Latest news with #InvestNewZealand
Scoop
08-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New AI Strategy A Confidence Boost For Kiwi Business
The Auckland Business Chamber welcomes the release of New Zealand's Strategy for Artificial Intelligence: Investing with Confidence, calling it a clear signal that New Zealand is ready to compete in the global AI economy — and puts the private sector firmly at the centre. Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges says the strategy gives businesses the clarity and confidence they need to invest in AI. 'This removes unintended barriers and clears up uncertainty. Whether you're a manufacturer in Onehunga or a tech start-up in Takapuna, it's about enabling real productivity gains,' said Bridges. The strategy outlines a light-touch, principles-based policy approach, along with practical guidance to help businesses — particularly SMEs — adopt AI responsibly and effectively. 'SMEs are the backbone of Auckland's economy, but many are unsure where to start. This strategy cuts through the fog and gives them a path forward,' said Bridges. AI could add $76 billion to New Zealand's GDP by 2038, but 68% of small and medium-sized businesses aren't yet planning for AI. The Chamber says the strategy directly addresses that gap. 'It's practical, not hype. If we don't get moving, we'll fall behind — but this gives Auckland a real platform to lead,' said Bridges. The Chamber also welcomed improved access to global talent and international investment through Invest New Zealand, helping position Auckland as a hub for high-value digital innovation. 'We've got the skills, the infrastructure, and now the policy settings businesses have been calling for,' said Bridges.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Invest New Zealand Legislation Passes
Hon Todd McClay Minister for Trade and Investment Parliament has today passed legislation to formally establish Invest New Zealand, clearing the way for the new investment attraction agency to begin operations on 1 July 2025. 'This marks a major step in the Government's plan to grow the economy by attracting more international capital, businesses and talent into New Zealand,' Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says. 'Invest New Zealand will have a clear commercial focus—working directly with global investors to unlock opportunities that create jobs, boost innovation, and lift our long-term productivity.' Budget 2025 committed $85 million over four years to support the agency's establishment as an autonomous Crown entity. Invest New Zealand will: Drive investment into advanced and high-growth industries; Connect offshore investors with local businesses and research opportunities; Support global companies to grow their R&D footprint in New Zealand; Help build the skills base needed to support a more innovative economy. A private sector advisory group, chaired by Rob Morrison, has played a key role in designing the agency's framework and will continue to provide strategic advice as the agency scales up. 'Invest New Zealand will act as a bridge between global capital and New Zealand's economic potential,' Mr McClay says. 'It's about making it easier to do business here—cutting red tape, speeding up decision-making, and targeting investment that delivers long-term benefits for the country.' The agency will be up and running 1 July.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Science sector faces biggest overhaul in decades, warns cuts will put new research at risk
[xh ]Science cuts could come at the cost of new and research, sector warns Samples at an Auckland laboratory. Photo: Nick Monro / RNZ The administrators of a leading science fund fear cuts as part of the sector's biggest overhaul in decades could come at the cost of new and innovative research. Budget 2025 allocated just over $813 million for business, science and innovation. Almost three quarters of that, nearly $577m, was dedicated to rebates for international filmmakers, leaving about $236m for science and innovation. The budget funded major science reform through the reallocation of money from funds dedicated to research and innovation, with much of the $212m repurposed for new government initiatives. The Science Minister said the reprioritisation of funds would help unleash the long-term potential of the new science system. However, administrators of the blue-skies research Marsden Fund are worried cuts will curb innovation and evidence-based solutions at a time when they are needed most. Much of the $212m reallocated from research and innovation funds such as the Health Research Council, Marsden Fund and Strategic Science Investment Fund, would help set up an office to oversee changing gene technology rules as well as an agency to attract foreign investors. Eighty-four million dollars of repurposed funds were slated for Invest New Zealand over four years and close to $23m to establish a new Gene Technology Regulator over the same period, while the merging of Crown Research Institutes into three of the four new public research organisations was allocated $20m over two years. Money found in the disestablishment of Callaghan Innovation would contribute to the new science landscape. