
A vision for NZ: A safe place where everyone can prosper
New Zealand should be 'a safe place where everyone can prosper', writes Bruce Cotterill. Photo of Routburn Track / Supplied by Tourism NZ
Opinion by Bruce Cotterill
Bruce Cotterill is a professional director and adviser to business leaders. He is the author of the book, The Best Leaders Don't Shout, and host of the podcast, Leaders Getting Coffee.
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THE FACTS
Last week, I managed to get myself caught up in a lively conversation with a couple of mates. It wasn't heated. But it was one of those discussions that no one was going to win.
And then there was the debate after the Budget. The same word
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Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Otago Daily Times
Nearly 200 apply for 'golden visa' in three months
Nearly 200 applications have been received for the so-called 'golden visa' since changes were made to liberalise access. The government made changes in April to make it easier for wealthy foreigners to gain New Zealand residency through investment. Since then, Immigration New Zealand has received 189 applications for the visa. Economic growth minister Nicola Willis said that was significantly more than the 116 appliciations received over more than two and a half years under the previous settings. "Investor migrants are clearly attracted to New Zealand's growing reputation as a safe, pro-business, high-potential economy. In a world where countries compete for dollars and talent, it's great to see New Zealand's growth prospects being recognised," she said. The changes introduced a two-pronged approach to the visa, and liberalised what could be invested in. The Growth category requires a minimum investment of $5m over three years, into higher-risk investments including managed funds and direct investments in New Zealand businesses. The Balanced category requires a minimum investment of $10m over five years, with investors being allowed to choose lower-risk investments. Under the previous settings, $15m was required for a visa, with bonds and property investments not allowed. As at June 23rd, 100 applications have been approved in principal. Of those, seven have transferred and invested their funds in New Zealand and had been granted a visa. Five of those were invested in the Growth category, and two in the Balanced. The government said that was a total minimum investment of $45m. The new applications represented a potential $845m of new investment. Immigration minister Erica Stanford said she would have been happy with 200 applications in the first year. "As of this week we're almost at 190 after 10 weeks, and I think that shows you the level of interest from overseas, in lots of different markets we haven't seen before," she said. The strongest interest in the visa had come from the United States, China, Hong Kong, and Germany. Investors have six months to transfer their funds and start investing in New Zealand. Willis said the visa complemented the Investment Boost policy announced at the Budget, which allows businesses to deduct 20 percent of the cost of a new asset, on top of depreciation. "The Active Investor Plus delivers the capital. Investment Boost delivers the confidence to put that capital to work, and to ensure that people are making investments that will pay off in the long run."

RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
The House: Tactics from the 'Scrutiny Week' bear pit
Photo: VNP/Louis Collins This week, Parliament hosted a twice-yearly event called 'Scrutiny Week'. It was a sitting week and MPs were expected to be in Wellington, but the House didn't sit, no legislation was debated and there were no question times. Instead, the ministers were all expected to spend time fronting hearings in the 12 subject select committees defending their budget plans - hence 'scrutiny'. On the Sunday edition of The House (above) you can hear an interview with Lawrence Xu-Nan about Scrutiny Week and the intense preparation necessary. You can also listen to a quick description of a few of the more political tactics observed in hearings. Politics muddies everything in Parliament, including Parliament's role in providing governance over governments. In Scrutiny Week, some politics is inevitable in both MPs' questions and ministers' answers. Our focus on the tactics is more about the answers than the questions, because those answering tend to employ a wider range of techniques. Either the ministers have more tactical options available or they are more creative in finding them. No matter who is in government, some ministers genuinely engage in the spirit of the event, freely answering questions and providing information. Others tend to be grudging with details. Some face aggressive political questions evincing fiercely political answers and a few appear to just really enjoy the stoush. Photo: VNP/Louis Collins Listen above for examples of political questions and answers tactics, including rejection of questions, answering alternative questions, redefining the terms, insult and humour as a defence, and various ways to eat up time. Oddly, sometimes ministers get so involved in the tussle that they ignore options to their own benefit. Typically, sitting beside a minister under scrutiny are senior ministerial officials - whose answers are less politically suspect. Sometimes, if an official can get a word in, the detail given is positive and the minister had no reason to be obfuscating - other than for the fun of the stoush. The audio above might give the appearance that Scrutiny Week is an endless and frustrating bear pit, and it can be, but we also saw hearings where ministers from all the governing parties gave good answers and had constructive interchanges with the committees, sometimes even in contentious areas. That is especially true in hearings where officials from ministries or agencies are providing information, but examples of good in-depth discussions are, almost by definition, far too lengthy to include in a short programme. Good politics is seldom quick politics. Photo: VNP/Phil Smith *RNZ's The House, with insights into Parliament, legislation and issues, is made with funding from Parliament's Office of the Clerk. Enjoy our articles or podcast at RNZ.


NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
NZ Government's progress overshadowed by global economic, political risks
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the Apec Summit in Peru. Photo / Pool Opinion by Bruce Cotterill Bruce Cotterill is a professional director and adviser to business leaders. He is the author of the book, The Best Leaders Don't Shout, and host of the podcast, Leaders Getting Coffee. Learn more THE FACTS It's 18 months since the new Government was sworn in. The mess they inherited has been well documented, so too has their less-than-rapid impact on solving the problems we have. We're an impatient bunch, and it feels like they're taking their time. When we look at many of