Investors can buy real estate and also gain permanent residency in New Zealand, even if this is not for their own personal use, their family or friends to live in. For a residential property development to be an acceptable investment, the purpose of the development must be to make a commercial return on the open market. Purchasing an existing residential property for rental purposes is not an acceptable investment. Commercial property is an acceptable investment if the property is not residential or for domestic use, the property is used for business purposes, capable of a commercial return, and the purpose of the commercial property investments is to make a commercial return on the open market. Importantly, neither the investor, their family, relatives, nor anyone associated with them, can live in the development.
