24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref. : EIC 895/1
12 March 2026
Dear Sirs,
Following New Zealand Government’s earlier reform on overseas investment regime (Commercial Information Circular No. 442/2021 cum Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 5/2021 of 29 June 2021 refers), further amendments relating to overseas investment were introduced via the Overseas Investment (National Interest Test and Other Matters) Amendment Act (the “Amendment Act”), which came into effect on 6 March 2026. This circular provides information of the Amendment Act for traders’ reference.
DETAILS
2.As part of New Zealand Government’s broader strategy to promote overseas investment, the Amendment Act serves to streamline and expedite the screening of low-risk investments, while focusing resources towards high-risk transactions to safeguard national interest. One of the major changes is the introduction of a new national interest test, which consolidates the previous national interest test, benefit to New Zealand test, and investor test into a single test for all assets other than farmland, fishing quota, and residential land. The time frames for processing overseas investment applications are also specified. The Amendment Act shall apply to all applications lodged since the effective date of 6 March 2026.
3.For details of the changes to New Zealand’s overseas investment regime, please refer to the following websites of the New Zealand Government (English only):
ENQUIRIES
4.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact us at 2398 5594.
Yours faithfully,
(Ms Jenny CHEUNG)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.