Promote:
Invest in New Zealand
A short guide for companies expanding into New Zealand: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. New Zealand at a glance
PopulationEstimate
5.32 million
Population was 5,324,700 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, New Zealand population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$264.1 billion
GDP was US$264,057,413,740 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, New Zealand GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$49,591
GDP per person was US$49,591 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, New Zealand GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
0.5%
Real GDP growth was 0.5 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, New Zealand real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
3.7%
Consumer prices were 3.7 percent higher in the 12 months to September 2026 than a year earlier, by Stats NZ's quarterly index.
Source: Stats NZ, Consumers price index, September 2026 quarter (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$2.54 billion
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$2,542.9 million in 2025, in UNCTADstat data.
Source: UNCTADstat, New Zealand inward foreign direct investment flows (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD).
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of New Zealand, Secretariat report, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 6, 2022
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
Invest New Zealand is the investment promotion agency: an autonomous Crown entity set up by statute on July 1, 2025.
Source: Invest New Zealand, Statement of Intent 2026-30 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
Invest New Zealand's 2026-30 Statement of Intent calls it the single coordinating agency for investment and describes no one-stop shop.
Source: Invest New Zealand, Statement of Intent 2026-30 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
No instrument listing reserved sectors was found; as of 2022, per the WTO review, foreign equity in Air New Zealand is limited to 10 percent.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of New Zealand, Secretariat report, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 6, 2022
As of 2022, per the WTO review, New Zealand names no special zone and gives investors no financial incentives.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of New Zealand, Secretariat report, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 6, 2022
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in New Zealand
- Check whether the Overseas Investment Office must consent to your purchase of sensitive land or assets.Overseas Investment OfficeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Govt.nz, Overseas Investment Office (opens in a new tab) · as of July 8, 2021
- Appoint at least one director who lives in New Zealand, or in Australia and directs an Australian company.New Zealand Companies OfficeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Companies Office, who can be a director (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Register your company, or register an overseas company within 10 working days of starting business in New Zealand.New Zealand Companies OfficeNZ$10 plus GST to reserve a name; NZ$130 plus GST to register an overseas company.Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Companies Office, how overseas companies register (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Apply for an IRD number; a company formed abroad, or 25 percent or more offshore-owned, uses the offshore application.Inland RevenueOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Inland Revenue, offshore business IRD number application (opens in a new tab) · as of September 11, 2026
Show 2 more set-up steps
- Check visa requirements for staff you intend to bring; Immigration New Zealand assesses applications to work in New Zealand.Immigration New ZealandOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Govt.nz, Immigration New Zealand (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Ask Invest New Zealand how it can connect you with New Zealand businesses and advise on barriers to investment.Invest New ZealandOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Invest New Zealand, Statement of Intent 2026-30 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with Invest NZ and Customs. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Investment promotion agency
Invest NZ
Invest New Zealand
Connects overseas investors with New Zealand businesses and research institutions, and advises ministers on barriers to overseas investment.
- Meet requirements
Company registry
Companies Office
New Zealand Companies Office
Registers New Zealand and overseas companies and sets the rules on who can be a director.
Visit Companies Office (opens in a new tab)Source: Companies Office, who can be a director (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
- Meet requirements
Overseas investment regulator
OIO
Overseas Investment Office
Assesses applications from overseas people to invest in sensitive land, large business assets, forestry, residential land and fishing quota.
Visit OIO (opens in a new tab)Source: Govt.nz, Overseas Investment Office (opens in a new tab) · as of July 8, 2021
- Get advice
Business support portal
Business.govt.nz
Explains the steps to export and to start a business, and lists Regional Business Partners that give local advice.
Visit Business.govt.nz (opens in a new tab)Source: Business.govt.nz, exporting process and support (opens in a new tab) · as of February 23, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs and border authority
Customs
New Zealand Customs Service
Clears exports, issues client codes, approves self-declaring exporters and runs the Secure Exports Scheme and Trade Single Window.
Visit Customs (opens in a new tab)Source: New Zealand Customs, start exporting, updated August 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 11, 2025
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
IRD
Inland Revenue
Issues IRD numbers and explains GST, including zero-rating for goods you export.
Visit IRD (opens in a new tab)Source: Inland Revenue, zero-rated supplies, updated June 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of June 22, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce network
NZ Chambers
New Zealand Chambers of Commerce
Issues Certificates of New Zealand Origin as one of three authorized issuing bodies.
Visit NZ Chambers (opens in a new tab)Source: New Zealand Customs, start exporting, updated August 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 11, 2025
- Get advice
Exporters' membership association
ExportNZ
Offers exporters advice and networking, as Business.govt.nz describes it.
Visit ExportNZ (opens in a new tab)Source: Business.govt.nz, exporting process and support (opens in a new tab) · as of February 23, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Export controls and sanctions
MFAT controls items on the Strategic Goods List, and its Russia sanctions register bans exports such as wine and seafood to Russia and Belarus.
What to do: Screen products, buyers and end users against both before you accept an order.
Sources: MFAT, which exports are controlled (opens in a new tab); MFAT, Russia sanctions information for exporters (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Reserved sectors
As of 2022, per the WTO review, foreign equity in Air New Zealand is capped at 10 percent and Chorus needs approval above 49.9 percent.
What to do: Check current limits with the companies and the regulator before you buy a stake.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of New Zealand, Secretariat report, 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Overseas investment screening
Invest New Zealand says an Overseas Investment Act amendment passed in mid-December 2025 took effect on March 6, 2026; the screening rules after it were not read.
What to do: Ask the Overseas Investment Office whether your purchase needs consent before you sign.
Sources: Invest New Zealand, Active Investor Plus page with Act dates (opens in a new tab); Govt.nz, Overseas Investment Office (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Company director residency
Every New Zealand company needs a director who lives in New Zealand, or in Australia and directs an Australian company.
What to do: Appoint a qualifying director before you apply to incorporate.
Source: Companies Office, who can be a director (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more
Offshore IRD number
Companies formed abroad, or 25 percent or more owned or controlled by offshore persons, use Inland Revenue's offshore application.
What to do: Check the offshore definition before you choose an application.
Source: Inland Revenue, offshore business IRD number application (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare New Zealand with other countriesSet New Zealand beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your New Zealand project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Free to start. No card required.
Already have an account? Sign in
Promote:New Zealand is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.