Best Portfolio Tracker for New Zealand Investors

One dashboard for your KiwiSaver, NZX holdings, and international investments — built for Kiwi investors navigating FIF rules and currency volatility.

Why tracking investments in New Zealand is different

New Zealand has a growing culture of retail investing, driven by accessible platforms like Sharesies, Hatch, and InvestNow alongside the universal KiwiSaver retirement scheme. But New Zealand investors face a tax regime that is genuinely unusual by global standards. The Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) rules mean that most foreign shares and ETFs held by NZ tax residents are taxed on a deemed return basis — not on actual gains when you sell. Under the Fair Dividend Rate (FDR) method, IRD assumes a 5% annual return on your foreign holdings and taxes that amount as income, regardless of whether the investment actually gained or lost value. This creates a fundamentally different relationship between portfolio performance and tax liability than investors in most other countries experience.

The New Zealand dollar adds another layer of complexity. NZD is a small, commodity-linked currency that regularly swings 10% or more against the USD in a single year. For Kiwi investors with significant US or Australian holdings — which describes most people with global ETF exposure — these currency movements can dwarf the underlying asset performance. A flat year for the S&P 500 in USD terms can translate to a meaningful gain or loss in NZD purely based on where the exchange rate moves. Yet most NZ investment platforms show holdings in a single currency, hiding this impact entirely.

FlashFi is a multi-currency portfolio tracker that brings KiwiSaver, NZX shares, Australian holdings, and global investments into a single NZD-native dashboard with real-time foreign exchange rates. It works with every NZ and international brokerage through manual entry — no bank linking, no credential sharing. Whether you are based in Auckland, have moved to Sydney, or are working remotely from anywhere in the world, FlashFi gives you one clear view of everything you own.

Key challenges for New Zealand investors

FIF rules tax foreign investments on a deemed return basis

New Zealand's Foreign Investment Fund regime applies to most NZ tax residents holding more than 50,000 NZD in foreign shares. Under the default Fair Dividend Rate method, IRD calculates a 5% deemed return on the market value of your foreign holdings at the start of the tax year and taxes that as income — even if the investment actually fell in value. This means you need to track the opening market value of every foreign holding each year, not just your cost base and current value. Most portfolio trackers designed for other markets have no concept of FDR calculations.

NZD volatility against USD and AUD

The New Zealand dollar is one of the more volatile developed-market currencies, regularly fluctuating between 55 and 70 US cents over multi-year periods. For Kiwi investors holding US-listed ETFs, Australian shares, or global funds, exchange rate movements directly affect the NZD value of their portfolio. A strong year for the NZD means international holdings are worth less in local terms, even if the underlying assets performed well. Without multi-currency tracking, this impact is invisible.

KiwiSaver sits outside your investment dashboard

KiwiSaver is the retirement savings vehicle for most working New Zealanders, with employer contributions and government incentives making it a core part of long-term wealth. Yet KiwiSaver balances live in their own provider portal — whether that is Simplicity, Kernel, Fisher Funds, or any other manager — completely disconnected from your Sharesies, Hatch, or InvestNow accounts. Getting a true net worth figure means manually combining KiwiSaver with everything else, and most portfolio tools do not accommodate this.

Trans-Tasman investing creates cross-border complexity

New Zealand and Australia share deep economic ties, and many Kiwis invest in ASX-listed shares or live and work across the Tasman. This creates a need to track holdings in both NZD and AUD simultaneously, with different tax rules applying in each jurisdiction. NZ investors holding Australian shares also need to understand the impact of imputation credits under the double tax agreement. For Kiwis who have moved to Australia, legacy NZ investments and KiwiSaver balances add further tracking complexity.

How FlashFi helps New Zealand investors

NZD-Native Dashboard

See your entire portfolio converted to New Zealand dollars in real time, or switch to AUD, USD, GBP, or any of 30+ supported currencies. FlashFi pulls live FX rates for NZD/USD, NZD/AUD, and more so you always see the true Kiwi-dollar value of your global holdings.

Track KiwiSaver Alongside Investments

Add your KiwiSaver balance as a portfolio in FlashFi and see it included in your total net worth alongside your Sharesies, Hatch, InvestNow, and international brokerage accounts. One number, fully up to date, covering everything you own.

No Account Linking Required

FlashFi uses manual portfolio tracking so it works with every NZ and international platform without sharing credentials. Sharesies, Hatch, Stake, InvestNow, Kernel, ASB Securities, or Interactive Brokers — just enter your holdings and FlashFi pulls the latest prices automatically.

Currency Impact Tracking

See exactly how NZD/USD and NZD/AUD movements affect the value of your international and Australian holdings. FlashFi separates asset performance from currency impact so you know whether your portfolio moved because the market went up or because the Kiwi dollar went down.

Frequently asked questions

Can I track my KiwiSaver in FlashFi?

Yes. You can add your KiwiSaver balance as a portfolio in FlashFi just like any other investment account. It works with any KiwiSaver provider — Simplicity, Kernel, Fisher Funds, ANZ, ASB, or any other fund manager. Your KiwiSaver balance is included in your total net worth calculation alongside all your other holdings.

Does FlashFi show my portfolio in NZD?

Yes. You can set NZD as your base currency and see every holding across every account converted to New Zealand dollars using real-time exchange rates. If you want to temporarily view your portfolio in AUD, USD, or another currency, you can switch at any time without losing any data.

How does FlashFi help with FIF calculations?

FlashFi tracks the current market value of all your foreign holdings in one place, which is the starting point for any FIF calculation. While FlashFi does not compute your FIF tax liability directly, having accurate valuations of every foreign position in a single dashboard makes it far easier to work with your accountant or complete your IR3 return than reconciling across multiple brokerage platforms.

Does FlashFi work with Sharesies and Hatch?

FlashFi works with every brokerage because it uses manual portfolio entry rather than account linking. You enter your Sharesies, Hatch, Stake, InvestNow, or any other holdings directly, and FlashFi pulls the latest prices and FX rates automatically. No API keys or credentials required.

I'm a Kiwi living in Australia — can I use FlashFi?

Absolutely. FlashFi is built for expats and people who invest across borders. You can track your KiwiSaver, NZX shares, and any NZ investments alongside your Australian holdings in a single dashboard. Set your display currency to NZD, AUD, or switch between them whenever you like.

By David Brougham