Doing business in New Zealand

New Zealand has no states or provinces: company, tax, employment, privacy, competition and foreign investment law is national, and regional and district councils deal mainly with land use, resource consents, rates and local licences. Key authorities are the Companies Office and the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (both within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment), Inland Revenue, the Overseas Investment Office (within Land Information New Zealand), the Commerce Commission, the Financial Markets Authority, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, New Zealand Customs Service, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Immigration New Zealand and WorkSafe.

Key facts

Corporate income tax

28% standard rate (as at mid-2026)

GST

15% standard rate (as at mid-2026)

Main entity form

Limited liability company under the Companies Act 1993, no minimum capital

Foreign investment

Generally open; Overseas Investment Office consent for sensitive land, significant business assets and fishing quota

Currency and exchange controls

New Zealand dollar, freely floating; no exchange controls

Data protection

Privacy Act 2020; Office of the Privacy Commissioner

New York Convention

Party

Key labour fact

Written employment agreement required; minimum four weeks' paid annual leave

Foreign businesses usually incorporate a limited liability company or register their existing company as an overseas company with the Companies Office, both online. There is no minimum capital, but at least one director must live in New Zealand or Australia. Overseas investment in sensitive land, significant business assets and fishing quota needs consent under the Overseas Investment Act 2005.

Key facts

• A limited company has no minimum capital and is registered online, but at least one director must live in New Zealand, or in Australia if also a director of an Australian company.

• An overseas company trading directly in New Zealand must register as an overseas company within 10 working days instead of forming a subsidiary.

• Check whether the deal involves sensitive land, business assets above the threshold or fishing quota, as Overseas Investment Office consent is then needed before completion.

• Registration gives the company an NZBN; an IRD number, needed for tax, GST and payroll, can be applied for at the same time or later.

Who handles this in New ZealandCorporate & Entity ServicesLegal & ContractingGovernment & Regulatory AffairsTransactions & Deals

Tax is national and administered by Inland Revenue. The corporate rate is 28% and GST is 15%, applying broadly with few exemptions. There is no general capital gains tax, the standard tax year runs from 1 April to 31 March, and dividends carry imputation credits for tax paid by the company.

Key facts

• Company tax is 28% and the standard tax year runs 1 April to 31 March; dividends carry imputation credits for tax already paid.

• GST is 15% and covers most goods and services; registration is compulsory above NZD 60,000 turnover, including for offshore sellers to consumers.

• Interest, royalties and dividends paid abroad attract non-resident withholding tax unless a treaty reduces it.

• There is no general capital gains tax, but property gains can be taxed under the bright-line test and other rules.

• Large groups are within the 15% global minimum tax rules, and large companies and large overseas companies must prepare general purpose financial statements.

Who handles this in New ZealandTax & International StructuringAccounting, Reporting & Statutory ComplianceAudit & Assurance

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Key facts

• Put every employee on a written employment agreement and provide at least four weeks' annual leave plus public holidays and sick leave.

• Minimum wage rates change each 1 April after an annual review; the adult rate is NZD 23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026.

• Dismissals must be justified and procedurally fair; employers of any size can use a 90-day trial period, but only if it is agreed in writing before the employee starts.

Who handles this in New ZealandEmployment, Payroll & MobilityLegal & ContractingTax & International Structuring

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Overseas persons are generally barred from buying residential land, with exemptions for Australian and Singaporean citizens. Research and development is supported by a tax credit.

Key facts

• Overseas buyers generally cannot buy existing homes, unless they are Australian or Singaporean citizens.

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• The R&D tax incentive provides a 15% credit on eligible spending.

• New Zealand belongs to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement, and central government tenders are listed on GETS.

Who handles this in New ZealandGovernment & Regulatory AffairsLegal & ContractingTax & International Structuring

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The New Zealand dollar floats freely and there are no exchange controls, so capital and profits can move in and out subject to tax and reporting. The Reserve Bank is the central bank and prudential regulator. Banks carry out customer due diligence under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.

Key facts

• Expect customer due diligence on the company, its directors and beneficial owners when opening an account.

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• Banks routinely report larger international transfers and cash transactions to the Police Financial Intelligence Unit.

