Punakaiki founder sees most of govt's $300m VC funds going to foreigners

Punakaiki founder sees most of govt's $300m VC funds going to foreigners
Jenny Ruth
The founder of one of New Zealand's most successful venture capital firms believes his firm won't qualify for funding from the government's $300 million Venture Capital Fund and that most of the money is likely to go to overseas firms. Lance Wiggs, who manages the $50 million Punakaiki Fund, has serious form in the venture capital space and is arguing that the government may be better to do nothing, as the new fund may just get in the way of true New Zealand operators. "Most of the money is going to end up going to Australian-owned funds...

More Finance

Kiwibank looks to grow as FY profit tightens
Finance

Kiwibank looks to grow as FY profit tightens

Kiwibank has flagged the NZ economy to improve in 2026.

Like it or not, cryptocurrency is going mainstream in NZ
Finance

Like it or not, cryptocurrency is going mainstream in NZ

Koura Wealth’s bitcoin KiwiSaver fund is Morningstar’s runaway 12-month performer.

Tower's new risk ratings to affect premiums
Finance

Tower's new risk ratings to affect premiums

Sea surge and landslide risk can now be calculated house by house.

Pattrick Smellie 20 Aug 2025
Investor visas a gold mine for private credit
Finance

Investor visas a gold mine for private credit

More than $55m committed for residency destined for credit funds which lend to NZ firms.