Nueva Zelanda

Contact Managing Partner Patricia Leers directly with your queries about New Zealand law.

Why trade with or invest in New Zealand?

New Zealand has one of the world’s most open and globalised economies, and a reputation as a transparent, stable, multicultural and business-friendly country. New Zealand has overtaken Singapore to be ranked the easiest place in the world to do business (World Bank’s 2017 Doing Business Report – available here ).

It is located in the South Pacific, with Australia as its largest close neighbor. The physical size of New Zealand is roughly equivalent to Japan or Great Britain – but with a much smaller population, around 4.5 million people. Auckland is the country’s largest city and a multicultural Asia-Pacific hub, and around one third of New Zealand’s population live in the greater Auckland area. Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand and the seat of government.

New Zealand is highly connected to the outside world with six major international ports and international airports in all main cities. New Zealand’s open economy is very reliant on international trade and its major trading partners include Australia, China, the United States, Japan, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The economy has a large service sector, but agriculture (particularly dairy) dominate New Zealand’s exports. The New Zealand government is eager to attract foreign investment across a variety of sectors and offers attractive investment schemes – including investor residency visas - and has dedicated business and investment support agencies.

Unique elements of New Zealand law and the New Zealand legal system

New Zealand’s government is a parliamentary democracy with mixed member representation. The legal system is an English-style common law system, with many similarities to fellow former British colonies such as Australia and Canada. Many New Zealand laws are broadly similar to the equivalent English or Australian legislation. There is a hierarchical courts system, with some special courts and tribunals relating to areas such as the environment or employment law. Alternative dispute resolution techniques, including mediation and arbitration, are popular.  The New Zealand and Australian governments share an ongoing commitment to create a seamless common Australasian business market and harmonise regulations.

There are relatively straightforward procedures for establishing a new business in New Zealand – for example, a company can be set up online in just one day. Contract law is generally unregulated with just a handful of statutes affecting the interpretation of contracts, so parties can usually just agree their own commercial terms to create a contract that is enforceable under New Zealand law. Taxation is streamlined, with a flat-rate value added tax (called “goods and services tax”), no separate social security tax, no general capital gains tax, gift duties, stamp duties or estate/death duties. New Zealand has comprehensive workplace safety rules, and an unique no-fault compensation scheme that prohibits most personal liability litigation.

New Zealand encourages business investment and migration that adds economic value to New Zealand – and this includes investor visas that grant residency. There are no exchange controls on money being brought into or taken out of New Zealand. The Overseas Investment Office approval is only required in a few select and high-value overseas investment activities, involving sensitive land, business assets over NZ$100 million or fishing quotas.