Kernel Kiwisaver Plan
Kernel Nz Bond Fund
The Smiths take
Kernel Nz Bond Fund Smiths Rating B
Smiths' editorial rating, our internal opinion based on 10-year returns and risk band fit. Not a formal credit rating or regulated star rating.
Smiths reviews this fund against every other defensive option in NZ on net-of-fees returns and band fit. The full Sorted snapshot is below.
General information only · Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance · For personal advice please contact us.
At a glance
This fund is for investors seeking
Three quick reads for whether the Kernel Nz Bond Fund fits your situation.
A 1+ year timeframe
This is a defensive KiwiSaver fund. The provider's recommended minimum holding period sits in the 1+ year range.
A moderate-risk investment
Sorted's risk indicator places this at 3 on a 1–7 scale. Smaller swings, lower long-term returns.
Mostly income assets
0% growth assets (shares, property) and 100% income assets (bonds, cash). Spread across multiple asset classes.
Snapshot
The headline numbers
Mix
0.00% / 100.00%
Growth / Income · avg 0.36% / 99.64%
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Data as at Q1 2026 (31 Mar 2026).
What the provider says
In their own words
“The Kernel NZ Bond Fund aims to equal or exceed the return (before fees and taxes) of the Bloomberg NZ Bond Composite 0+ Yr Index by investing mostly in New Zealand fixed interest-bearing assets.”
- Fund start date
- 29 July 2024
- Withdrawal rules
- This is a KiwiSaver fund. generally you can withdraw only to purchase a first home, after the age of 65, or in cases of significant financial hardship.
Asset mix
What this fund actually holds
Growth assets are 0.00% of the fund, income assets the rest. The mix is the latest snapshot from Sorted, with the average for this risk band's KiwiSaver funds shown alongside.
- Sharesthis fundavg
0.00%
avg 0.23%
- Propertythis fundavg
0.00%
avg 0.14%
- Otherthis fundavg
0.00%
avg 0.00%
- Bondsthis fundavg
92.34%
avg 50.54%
- Cashthis fundavg
7.66%
avg 49.09%
What it owns
Top 10 holdings. 59.13% of the fund
The rest is spread across hundreds of other positions. Full holdings live in the provider's portfolio file.
Nzgs 4.25% 15/05/2034
Bonds
New Zealand Fixed InterestNZ16.26%Nzgs 5.00% 15/05/2054
Bonds
New Zealand Fixed InterestNZ7.79%Nzgs 4.25% 15/05/2036
Bonds
New Zealand Fixed InterestNZ7.00%Nz Lgfa 4.50% 14/05/2032
Bonds
New Zealand Fixed InterestNZ5.56%Nzgs 1.50% 15/05/2031
Bonds
New Zealand Fixed InterestNZ5.33%Nzgs 3.00% 20/09/2030
Bonds
New Zealand Fixed InterestNZ3.96%Dunedin City Treasury 5.55% 15/11/2028
Bonds
New Zealand Fixed InterestNZ3.84%Watercare Services Ltd 3.847% 30 Sep 2030
Bonds
New Zealand Fixed InterestNZ3.62%Wellington Intl Airport 3.32% 24/09/2031
Bonds
New Zealand Fixed InterestNZ3.59%Kiwi Property Group 2.85% 19/07/2028
Bonds
New Zealand Fixed InterestNZ2.18%
Risk indicator
Sorted risk rating: 3 of 7
The Sorted risk indicator is calculated from the last 5 years of price volatility. Higher = more ups and downs but typically higher long-term returns.
Fund details
The unsexy stats that matter
- Total fund value
- $496,073
- Members
- 49
- Asset liquidity ratio
- 100.00%
- Debt ratio
- 0.05%
- Default KiwiSaver fund
- No
- Fund reference
- FND49790
Manager
Kernel Kiwisaver Plan
Licensed with the Financial Markets Authority.
- NZBN
- 9429047045989
- FSP number
- FSP644609
Smiths Health Check
See whether the Kernel Nz Bond Fund fits your situation.
Take the 90-second Health Check. We'll grade your current setup and give you a personalised recommendation from our advised panel, benchmarked against every fund in the directory, not just kernel.
Our directory covers every NZ KiwiSaver fund. Our advice panel is five schemes (ANZ, Booster, Fisher Funds, Generate, Milford); recommendations land on four funds across Milford and Booster — how we're paid →