The European Union (EU) and New Zealand maintain a close partnership based on shared values and commitments to open markets, sustainability, and innovation. In 2023, the stock of direct investment from the EU amounted to approximately €10 billion, with the majority flowing into the services sector, followed by the manufacturing sector. During the same period, German direct investment totaled around €1.5 billion across 104 companies employing about 7,000 people and generating €2.9 billion in turnover.[1]
With the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and New Zealand in 2024, new opportunities are emerging to deepen investment and trade flows by removing barriers and easing investment conditions. To highlight the growing investment opportunities for European investors, the European Commission commissioned a study providing a comprehensive overview of New Zealand’s investment framework and identifying concrete opportunities in key industrial sectors.
In particular, with regard to the country’s regulatory framework, the New Zealand Government has launched significant reforms. It recently updated its investor visa categories, replacing them with the new Active Investor Plus Visa. With clear investment pathways, eased residency requirements, and a broader spectrum of eligible asset classes, it has become easier for foreign investors to establish themselves in New Zealand. At the same time, the Overseas Investment Act, the central law governing foreign investment, is currently undergoing a comprehensive reform. The goal is to streamline the screening process and make it more risk-based, so that non-sensitive investments can be approved more quickly, while sensitive cases remain subject to strict scrutiny. For investors from the EU, the Free Trade Agreement offers additional advantages, as the investment screening threshold has been raised to NZD 200 million. Particularly attractive investment opportunities can be found in key sectors such as aquaculture, food production, cleantech, renewable energy, technology, and transport. These sectors are characterized by sustainability, innovation, and the expansion of modern infrastructure, opening up diverse possibilities for companies to position themselves in a dynamic growth market.
Further and more detailed information on investment opportunities and frameworks in New Zealand can be found in the EU–NZ Investment Study:
[1] Deutsche Bundesbank, “Direktinvestitionsstatistiken,” 2025, https://www.bundesbank.de/de/statistiken/aussenwirtschaft/direktinvestitionen/direktinvestitionsstatistiken-804078.
@European Commission