For equity markets the low point was around March 23rd and, as at the time of writing, the Dow Jones Industrial Index is up over 30% since then - albeit still more than 15% lower than the highs of mid-February 2020. The New Zealand equity market tells a similar story although not quite so volatile and is currently back to within nearly 10% of the mid-February peaks. It is important to note that both markets are coming off all-time high points.

For fixed interest investments, the depths of March saw bond portfolio declines which were mostly keenly felt in corporate bond portfolios. There were generally low levels of buying activity and consequently there was a widening of spreads between sale and purchase prices for bonds – all indicators of significant market dislocation and with these characteristics being more pronounced for lower quality assets. Like the equity market, sentiment has recently changed and bond markets have rallied with markets functioning in a more orderly fashion and transactional activity and pricing reverting to better levels. That said interest rates are at extremely low levels and are almost certain to remain so for a significant length of time. It is worth noting that the ANZ philosophy of conservative investment in high quality assets has provided a degree of protection for investors. Generally speaking, high quality government bonds have out-performed riskier corporate bonds and conservative cash portfolios have done slightly better than more aggressive peers. We expect these trends to continue.

It is very difficult to predict market movements from here as global economies progressively return to more normal levels of economic activity. Some ongoing volatility should be contemplated as the coming months reveal the true costs and impacts of the Covid19 virus and the responses to it. Certainly the level of the recent rebound, in equity markets in particular, has surprised on the upside and the continuation of such should not be expected.

AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand) Limited: The quarter of March 2020 will likely go down in history as one of the most severe market shocks as the quick spread and global reach of the Coronavirus took course. As countries moved into lockdown and borders around the world were closed, the fear of the unknown impact the virus would have on global economies saw share markets fall dramatically. Daily volatility of market of +/- 4 percent moves become “normal” with one day even seeing the US share market plummet over 10%. Bond markets were not immune through the month of March although they were supported by central banks and government treasuries stepping in to intervene, helping steady the ship via bond purchase programmes, slashing cash rates and creating new forms of monetary liquidity. This led to government bonds producing positive returns for the quarter. However, many corporate bonds succumbed to higher yields (lower prices) as their riskiness was reassessed. Arguably, this was long overdue as investors have not been sufficiently paid for taking on credit risk for several years.

Since the end of March, share markets have rebounded quite powerfully, recovering more than half the fall that was experienced throughout March. However there is still much to play out before we know whether equity markets will continue this recovery, or will potentially test the lows seen in the last week of March. Many business have been severely impacted and unemployment will rise, many countries will likely enter into recession. Prior to the market selloff, equity markets were viewed as fully valued, or even in some cases expensive, but investors have experienced a persistent bull market of returns over the last decade. Since 2009, the weak market phases have proved temporary. However, we stress that the situation is now different as the world is dealing with a public health crisis that may improve and fade, or alternately may relapse and prove harder to eradicate than currently is believed. As the real economic effect of the Covid 19 pandemic plays out over the coming months we are likely to see further volatility in share markets, but this will create opportunities for long term savers to accumulate assets at cheaper price levels than we have seen for some time.

Investment Market Commentary

We recognise that this can be an uncertain time for our Scheme members and have asked for some market commentary from both our Fund Managers, AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand) Limited and ANZ New Zealand Investments Limited.   Please see below their comments:

AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand) Limited:  The current radical uncertainty about the ultimate impact of CoVid-19 is causing dramatic asset re-pricings in investment markets. While the pandemic is a shock originating outside the financial system (unlike the GFC) as it moved from a regional to a global threat it has triggered sharp selling in most growth assets, and safe-haven buying in the defensive assets and currencies. In the process, the virus hit has proved potent enough to bring the longest equity bull market in history (dating from 2009) to a conclusion and a reacceleration of growth now depends on the global response and above all, on the medical and population health developments.

Shocks to growth and asset values like CoVid-19 are within the long-run parameters of what can be expected from so-called “risk assets” like shares, property and some corporate debt. Usually, investors receive compensation for taking the risk of potential sharp market swings at times during their investment time horizon. In recent years, however, the premium investors have received has been pushed down due to the ultra-low interest rate environment and so valuations got very high by the end of 2019. Few anticipated the catalyst for a plunge in valuations to more reasonable levels would be a micro-organism. However, now this has occurred it is not appropriate to crystalize value losses at heavily-discounted security prices.

From the long-run investor’s perspective, being reminded of the returns premium for taking risk that shares and growth-sensitive assets should offer is extremely valuable. Continuing to patiently invest at the current, meaningfully-lower asset prices that the CoVid-19 crisis has allowed will be reflected in future years’ returns. The probable future capital and income gains (total returns) from many asset types have been lifted, and a situation of over-valuation and over-confidence is in the process of being rapidly resolved. This makes a better entry point for making prudently-allocated asset purchases through robust institutions than has been the case in the markets for several years, and those investors with sufficient tolerance for short-term volatility can soon take advantage.

