Immigration Minister, David Cuncliffe has today announced policy changes the government hopes should attract more investors to New Zealand.

The new Active Investor Category has three sub-categories. These are:

• Global Investors – the top priority category. This is to be used by high value investors investing $20 million (including $5 million in active investment). There will be minimal policy controls and facilitated, fast-track processing.
• Professional Investors – a second priority category. This is to be used by migrants investing $10 million (including $2 million actively). There will be moderate policy controls and facilitated, fast-track processing.
• General (Active) Investors – a category for those investing a minimum of $2.5 million.

The General (Active) Investor category will be a points-based system to prioritise migrants on the basis of their potential to contribute to New Zealand businesses. The points system will recognise:

• The importance of having both financial and human capital.
• The benefit of active investment.
• The value of export linkages, entrepreneurship and management skills.

Global and Professional investors will be selected first. The remaining places will be available to the General (Active) investor category.

There will be an annual cap on Active Investor Migrant numbers of 1,000 people (around 300 applications).