Overview

• Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said investor‑residence visa holders will be allowed to buy or build one property priced at NZ$5 million or more even if they do not spend six months a year in the country.
• The move creates a narrow exemption to the 2018 foreign‑buyer ban by restricting purchases to a single high‑value home.
• Officials positioned the change as a way to deepen high‑net‑worth ties to New Zealand and channel more capital into the economy.
• The policy builds on April visa changes that cut the higher‑risk investment threshold to NZ$5 million and removed the English language requirement.
• The exemption will take effect once required government decisions and Overseas Investment Act changes are completed, with the government indicating this could be by year‑end.