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King Money found in the disestablishment of Callaghan Innovation would also contribute to the new science landscape, such as the formation of the Science, Innovation, and Technology Advisory Council - nearing $6m over five years. However, $38m of reallocated money was set aside for Callaghan Innovation's shutdown, with another $20m to keep its Gracefield Quarter running for another year, while the government decided its future. The chair of the Marsden Fund Council, Professor Gill Dobbie, said Budget 2025 resulted in a $5m funding cut over three years, and suspected that would come at the cost of new research projects. The 30-year-old fund, established to support excellent fundamental and blue-skies research, was allocated just under $79m in the 2025/2026 financial year. The Science Minister's office confirmed that funding for Marsden would be cut in stages over the next couple of years, with a new baseline funding of $71m from 2028/29. For the 2025 funding round, the Marsden Fund Council anticipated just over 100 projects - from a total of 978 proposals - would receive grants from about $80m in available funding. Science Minister Shane Reti. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Projects typically received funding for three years of research, Dobbie said, therefore already contracted researchers would be prioritised when the cuts came in. "There likely will be a reduction in [the] number of new grants we can award each year from 2026/27," she said. "The Marsden Fund Council will review the amount committed through existing research contracts and then determine the number of new grants that can be awarded." In a post-budget statement, the fund's administer, the Royal Society of New Zealand, said the budget cuts came at a time when New Zealand needed "innovation, critical thinking, and evidence-based solutions more than ever" and followed changes to the Marsden Fund last year, that saw support for social sciences and humanities research dropped, and an increased focus on research with the potential for economic benefit. Royal Society chief executive Paul Atkins expressed concern that funding cuts would "effectively reduce the amount available for active research projects". "The capability of our research sector has taken years to build up, and we risk losing talented, knowledgeable, and highly skilled experts." Meanwhile, the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) has cancelled the 2026 funding round for its contestable Endeavour Fund to focus on the merger of Crown Research Institutes into new mega science entities. The $55m Endeavour Fund supported research via Smart Ideas - designed to be fast-fail - and longer-term research programmes of up to five years. MBIE said there was precedent to pause contestable funding rounds during a shake-up to reduce the burden on staff. It said the funding for 2026 would instead be directed to current research projects that would otherwise end. "We expect that a contestable round will be undertaken in 2027 subject to further work as part of the science reforms." Technology used to assess the characteristics of fruit. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life Science Minister Shane Reti said the reallocated funding would ultimately benefit the system and create more opportunites for research and innovation. He said funding for science, innovation and technology was in line with Budget 2025's approach to economic and fiscal management. "The government has reprioritised funding for initiatives we need to unleash the potential of our science system in the long term - providing for a modern gene technology regime and fundamental changes to New Zealand's science, technology and innovation system, including new public research organisations and a forward-looking science council." Science, innovation and tech start-ups would also benefit, he said, from the government's $100m budget boost to Elevate NZ Venture Funding and an increase to the R&D tax incentive. "I see these as long-term investments that will over time create even more opportunities for world-leading research and innovation that leads to better outcomes for New Zealanders and our economy." Regarding the Endeavour Fund, he said it had not been suspended. "Any speculation about the future of the Endeavour Fund is just that - speculation. Changes to future funding rounds would likely be subject to Budget decisions." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Business Wire
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Greener Pastures Applauds Milestone as Active Investor Plus Program Surpasses 100 Applicants and $600 Million in Capital Commitments
AUCKLAND, New Zealand--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Greener Pastures New Zealand, a premier investment and lifestyle advisory firm specializing in facilitating high-net-worth investor residency through New Zealand's Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa program, today celebrated a major milestone in the country's revamped Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa program. The program has now received over 100 formal applications, representing an estimated NZD $600 million in committed capital to be deployed across New Zealand's private sector. In a promising signal for New Zealand's innovation-driven economy, 80% of these applicants selected the growth investment category, which prioritizes direct investment into New Zealand-managed funds and operating businesses. 'As one of the pioneering firms supporting clients through the AIP process, we have witnessed this first hand with our various meetings with clients around the world,' said Dominic Jones, Managing Director of Greener Pastures New Zealand. 