And maybe best of all, when it's cold and snowy up north, the beaches are warm and filled with sizzling entertainment.... see below on how you can get in on the action and whether Newton and Copernicus were correct.
But along with its wild places and amazing wildlife, New Zealand also has friendly, English-speaking people, high quality services with low cost living, neighborly towns, vibrant cities, and homes to suit all pockets.
New Zealand is also of great interest for residency leading to citizenship.
Right now New Zealand is looking for people who have the desire, skills and experience to make a difference to the country. In return, New Zealand offers opportunities to succeed and a lifestyle that makes it worthwhile.
But first you need to answer “yes” to the following questions:
1 Are you healthy?
2 Are you of good character?
3 Do you have a high standard of English?
If so, please continue.
Importantly, the following categories and required qualifications for each pathway change from time-to-time so don’t be disenchanted if you don’t qualify today. In one year alone I recall the pass mark scoring system changing four or five times.
And in November 2007 three new Investor Categories were added, which is covered below.
Professional, Worker & Student Categories
One path into New Zealand is under various “Worker” categories.
The Skilled Migrant category is an excellent route if you are suitably qualified and experienced.
The objective is that you would be making a contribution to an innovative and responsive New Zealand workforce, and in turn, help the economy achieve sustainable growth. If you have ‘get up and go’ and the skills needed, you could be just what New Zealand is looking for.
Under the above category you must be under 56 and either have a tertiary or trade qualification, or at least two years work experience, or have been offered a job in New Zealand.
Under The Work to Residence entry option you would be qualified in a highly specialized area or in a “demand field”, or have an exceptional talent in sports or the arts.
You first apply for a work permit under the work to residence category, as it allows you to work temporarily in New Zealand as a step towards gaining permanent residence.
To qualify under this category you must either have:
1) a genuine offer of full-time, ongoing employment from a New Zealand accredited employer with a base salary of at least NZ$45,000 (US$ 33,750) per year, or
2) sponsorship from a New Zealand arts, culture or sporting organization, or
3) a genuine offer of full-time, ongoing employment in an occupation on the Long Term Skilled Shortage List.
Under the above category you must also be under age 56 and hold appropriate full or provisional registration if required to practice in that occupation.
Another option is to work in New Zealand for a particular event and then acquire a job offer from a New Zealand employer, or just stay on for a work experience. Working holidays, work experience or simply sampling life in New Zealand are all great reasons people go to New Zealand to work temporarily.
Also, if you are a student or trainee wanting to gain work experience in New Zealand or planning to work temporarily while joining your partner in New Zealand, there are other options.
New Zealand has agreements with over 20 countries (including the USA) which allow young people between 18 and 30 the opportunity to travel around New Zealand and work temporarily.
A working holiday is a great way to get a real taste of life in New Zealand.
Investor & Business Categories
And naturally, New Zealand welcomes people who’d like to invest there. Investors from overseas can build new connections with the rest of the world and increase their understanding with cultures in the Australasian countries.
In the past when applying under the Investor Category you needed NZ$ 2 million (approx US$ 1.5m) to invest for five years, have at least five years’ business experience, healthy, of good character, meet English language requirements, and be under age 55.
Of course the money to invest must be made up of funds you legally own and be transferable through the banking system.
As of November 2007 a newly expanded Active Investor’s Category was implemented.
In general, there are three new programs added:
1) Global Investor Category (NZ$ 20m with no age restriction),
2) Professional Investor Category (NZ$ 10m with a maximum age of 64), and
3) General Investor Category (NZ$ 2.5m with a maximum age of 54).
You do not need to live full time in New Zealand under the new programs, but funds must be invested for four or more years.
Or, you might desire to relocate your business to New Zealand and send a key employee to set it up. Or maybe you’re the key employee of a business that’s relocating to New Zealand.
Alternatively, you might be interested in establishing a new business in New Zealand.
New Zealand appeals to foreign investors because it is a safe and stable country with a strong commercial outlook. Many parts of the world suffer economic, religious and political upheavals but New Zealand has a unique manner of embracing different lifestyles.
Fortunately, New Zealand is also free of the turmoil experienced in other countries. And the code of business practice is generally straightforward and direct.
Importantly, New Zealand has a democratic political system, a free-market philosophy, and the economy continues to grow and get stronger than it’s ever been.
While New Zealand is geographically isolated from the rest of the world, this has many big advantages and it’s the first country across the International Dateline to greet each new business day. With electronics and communications what they are today you are never far away.
All of this leads to harnessing good local and global business and investment opportunities.
There are some definite rules and requirements that business investors have to meet when establishing a business in New Zealand, but at least you should understand these options are available.
And once you have obtained residency in New Zealand, like many other countries, you can then apply for citizenship.
The required time frame for citizenship in New Zealand was recently changed from three to five years, but amazing how time flies when you are having fun living a quality lifestyle.
And as a reminder, as we have discussed in earlier newsletters, using an international trust not only has value as an asset protection planning technique while living at home, but also as a pre-migration planning tool…. so keep this in mind if planning a move offshore.
And one last thing for you snowbirds:
New Zealand Seminar March 2008
I usually don’t endorse products or services provided by others, but please excuse me as I am going to break the rule for those of you that might want to thaw out and learn first hand about all that New Zealand has to offer.
This March in Auckland - the ‘City of Sails’ - there is a 3-day seminar to cover all you need to know about living and investing in New Zealand.... and it will be summer time in New Zealand.
I have again been invited this year to speak at the program, and if it is anything like last year, it will again be a great time and experience for all who attend.
And yes, come and see for yourself that the celestial system and laws of gravity work. South of the equator people walk the same as north of the equator. Gravity keeps everything attached to the ground. Trees grow up. Balls bounce. I'm no expert, mind you, but Newton and Copernicus must be right. (You will have to see for yourself which way the water swirls.)
For more practical information on these topics and much more, visit DavidTanzer.com and there are free Past Articles posted for your reading.
Until next time…. hoping your holidays are peaceful and relaxing.
David
David A Tanzer, Esq.
JD, BSc, Ph.D (Hon)
David A Tanzer & Assoc., PC.
Datlegal@aol.com
DAT@DavidTanzer.com
www.DavidTanzer.com
Vail, CO USA:
Tel. (970) 476-6100
Fax (720) 293-2272
Auckland, New Zealand:
Tel. (64) 9 353-1328
Fax (64) 9 353-1328
Brisbane, Australia:
Tel. (61) 7 3319 6999
Fax (61) 7 3319 6999
(Licensed to Practice Law in U.S. States & Federal Courts;
Assoc. Member Auckland, N.Z. District Law Society - Foreign Lawyer; &
Assoc. Member Queensland Law Society, AU - Foreign Lawyer)
(C) Copyright 2008 David Tanzer all rights reserved. The comments herein are not intended to constitute a legal or tax opinion regarding any specific legal or tax issue as additional issues may exist; does not reach a conclusion with respect to any specific legal or tax issue addressed herein or any additional issues not included; and cannot be used for the purpose of avoiding legal or tax obligations or penalties with respect to issues in or outside the scope of matters discussed herein.
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