• The Reserve Bank supervises banks and insurers; most retail banks are subsidiaries of Australian banking groups.

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Who handles this in New ZealandBanking & Capital AccessPayments, Foreign Exchange & SettlementRisk, Compliance & Financial Integrity

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New Zealand Customs Service administers imports and exports under the Customs and Excise Act 2018. Biosecurity controls run by the Ministry for Primary Industries are strict.

Key facts

• Customs duty applies to some imported goods, generally at 5% to 10%, so check the tariff classification and any free trade agreement preference before pricing.

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• Use free trade agreement preferences, including the EU and UK agreements, where goods meet the rules of origin.

• Biosecurity checks are strict and can delay or stop food, plant, timber and used goods.

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Who handles this in New ZealandTrade, Customs & Supply ChainRisk, Compliance & Financial IntegrityTax & International Structuring

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Key facts

• The Privacy Act applies to businesses of every size, including overseas businesses carrying on business in New Zealand.

• Notify the Privacy Commissioner and affected people of breaches likely to cause serious harm.

• Before sending personal information to an overseas recipient, check it is subject to comparable safeguards; outsourced storage and processing is treated differently.

• EU adequacy status makes transfers from Europe to New Zealand simpler.

Who handles this in New ZealandTechnology, Data & CyberLegal & ContractingRisk, Compliance & Financial Integrity

The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand registers patents, trade marks and designs, and copyright arises automatically. New Zealand belongs to the main international filing systems.

Key facts

• Register trade marks with IPONZ or designate New Zealand through the Madrid Protocol; registration lasts 10 years and must then be renewed.

• Patents last up to 20 years under the Patents Act 2013 and can be sought through the PCT.

• Copyright needs no registration, so ownership should be dealt with in employment and contractor agreements.

Who handles this in New ZealandIntellectual Property & Brand ProtectionLegal & Contracting

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Merger control under the Commerce Act 1986 is voluntary, but the Commerce Commission can take enforcement action against a deal likely to substantially lessen competition, so clearance is common for larger deals. Overseas buyers may need Overseas Investment Office consent, and takeovers of code companies follow the Takeovers Code. Insolvency options include liquidation, voluntary administration, receivership and creditor compromises.

Key facts

• Merger clearance is voluntary, but deals that raise competition concerns are usually put to the Commerce Commission for clearance to avoid enforcement action, penalties or divestment.

• Overseas buyers should run Overseas Investment Office checks, including national security rules, in parallel with competition clearance.

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• Directors of struggling companies risk personal liability for reckless trading, so consider voluntary administration or a creditor compromise early.

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• Competition law applies to everyday conduct, and cartel conduct can be criminal.

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Who handles this in New ZealandTransactions & DealsGovernment & Regulatory AffairsLegal & Contracting

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Bribery of New Zealand and foreign officials is a crime, and private sector bribery is covered by the Secret Commissions Act 1910. Health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 fall on businesses and their officers, and whistleblowers are protected.

Key facts

• Bribery of officials at home or abroad and private sector secret commissions are criminal offences, so third-party payments need controls.

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• Officers have a personal due diligence duty for health and safety, which is actively enforced by WorkSafe.

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• Protect whistleblowers, and remind directors of their Companies Act duties, including the bar on reckless trading.

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Who handles this in New ZealandRisk, Compliance & Financial IntegrityInsurance & Risk TransferLegal & Contracting

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Commercial disputes are heard in the District Court or the High Court, with appeals to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Arbitration is governed by the Arbitration Act 1996, based on the UNCITRAL Model Law, and New Zealand is a party to the New York Convention. Australian judgments can be registered under trans-Tasman arrangements.

Key facts

• Larger commercial claims go to the High Court, and the Supreme Court is the final appeal court.

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• Arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1996 follows the UNCITRAL Model Law, and awards made in other New York Convention states are enforceable in New Zealand.

• Australian judgments are registrable under trans-Tasman rules, but judgments from many other countries need fresh proceedings.

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• Local arbitration and mediation services are available through AMINZ and the New Zealand International Arbitration Centre.

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Who handles this in New ZealandDisputes & ResolutionLegal & Contracting