Kiwibank Limited is a New Zealand state-owned bank and financial services provider. As of 2023, they are the fifth-largest bank in New Zealand by assets, and the largest New Zealand-owned bank, with a market share of approximately 9%.
Kiwibank was established in 2001 by the Labour Government. It was set up as a subsidiary of New Zealand Post, with branches originally co-located within PostShops (post offices). Kiwibank is similar in many respects to an earlier post office-based bank, PostBank, owned by the New Zealand Government.
The parent company is Kiwi Group Capital Limited (KGC for short), a government-owned group that includes Kiwibank and New Zealand Home Loans.
Woke Rating
We rate Kiwibank as extremely woke, especially on LGBTQI+ issues, DEI, and cultural virtue signalling.
Woke Summary
- Virtue Signalling – lots of virtue signalling found.
- Gender Ideology & LGBTQ – Kiwibank is Rainbow Tick Certified, and heavily involved in many LGBTQI+ events and initiatives.
- Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) – has DEI policies. Applies gender recruitment targets. Committed to 40:40:20 gender split.
- Climate Change – Supports the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030, and has emissions reduction targets.
Woke Policies
Virtue Signalling
Kiwibank’s virtue signalling includes:
“Ngā Kauwaka is our culture. Our four kauwaka are the vessels that carry knowledge and mindsets that prepare and inspire our people enabling us to deliver to our purpose of making Kiwi Better Off.”
“Our purpose is built around three big goals; Tamariki are better off, Kiwi are better off and Aotearoa is better off. This drives everything we do to ensure we’re making a real difference as a business. This is Kiwibank. We’re passionate about creating a sustainable future for our customers, communities and the beautiful environment that we have in New Zealand. We do this across four key pillars – climate change, financial wellbeing, being inclusive and running our business responsibly.”
“We’re a neurodiverse-inclusive organisation. We recognise and know it’s important that our organisation has a diverse range of people and one size doesn’t fit all. For many, neurodiversity has been the difference that has enabled them to do extraordinary things.”
“Te Kahukura Kāpuia – The Multicoloured Collective
We pride ourselves on our inclusive culture, one where everyone belongs, and is able to thrive. We’ve created Te Kahukura Kāpuia as a symbol of the pride we have in our Rainbow Community.”
“Kahukura references ‘multicoloured’ and Kāpuia references ‘to gather or unite as one’. Kahukura Kāpuia uses the harakeke flax of our brand to weave the eleven colours of Pride with our own Kiwibank green to symbolise our strength and connectedness, our united view of inclusiveness, and our pride in our people.”
“Improved our end-of-life process for our Kiwibank Wardrobe by working with UPPAREL – leaders in textile recovery and recycling. They donate what they can and repurpose the rest.”
“I was excited to hear we were transitioning to EVs as I think we all have to do our part to ensure we have a planet to pass on to our tamariki and mokopuna (grandchildren).”
Source: Kiwibank website
Gender Ideology & LGBTQ+
Kiwibank is Rainbow Tick Certified, and heavily involved in LGBTQI+ events and initiatives, including Pride Parade.
Rainbow Tick
Kiwibank was New Zealand’s first bank to receive the Gender Tick accreditation.
“Unequivocal support of LGBTTQIA+ communities from senior leaders at Kiwibank and an active Rainbow employee network were highlighted as areas of strength when the New Zealand owned bank was first certified with the Rainbow Tick in 2020. We’re committed to creating a safe and welcoming workplace for members of the LGBTTQIA+ communities and ensuring the mana of LGBTTQIA+ people is upheld. Rainbow Tick’s mission is to challenge heteronormativity and cisnormativity in the context of workplaces…”
Source: www.kiwibank.co.nz/about-us/who-we-are/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/
Rainbow Pride Logos, Symbols, and Cards
Kiwibank has a Rainbow version of its logo , its own Rainbow symbol Te Kahukura Kāpuia, and has even created Rainbow Visa Cards.
“The new Rainbow design [Visa card] features Te Kahukura Kāpuia, as a symbol of the pride we have in our Rainbow Community.”
“We wanted a symbol of pride that sat alongside our Kiwibank logo and would be seen year-round, not just in PRIDE month.”
**Controversial Trans-Activist Shaneel Lal was awarded Young New Zealander of the Year at the 2023 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Kiwibank has DEI policies and applies gender recruitment targets. Committed to 40:40:20 gender split (40 percent, 40 percent male, and 20 percent non-binary).
“We’re committed to becoming an organisation that proudly represents the diversity of all our communities in Aotearoa.”
“Introduced Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Recruitment Guidelines and worked with each business unit to develop a plan designed to address their specific diversity needs.”
“Kiwibank was New Zealand’s first bank to receive the Gender Tick accreditation in 2019 and believe that fairness is an important attribute for all organisations. In 2022 we were awarded Gender Tick’s Advanced Accreditation. The accreditation signals our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion.”
“Made our career bands and associated salary ranges transparent for all kaimahi (our people)”
Source: Kiwibank website and Kiwibank 2023 Sustainability Report
Committed to 40:40:20 gender split
“We have made a commitment and our Board is fully behind our goal to have a workforce and board made up of 40 percent female and 40 percent male. The final 20 percent includes those who don’t identify as binary in terms of gender and also allows flexibility, meaning it doesn’t limit us to 50 percent female either.”
Source: https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/about-us/news-and-updates/media-releases/2019-06-11-kiwibank-gender-tick/
**************************************************
Climate Change
Supports the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030, and has emissions reduction targets.
“By 2025, we’ll build a sustainable business by reducing our carbon emissions by 40%, be carbon neutral and support kiritaki (customers) to transition to a low-carbon future.”
“By 2030, we will deliver $2b in sustainable finance to improve the resilience of Aotearoa.”
“We’ve committed to converting 100% of our fleet to electric vehicles.”
“As a B Corp, we consider the impact that our business will have for our people, our kiritaki, our hapori and our te taiāo.”
(note – Certified B Corporations are leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.)
“Partnered with sustainability fintech Cogo to enable kiritaki with Xero accounting software to measure and understand their business’ carbon footprint through the Cogo Business Carbon Manager app.”
“Started collaborating with our clients to help them develop a toitū (sustainability) strategy.”
“Converted 15% of our fleet to electric vehicles in FY23. Now 22% of our vehicles are electric.”
Source: Kiwibank website and Kiwibank 2023 Sustainability Report
https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/about-us/who-we-are/our-purpose/sustainability/sustainability-report-2023/
Positive Policies & Activities
Financial Education for Children and Teens – “We’ve been working with Banqer, a financial education platform, since 2016 to enable classrooms to access Banqer Primary free to primary and intermediate students, and Banqer High discounted for high school students. 57, 142 students used Banqer in 2023.”
Helping low income Kiwis reduce high interest debt – Partnered with Ngā Tāngata Microfinance Trust to provide fee-free and interest-free microfinance loans for low income Kiwis struggling with debt.
Source: https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/about-us/community-partnerships/
Generous parental leave which includes:
Topping up Government paid parental leave to full salary for 26 weeks
A lump sum KiwiSaver payment equating to $50 per week of unpaid leave
A $1,000 ‘baby bonus’ for parents
Source: https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/about-us/careers/benefits/
Note – This page was updated as of 20th May 2024. Please contact us if you’ve discovered other relevant information about Kiwibank or other businesses pushing woke agendas. You should also contact us if you discover some positively woke-free businesses.