'It reflects not only strong international interest in New Zealand as a destination for strategic investment and lifestyle, but also the government's success in aligning immigration policy with long-term economic development.' Greener Pastures operates the Greener Pastures Diversified Fund, an approved investment vehicle under the AIP program. The firm provides end-to-end advisory for global investors pursuing residency in New Zealand, including investment management, relocation support, and strategic introductions across New Zealand's business and lifestyle ecosystems. The program's success to date is the result of coordinated efforts by Invest New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand, and private sector partners working across borders to attract high-quality investors and activate capital that will fuel job creation, innovation, and sustainable growth across the country. Invest New Zealand General Manager, Benny Goodman says the recent changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa have made it even easier to invest in New Zealand. 'New Zealand has a vibrant eco-system of investment opportunities – from growth companies through to more established entities, projects and funds. The Active Investor Plus Visa pathway makes it easy for investors to connect with these opportunities and gain permanent residence in New Zealand.' For more information on Greener Pastures New Zealand, please visit About Greener Pastures New Zealand Greener Pastures New Zealand is a premier investment and lifestyle advisory firm specializing in facilitating high-net-worth investor residency through New Zealand's Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa program. As a subsidiary of Origin Capital Partners, the firm provides tailored investment products and lifestyle transition support, ensuring a smooth relocation process for high-net-worth investors. Its government-approved Diversified Fund meets AIP visa criteria, while its tailored lifestyle services ensure a smooth transition, from real estate and education to local expertise. Led by Managing Director Dominic Jones and Board Chairman Simon Botherway, Greener Pastures helps global investors build secure, sustainable futures in one of the world's most desirable destinations. Learn more at
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greener Pastures Applauds Milestone as Active Investor Plus Program Surpasses 100 Applicants and $600 Million in Capital Commitments
80% of investors choose growth category, channeling capital into New Zealand's innovation economy AUCKLAND, New Zealand, May 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Greener Pastures New Zealand, a premier investment and lifestyle advisory firm specializing in facilitating high-net-worth investor residency through New Zealand's Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa program, today celebrated a major milestone in the country's revamped Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa program. The program has now received over 100 formal applications, representing an estimated NZD $600 million in committed capital to be deployed across New Zealand's private sector. In a promising signal for New Zealand's innovation-driven economy, 80% of these applicants selected the growth investment category, which prioritizes direct investment into New Zealand-managed funds and operating businesses. "As one of the pioneering firms supporting clients through the AIP process, we have witnessed this first hand with our various meetings with clients around the world," said Dominic Jones, Managing Director of Greener Pastures New Zealand. "It reflects not only strong international interest in New Zealand as a destination for strategic investment and lifestyle, but also the government's success in aligning immigration policy with long-term economic development." Greener Pastures operates the Greener Pastures Diversified Fund, an approved investment vehicle under the AIP program. The firm provides end-to-end advisory for global investors pursuing residency in New Zealand, including investment management, relocation support, and strategic introductions across New Zealand's business and lifestyle ecosystems. The program's success to date is the result of coordinated efforts by Invest New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand, and private sector partners working across borders to attract high-quality investors and activate capital that will fuel job creation, innovation, and sustainable growth across the country. Invest New Zealand General Manager, Benny Goodman says the recent changes to the Active Investor Plus Visa have made it even easier to invest in New Zealand. "New Zealand has a vibrant eco-system of investment opportunities – from growth companies through to more established entities, projects and funds. The Active Investor Plus Visa pathway makes it easy for investors to connect with these opportunities and gain permanent residence in New Zealand." For more information on Greener Pastures New Zealand, please visit About Greener Pastures New Zealand Greener Pastures New Zealand is a premier investment and lifestyle advisory firm specializing in facilitating high-net-worth investor residency through New Zealand's Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa program. As a subsidiary of Origin Capital Partners, the firm provides tailored investment products and lifestyle transition support, ensuring a smooth relocation process for high-net-worth investors. Its government-approved Diversified Fund meets AIP visa criteria, while its tailored lifestyle services ensure a smooth transition, from real estate and education to local expertise. Led by Managing Director Dominic Jones and Board Chairman Simon Botherway, Greener Pastures helps global investors build secure, sustainable futures in one of the world's most desirable destinations. Learn more at View source version on Contacts Stephen FrancyRubenstein PR212-805-3017sfrancy@ Sign in to access your portfolio
