BUSINESS CONCEPT #304 - TAI TOKERAU MUTUAL KIWISAVER FUND
Objective:
Generate a concise, high-impact "Lean Business Plan" (1–2 pages) that validates a business concept and provides a clear operational roadmap.
Executive Summary:
Tai Tokerau Mutual is a regional, community-owned investment fund that repatriates Northland’s KiwiSaver wealth to finance high-yield, negentropic local projects. We serve the people of Te Tai Tokerau by transforming passive retirement savings into active "Impact Capital" for housing, energy, and food sovereignty.
The Problem & Solution:
The Problem: Northland’s estimated $3.8 billion KiwiSaver pool is currently subject to "Capital Flight," managed by offshore fund managers who invest in global equities with no local benefit, while our region suffers from a lack of affordable housing and infrastructure.
The Solution: A regional "Community-Saver" model that allocates 40% of its portfolio to direct Northland impact assets—such as solar farms, build-to-rent social housing on Māori land, and high-value horticulture—plugging the "Leaky Bucket" and keeping wealth circulating within the region.
Target Market:
Demographics: The 112,000+ active KiwiSaver members in Northland, specifically those aged 25–55 who are culturally or emotionally connected to the region's prosperity.
Psychographics: Value-driven investors, Iwi members, and local professionals who are disillusioned with "Main Street" banking and want their money to build their own "Economic Pā."
Where they hang out: Local Marae networks, regional business hubs (Northland Inc), LinkedIn, and community Facebook groups focused on regional development.
Unique Value Proposition (UVP):
Tai Tokerau Mutual is the only fund that offers "Entangled Investment"—where your retirement savings directly create the jobs and housing your own whānau will use. Unlike standard ESG funds, we use the Mauri Model to ensure every dollar builds regional life force, not just balance sheets.
Revenue Model:
Income: A competitive management fee (0.5%–0.8% p.a.) on the total Assets Under Management (AUM), plus performance fees from high-yield direct infrastructure investments.
Cost Drivers: Regulatory compliance (Deposit Takers Act), fund administration partnerships, and specialist project due diligence.
Marketing & Channels:
Iwi & Marae Roadshows: Direct engagement with PSGEs and Land Trusts to secure "anchor" capital and community trust.
Digital "Repatriation" Campaign: A targeted content series titled "Babylon to Zion," educating locals on how to switch funds via a simple mobile interface.
Strategic Partnerships: White-labeling the backend with an established provider (like Simplicity) to provide immediate scale and trust.
30-60-90 Day Milestones:
30 Days: Formalise the Establishment Board and finalise the partnership with a licensed KiwiSaver provider for the "Northland Impact" portfolio sleeve.
60 Days: Launch the "Capital Audit" report to the public, quantifying the exact retail leakage of local savings to trigger community demand.
90 Days: Open the "Expression of Interest" portal for the first $150m "Seed Pool" and announce the first pilot project site on Māori freehold land.
Mauri Model Assessment:
Te Pūtea (Economic): +2 (Mauri Ora) – Reverses capital flight by retaining interest and dividends within the region, significantly increasing the local money multiplier.
Te Taiao (Environmental): +2 (Mauri Ora) – Directs investment into regenerative assets like agrivoltaics and biomass energy, reducing the carbon footprint of regional industry.
Te Tangata (Social): +2 (Mauri Ora) – Provides the capital needed to solve the housing crisis on collective titles, restoring the mana and stability of local whānau.
Te Ahurea (Cultural): +2 (Mauri Ora) – Operates under Tikanga-led governance, ensuring data sovereignty and the protection of wāhi tapu through entangled investment decisions.
