It highlights the critical role finance plays in enabling solutions to scale, supporting new approaches and shaping the direction of the economy.
2026 Finalists - Future Finance Award
The following organisations are finalists in the 2026 Sustainable Business Awards. Alongside finalists in the other categories, they form this year's Next list – an annual list of who and what can make Aotearoa New Zealand a global beacon of sustainable business. Winners will be announced at the Awards night on 26 November 2026.
Who it's for:
Philanthropists, impact investors and financial institutions.
What the judges look for:
willingness to deploy early or catalytic capital for positive impact
leverage achieved (did this investment act as a catalyst that brought others along or did it just fund something directly on its own?)
support beyond capital, including networks and expertise
portfolio diversity and systems change focus
long-term value creation through nature-based solutions or regenerative enterprises