Fund-vs-fund · Australasian Equities
BetaShares Australia 200 Fund vs Kernel NZ 50 ESG Tilted Fund
Both are Australasian Equities funds available to NZ retail investors. Numbers below are sourced from the FMA Disclose register via Sorted Smart Investor and reflect the latest published quarterly fund updates.
What's different at a glance
- Annual fund charges are within 0.05% of each other (0.23% vs 0.25%).
- Both are New Zealand PIE funds — investor tax is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
- Kernel NZ 50 ESG Tilted Fund applies responsible-investment / ESG screening. The other fund does not.
- BetaShares Australia 200 Fund is roughly 36.8× the size of the other fund.
Where each fund sits in its cohort
Percentile rank vs all 58 australasian equities funds we've matched on Sorted Smart Investor. Mechanical only — no opinion, no forward-looking view.
Annual fund charge
Lower is better
BetaShares
0.23%
Lowest 6% of cohort
Kernel
0.25%
Lowest 10% of cohort
5-year return p.a.
Past performance — not a predictor
BetaShares
—
—
Kernel
—
—
Fund size
Larger = more stable, lower close-risk
BetaShares
NZ$54m
Lower half by size
Kernel
NZ$1m
Smallest 3% in cohort
| Metric | BetaShares | Kernel | Lower / higher is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fund charge | 0.23% | 0.25% | Lower is better |
| Risk indicator (1–7) | 5 | 5 | Higher = more volatility |
| 5-year return p.a. | — | — | Higher is better (past not future) |
| Fund size | NZ$54m | NZ$1m | Larger = more stable, lower close-risk |
| Growth / income split | 98% / 2% | 98% / 2% | More growth = higher long-run return + volatility |
| NZ tax structure | PIE (PIR-capped) | PIE (PIR-capped) | PIE = simpler. FIF = annual return. |
| Currency hedging | — | — | Hedged smooths NZD/foreign FX moves at a small cost. |
| Responsible investment screening | No | Yes | Specific exclusions live in each fund's SIPO. |
| Available via | Direct | Direct | Platforms accepting retail subscriptions. |
Portfolio overlap
How many top-10 positions both funds hold, and at what weight. Computed from each fund's most recently disclosed top-10 holdings — exact-name matched (Microsoft Corp. = Microsoft Corporation), with a Cash / Cash & Equivalents collapse rule.
0 overlapping top-10 holdings. The two funds disclose disjoint top-10 sets — useful diversification signal if you held both.
What each fund says it does
BetaShares
BetaShares Australia 200 Fund
The fund aims to provide an investment return that tracks the performance of the Solactive Australia 200 Index, before taking into account fees and expenses.Full BetaShares BetaShares Australia 200 Fund profile →
Kernel
Kernel NZ 50 ESG Tilted Fund
The Kernel NZ 50 ESG Tilted tracks the S&P/NZX 50 Portfolio ESG Tilted Index. Using the internationally acclaimed Corporate Sustainability Assessment from S&P Dow Jones, each company included in the S&P/NZX 50 Portfolio Index is given an ESG score and re-weighted accordinglyFull Kernel Kernel NZ 50 ESG Tilted Fund profile →
Common questions
What's the difference between the BetaShares Australia 200 Fund and the Kernel NZ 50 ESG Tilted Fund?
Both are australasian equities funds available to NZ retail investors. Annual fund charges are within 0.05% of each other (0.23% vs 0.25%).
Which fund has lower fees, BetaShares Australia 200 Fund or Kernel NZ 50 ESG Tilted Fund?
BetaShares Australia 200 Fund has the lower annual fund charge (0.23% p.a. vs 0.25% p.a.). Source: each fund's most recent Quarterly Fund Update on the FMA Disclose register.
Are both funds PIE-taxed in NZ?
Yes. Both are NZ Portfolio Investment Entities (PIEs). Investor tax on the fund's income is capped at the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), maximum 28%.
Does either fund apply responsible-investment screening?
Yes — Kernel NZ 50 ESG Tilted Fund applies responsible-investment / ESG screening. BetaShares Australia 200 Fund does not. Specific exclusions and engagement policies are documented in each fund's Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives (SIPO).
Where can I read the official documents for these funds?
Both funds publish their Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Statement of Investment Policy (SIPO) and Quarterly Fund Update (QFU) on the FMA Disclose register at disclose-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz. Always read the current PDS before investing.
Not sure which fund is right for you?
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Important: This comparison is general information only — not personalised financial advice.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. The right fund for you depends on your personal
circumstances. Read each fund's Product Disclosure Statement and consider speaking to a licensed financial adviser.