The government is overhauling its so called 'golden visa' scheme to lure wealthy investors to New Zealand. The Active Investor Plus visa gives wealthy foreigners residency if they directly invest in local companies, rather than in shares or bonds. From 1 April, the Active Investor Plus visa will be replaced with two, simplified investment categories. The first, 'The Growth' category, will focus on higher-risk investments, including direct investments in New Zealand businesses. It will require a minimum investment of $5 million for a minimum period of three years. The second, 'The Balanced' category, will focus on mixed investments, with the ability to choose ones that are lower risk. There will be a minimum investment of $10 million over five years. Other changes include removing potential barriers to investment, like the English language requirement. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said: “It's the same model that worked so successfully in places like Ireland and Singapore. And these changes are all about making our own visitor visa simpler and much more flexible to attract a broader range of investors. They [overseas investors] don't just bring their capital, they build their networks. They bring the expertise and the new technologies which matched with our great people.”
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