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2026 is poised to be a strong recovery year for New Zealand's economy, with revised GDP forecasts and rising consumer and business confidence signalling a positive outlook. The new year is also a time when many investors re-evaluate their portfolios and consider whether new opportunities are worth investing in. At Catalist, we're thinking about which areas of our economy could have high growth potential in 2026. Here are three sectors that stand out to us right now:

Deep-Tech

New Zealand continues to be a trailblazer for technological innovation, particularly in Deep-Tech, which comprises technology founded on scientific discoveries. Although new figures are yet to be released, before closing its doors Callaghan Innovation reported that as of October 2024, 84 Deep-Tech startups were funded, with over $300 million in follow-on capital raised in the last ten years. Last year, the Government also moved to boost productivity by establishing Invest New Zealand to drive foreign investment into Agri-Tech, Fin-Tech, and Deep-Tech. Although this sector shows high growth potential, hurdles to commercialisation pose a significant risk. Such risks include high capital costs, prolonged development stages, and the actual realisation of technological advancements. However, upon successful market entry, Deep-Tech companies create valuable intellectual property that can generate long-term returns. Our Marketplace offers Wholesale access to this sector through funds such as Bridgewest Ventures and Climate Venture Capital Fund 2, which invest in a diverse range of Deep-Tech companies as well as individual companies often raising direct investment.

Renewable Energy

The macro-trend towards clean energy is continuing full steam ahead, with BloombergNEF reporting a record $2.3 trillion global investment in the energy transition in 2025, up 8% from 2024. Back at home, the Electricity Authority (Te Mana Hiko) noted that solar and wind projects dominated the pipeline of new generation projects, as at 31 August 2025. Potential risks that investors should be aware of include shifts in regulatory policies, high initial capital costs, and challenges with grid connectivity, which could affect returns. Despite these issues, continued innovation and the accelerating demand for clean energy are painting a positive long-term picture. Among the businesses you might consider in this space are SolarHub NZ, a leading Kiwi end-to-end solar provider, and Our Energy, whose software services help improve energy efficiency across Australasia.

Property

Finally, lower interest rates and a stabilising economy forecast a modest recovery for the country's property and construction sector in 2026. In the short-term, industry sentiment remains cautious due to inflation ticking upwards and rising costs of materials. According to BDO, reports of increased profit margins remain relatively low at 31%, although future expectations for profit margin growth are slightly higher at 37%. Looking towards the long-term, MBIE projects construction activity to trend upwards to $65.4 billion in 2030. Catalist offers a variety of investments in this sector. Prime Campus (a student property investment fund) is open to retail investors, while Blossum Wholesale Fund (a property-secured private credit fund) and The New Zealand Housing Fund - Te Piringa (a social housing fund) are open to wholesale investors. These opportunities are worth checking out for investors who believe in the long-term growth of this sector.

Overall, we've highlighted three sectors that are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to future growth potential. There are plenty of other Kiwi investment opportunities that are also poised for good progress in the coming years. Eager investors are welcome to explore the diverse range of offers on our Marketplace page, where you can now filter deals by industry by clicking on “Filter”.

By Alice Hout