ANZ New Zealand Investments Limited:  As investors will be aware, the market conditions are extremely volatile at the moment and each day we have seen new policy responses for dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic.  With the great deal of uncertainty prevailing at the moment, equity markets have universally fallen quickly and sharply from their all-time highs.  High quality government bonds have provided investors a degree of protection with strong investor demand and expectations for lower term interest rates driving up bond prices for the month to date.

We have seen some strong central bank monetary policy responses to date, with interest rate cuts announced here and globally.  That said, it is universally agreed that monetary policy alone will not be sufficient to support economies through this period of uncertainty.   From here, we expect to see some strong fiscal policies coming from governments aimed at softening the impact from Covid-19.  We have started to see evidence of this already and in general central governments are showing a great deal of willingness to step in when required to support their domestic economies.

With regard to near-term prospects we would expect to see continuing levels of volatility for a period of time as investors continue to assess the impact of Covid-19 on economies and investment portfolios. This volatility continues in an environment rapidly changing information.  We do expect this situation to be temporary in nature, but the exact period of time that Covid-19 will have a material impact on investment markets is extremely difficult to determine at this point.  Ultimately, we would expect to see a successful vaccine and/or the measures used in various countries to date (e.g. China) to reduce spreading and to moderate impacts. These measures, together with the substantial fiscal stimulus being contributed by central governments, should lead to some degree of positivity returning to investment markets – although it is not possible to say when this will happen.

When is our office closed over the Christmas holiday period?

Our office will be closed from the 24^th December and will re-open on Monday 6^th January.

On behalf of the Team at SuperEasy can we wish you and your families a safe and happy time over the Christmas holiday period and look forward to working with you throughout 2020.

Exciting New Change Being Introduced To KiwiSaver For Over 65 Year Olds From 1 July 2019

Who can Join our SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme? Only those people that work for a Local Authority or a Council Controlled Organisation and immediate family members of those people - which includes their parents or de-facto parents.

From 1 July 2019 people who are aged 65 or older will be able to join KiwiSaver.

What we have created with our SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme is an exclusive retirement savings club for our Local Government family which we can enjoy in perpetuity. By that we mean once you are a member you can stay a member for the rest of your life and still enjoy the same low wholesale charging structure that applies to Local Government staff. Membership to this club has now become open to over 65 year olds provided they are working for a local authority or council controlled organisation OR they have an immediate family member who is currently working for one.

What does this mean for our SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme? If you are still currently working for a Local Authority or a Council Controlled Organisation; irrespective of their age, from 1 July 2019 your parents or de-facto parents can now join our SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme. A large majority of our existing members who have belonged to our scheme for more than 5 years and are over the age of 65 are choosing to continue to use the scheme to manage their savings in their retirement. Even though they are over 65 they are using this for their mid to long term savings in retirement; it is not a bank cash account. For those members the scheme has transformed into a tax-paid savings scheme and they are still enjoying the same low wholesale charges that apply to Local Government employees.

The same low wholesale charges that apply to Local Government employees also apply to over 65 year olds should they choose to join up to our SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme.

If you or any family member would like to know more about this new exciting opportunity please contact us.

Your Annual Statement For The Year Ending 31 March 2019 Is Now Available

To view your statement, just log in to your SuperEasy account and click on ‘Online Statements’.

If you’ve forgotten your password, click on ‘Forgot password?’ and enter in your username and email address that is associated with your account. Just follow the instructions in the email you receive to reset your password.

Our 2019 Annual Reports for the year ended March 2019 are also available:

SuperEasy KiwiSaver Superannuation Scheme Annual Report for the Year Ended March 2019

Local Government Superannuation Scheme Annual Report for the Year Ended March 2019

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Are you missing out on a free $521.43?

If you are a KiwiSaver member over 18 years of age and not yet entitled to withdraw your savings (with some exceptions), you are entitled to receive up to $521.43 from the government every year. The government will contribute 50c for every $1 you contribute to KiwiSaver, up to a maximum of $521.43. To ensure you receive the full Government Contribution you need to contribute at least $1,042.86 between 1 July and 30 June. Note, this doesn’t include your employer contributions.

You can top up your contributions by making a lump sum payment direct to the IRD via the ‘IRD Payment’ option through your online banking. You’ll need to include the following details:

• your IRD number
• the tax type ‘KSS’
• the period ‘0’

For more information about the Government Contribution click here.

New forms and Changes to KiwiSaver from 1 April 2019

New Forms

We are updating our application forms – this means joining, changing your details, and withdrawing your funds should be simpler.

Additional Contribution Rates

KiwiSaver members who are making contributions through an employer will now, as of 1 April 2019, have two more choices of contribution rates. The new rates are 6% and 10%. This means you can now choose to contribute 3%, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10% of your gross salary. Your employer will still be required to make a minimum contribution of 3% of your gross salary.

Contributions Holiday

From 1 April 2019 the maximum contributions holiday has been reduced from five years to one year. The name ‘contributions holiday’ has also been changed to ‘savings suspension’.

If you have any questions about this please contact us.