The Monday Call

Tim Draper is one of the defining investors of the modern era. Founder of Draper Associates, he was the first outside investor in SpaceX and an early investor in Tesla, Skype, Hotmail, Baidu and Coinbase before they became giants. In 2014, he stunned the world by buying 30,000 Bitcoin seized from the infamous Silk Road marketplace in a US government auction. For decades Tim has invested early in b...

Few understand the space economy and opportunities it presents better than Chris Quilty. As President of Quilty Space, he advises investors, operators and policymakers worldwide and is widely regarded as one of the sector’s most trusted voices, regularly featured by Bloomberg, CNBC and The Wall Street Journal. The space economy is growing rapidly. There are now over 10,000 satellites in orbit, up...

One of Wall Street’s most widely followed tech analysts and a regular voice on CNBC and Bloomberg, Dan Ives is a leading commentator on AI, NVIDIA, Tesla and companies shaping the next decade of markets. As Global Head of Technology Research at Wedbush Securities, he is known for bold, high-conviction calls and deep insights on tech. AI is expanding beyond software into infrastructure, energy, rob...

New Zealand’s energy system is being tested and few are closer to the action than Alexa Preston, Chief Financial Officer of Channel Infrastructure NZ. Leading the finances of a key infrastructure business, Preston offers a front-row view of where energy security and long-term decisions meet the real economy. From its deepwater import terminal at Marsden Point to fuel networks that keep planes flyi...

Jarrod Kerr, Chief Economist at Kiwibank, has stepped into the centre of a widening divide. In a debate now marked by sharply differing views on the path of the Official Cash Rate, Kerr has labelled calls for near-term hikes 'reckless' - cutting through the profession’s usual caution. At issue is more than timing. Some economists are signaling multiple rate increases this year, citing infl...

Tim Ewing-Jarvie, former Strategic Adviser to the Pentagon, offers a rare insight into global security. He served in the NZ Army in a variety of roles, including as Sniper and Reconnaissance Platoon Commander and Delta Company commander, with operational experience in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Greater Middle East. He now leads Horizon Lab, a strategic advisory providing actionable intelligence and...

The recent escalation in the Middle East delivered a sharp geopolitical shock. Coordinated United States-Israel strikes on Iranian military targets, followed by Iran’s missile retaliation, quickly raised tensions. For investors, the key question is not the headlines themselves, but whether the conflict meaningfully alters the outlook for global markets and long term returns. Markets reacted swiftl...

Hear how client portfolios are positioned for events in Iran. Headlines and markets move fast. Stay informed with this special edition of the Monday Call. With missiles striking near his Dubai apartment, Paul De Klerk, veteran NZ Investment Adviser, joins Stephan for on-the-ground insights. James Grigor, Investment Strategist, who served in the region with the NZDF, discusses portfolio positioning...

Last year rewarded steadfast, diversified investors with solid returns. This year, the focus shifts to positioning for what’s next. Expectations are more grounded in reality, new sectors and regions are taking the lead and, in a world hooked on the next big headline, patience has quietly become a secret weapon. Although the news cycle will remain busy, the underlying picture is improving. Growth i...

For our first Monday Call of the year, we report back from the Goldman Sachs Global Macro Conference Asia Pacific, a closed-door, highly anticipated Hong Kong event alongside some of the world’s leading investors. Mark and James join Stephan to offer perspectives from this investor gathering and provide a rare window into the flows of global capital. Those on-the-ground insights highlight why Chin...

Join us as we look back on the key themes that shaped markets in 2025, and the opportunities emerging for investors in 2026. 2025 has been defined by a world moving at different speeds: slowing growth in some regions, pockets of resilience in others, and meaningful divergence across interest rates, inflation, and equity performance. The AI and data-centre investment cycle has continued to accelera...

Interest rates remain one of the most powerful forces shaping investment outcomes, and understanding the four phases of the interest-rate cycle (hiking, peak, cutting and the flat bottom) is key to navigating markets. Each phase affects share market performance and sector leadership in patterns that have repeated across multiple cycles. To help investors make the most of these opportunities, NZ Fu...

