New Zealand property attracts very strong international investment for a variety of reasons:

Straightforward land title system

New Zealand has an easily understood land title system based on the Torrens system of Land Registration. The Land Transfer Act 1952 provides for a public register of land and transactions may be conducted in reliance on the register.

Diversification opportunity

With its well-developed legal and trading systems, New Zealand offers a strong diversification option for international property investors the country has a balanced economy across services, rural, and manufacturing sectors, in which many major international corporates are already invested.

Political stability

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a stable, democratically elected parliamentary government. New Zealand consistently ranks as one of the best in the world on based on the corruption perceptions index, the leading global indicator of public sector corruption.

Transparency International - Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index

Stable banking sector

New Zealand’s banking system remains highly resilient, well capitalised, and strongly regulated, providing a stable foundation for real estate investment. While global economic uncertainty and subdued domestic growth continue to present challenges, the financial system has demonstrated a strong capacity to absorb shocks and continue supplying credit to households and businesses.

Banks remain profitable and have further strengthened their balance sheets, with capital ratios well above regulatory minimums and among the highest relative to international peers. Capital levels have continued to rise as earnings growth has outpaced risk-weighted asset growth, enhancing the system’s ability to withstand adverse economic scenarios. Recent Reserve Bank solvency stress tests confirm that New Zealand banks are well positioned to absorb severe but plausible shocks while maintaining the flow of credit. Funding and liquidity conditions are also robust. Banks are supported by high levels of stable deposit funding, strong liquidity buffers, and well-functioning domestic and offshore funding markets.

Reserve Bank of New Zealand: Financial Stability Report, November 2025

Strong legal system

New Zealand has a legal system like Great Britain, Australia, and Canada. It does not have the added complication of separate state and federal laws. The judiciary is completely independent of Parliament. The country maintains a unified legal profession, where practitioners commonly hold dual roles as barristers and solicitors, while judges, appointed by the Governor General on the Attorney General’s advice, uphold a tradition of judicial independence.

No stamp duty or capital gains tax

A passive offshore investor does not pay any stamp duty on purchase or capital gains tax in New Zealand on any profit made on the sale of a property.

New Zealand Active Investor Pus Visa

New Zealand’s AIP visa provides a streamlined residency route for globally connected investors committing NZD $5-10 million into eligible local assets. Tailored to both active and passive investors, it favours growth-aligned sectors including tourism, infrastructure, and innovation. Recent changes now allow qualifying investors to purchase residential property with a purchase price > $5 million NZD as part of their investment portfolio

For more information, please refer to: www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/active-investor-plus-visa/

Overseas investment office

The Overseas Investment Office administers New Zealand’s overseas investment laws. Overseas investors will require consent to acquire sensitive New Zealand assets. Overseas investors must get consent when New Zealand’s overseas investment rules require them to and must keep the commitments they make when they apply for consent.

For more information go to linz.govt.nz/overseas-investment

Attractive foreign exchange rate arbitrage

The NZD is currently trading near cyclical lows, offering foreign investors a rare opportunity to enter at a relative discount with potential long-term upside on currency normalisation. This favourable exchange rate environment can enhance yield spreads and strengthen long-term total return profiles.

Structural population growth & infrastructure demand

New Zealand’s long-term property fundamentals are supported by sustained population growth and an undersupplied infrastructure base. Net migration continues to drive demand in major urban centres, supporting residential, industrial, healthcare, and mixed-use sectors. At the same time, significant investment is required across transport, energy, and social infrastructure, creating durable demand for development land and essential-service assets aligned to long-term economic growth.

ESG resilience and long-term capital protection

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations are increasingly central to global capital allocation, and New Zealand is well positioned relative to peer markets. The country benefits from a high proportion of renewable energy generation, strong environmental regulation, and growing transparency around climate-related risk disclosure.

As global institutions place greater emphasis on sustainability, resilience, and risk-adjusted returns, New Zealand real estate continues to align well with ESG-focused investment mandates while maintaining attractive long-term income and capital preservation characteristics.