Fund-vs-fund · International Equities
Harbour Epoch Global Quality Select Equity Fund vs Vanguard International Shares Select Exclusions Index Fund
Both are International 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.
Why these two differ
Both funds sit within the International Equities category, but their investment philosophies represent the most material structural difference available from their names and manager disclosures alone. The Vanguard International Shares Select Exclusions Index Fund is an index-tracking vehicle, designed to replicate broad international share market returns while applying defined exclusion screens — a passive approach where portfolio construction follows an index ruleset rather than active stock selection. The Harbour Epoch Global Quality Select Equity Fund, by contrast, carries the hallmarks of active management: "Quality Select" signals a discretionary, conviction-based process targeting companies meeting specific quality criteria, managed in partnership with US-based sub-adviser Epoch Investment Partners.
Beyond this structural distinction, our current data snapshot is unable to support a meaningful quantitative comparison. Annual fund charges, risk indicator ratings, five-year return figures, fund size in NZD, growth-asset allocations, and top holdings are all absent from the sourced Quarterly Fund Update data for both funds. None of these figures can be responsibly inferred or fabricated from the information provided. Fund B's latest QFU and Fund A's latest QFU are both silent on all disclosed metrics in this snapshot.
Investors evaluating either fund — whether for a general investment account or a KiwiSaver scheme account — should verify current fees, risk indicators, returns, and portfolio composition directly against each fund's Product Disclosure Statement and latest Quarterly Fund Update on the FMA Disclose register before relying on any of this information.
Comparison generated 2026-07-05 from each fund's FMA Disclose QFU facts as at that date. If the underlying facts change, this narrative is withheld until it is regenerated — the tables on this page always reflect the current data.
What's different at a glance
- Harbour Epoch Global Quality Select Equity Fund is a NZ PIE (PIR-capped tax). Vanguard International Shares Select Exclusions Index Fund is structured as an Australian Unit Trust — NZ investors pay tax under FIF rules and need to file an annual return.
Where each fund sits in its cohort
Percentile rank vs all 81 international equities funds we've matched on Sorted Smart Investor. Mechanical only — no opinion, no forward-looking view.
Annual fund charge
Lower is better
Harbour
—
—
Vanguard
—
—
5-year return p.a.
Past performance — not a predictor
Harbour
—
—
Vanguard
—
—
Fund size
Larger = more stable, lower close-risk
Harbour
—
—
Vanguard
—
—
| Metric | Harbour | Vanguard | Lower / higher is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fund charge | — | — | Lower is better |
| Risk indicator (1–7) | — | — | Higher = more volatility |
| 5-year return p.a. | — | — | Higher is better (past not future) |
| Fund size | — | — | Larger = more stable, lower close-risk |
| Growth / income split | — | — | More growth = higher long-run return + volatility |
| NZ tax structure | PIE (PIR-capped) | AU Unit Trust (FIF rules) | PIE = simpler. FIF = annual return. |
| Currency hedging | Unhedged | — | Hedged smooths NZD/foreign FX moves at a small cost. |
| Responsible investment screening | No | No | Specific exclusions live in each fund's SIPO. |
| Available via | Direct | Direct | Platforms accepting retail subscriptions. |
Common questions
What's the difference between the Harbour Epoch Global Quality Select Equity Fund and the Vanguard International Shares Select Exclusions Index Fund?
Are both funds PIE-taxed in NZ?
Where can I read the official documents for these funds?