The way investors build share portfolios is changing. With markets increasingly driven by a handful of big companies and traditional diversification offering less protection, it’s time to rethink how portfolios are structured. NZ Funds’ latest research explores two areas that can make a real difference. How equal-weighted portfolios compare with capitalisation-weighted portfolios, and how tail-ris...

As the third quarter draws to a close, we look back on the perspectives we shared at mid-year. We were right to remain confident: growth prospects for 2025 have continued to propel markets higher, and our outlook stays positive for the rest of the year. Many of the same drivers remain in play. In New Zealand, interest rates and dairy prices should eventually help pull the economy out of the doldru...

What happens when a leading Silicon Valley investor turns his focus to New Zealand? Rob Coneybeer, Co-Founder of Shasta Ventures, has backed global successes like Nest, Dollar Shave Club, Canva and Anaplan. Now he’s bringing that experience and perspective here, exploring how New Zealand can better attract talent, capital and opportunity. The new Active Investor Plus visa is opening doors for inte...

Diversification doesn’t mean what it used to. In a world where the old 60/40 equity-bond model is breaking down, investors must rethink how they construct portfolios. NZ Funds’ latest research shows how overlays in gold, copper, Bitcoin, and tail-risk hedging can reshape outcomes and boost returns while controlling systemic risk. This week, we'll take a dive inside NZ Funds' recent Portfol...

“Anyone who says they are an AI expert is lying!” In a world of rapid technological change, developments move so fast that it’s difficult for anyone to keep up. How do we navigate the complexities of AI and learn about it? Understanding these forces is essential for investors, businesses, and individuals alike. Craig Fenton is the founder of Fenton Innovation, an agency specialising in AI-driven a...

Inflation might not seem like an everyday threat, but over time, it can significantly impact your financial well-being. As prices rise steadily, the value of your savings and income can diminish, making it more challenging to save, spend, and plan for the future. In this week's Monday Call, we’ll take a deep dive into the Inflation Category. NZ Funds uniquely offers a dedicated category specif...

What happens when the rules of value change? From the rise of blockchain to tokenised assets, a quiet revolution is reshaping everything from money to markets. As systems evolve, questions around trust, ownership and coordination matter more than ever for investors, institutions and governments navigating today’s fast-changing economic landscape. We’re joined on this Monday Call by Distinguished P...

Global forces are driving significant structural changes to the economy, creating challenges and opportunities. While tariffs and geopolitical tensions add uncertainty, we remain confident about growth prospects for 2025. A key reason for this optimism is that the changes are neither purely tariff-related nor purely negative. Three positive changes are easing banking regulation, new Crypto regulat...

New Zealand’s tech sector has produced major success stories, and Rowan Simpson has been behind many of them. As a founding team member of Trade Me and Xero, and an investor in firms like Vend and Timely, Rowan has helped shape a generation of Kiwi innovation. He shares the lessons learned in his new book, How to Be Wrong – A Crash Course in Start Up Success . Rowan was Trade Me’s third employee a...

Economic and political tides are shifting. Australia’s new government is tackling low growth and rising fiscal pressure head-on, as New Zealand tries to ignite a sluggish economy. Meanwhile, trade tensions keep challenging global stability but also open new doors for business. This week we’re joined by Professor Richard Holden, Chief Economist at CA ANZ and one of Australasia’s strongest economic...

The last three months have been packed with headlines and market moves: shares dropped sharply before bouncing back, Bitcoin hit new highs, and government fiscal positions – including New Zealand’s Budget – came into focus. While volatility may remain elevated, we continue to have confidence in the long-term outlook. What sparked the sharp market swings and the strong rebound? How did NZ Funds adj...

Is property ownership still the Kiwi dream - or has it lost its sparkle? With interest rates falling, rents rising and prices stagnating, the housing market is full of unknowns. Add a surge in listings, and it’s no wonder Kiwis are wondering if the game has changed for good. On this Monday Call, we’re joined by Kelvin Davidson, Chief Property Economist at CoreLogic, to explore the latest data and...

Since the 2024 United States election, cryptocurrency has gained legitimacy as an asset class in the eyes of regulators. This shift has facilitated increased institutional adoption, trading, and advancements in technology surrounding digital currencies and payments that affect everyday transactions. This week, we are joined by Christopher Rhine, Galaxy Asset Management's liquid active crypto p...