New Zealand is open for business and has the potential to attract founders to build companies here rather than in Australia. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
It means that people who take the big risks of creating productive assets get the rewards. It also realises the new economy, which sees employees partake in their business\u2019 success through employee share options and the democratisation of investing through apps such as Sharesies.<\/p>\n
Beyond tax, New Zealand ranks fourth among the least corrupt countries in the world, and 11th on the global Index of Economic Freedom. The World Bank has ranked New Zealand first among 190 economies for ease of doing business. It takes a day to set up a company, we have one of the best broadband networks in the world, and globally connected transport hubs.<\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s trade agreements<\/a> give businesses headquartered here preferential access to markets covering about 70% of our exports. For anyone building a global company, that is a meaningful structural advantage that rarely gets talked about.<\/p>\n New Zealand\u2019s small domestic market also forces founders to think globally from day one, so that constraint becomes a capability. There is a growing cohort of genuinely world-class companies that didn\u2019t build only for New Zealand. <\/p>\n That instinct is one of the reasons our tech ecosystem has grown more than six times in value since 2019, outperforming Australia, Ireland, Israel and Sweden. In venture-backed enterprise value per capita, we generate $24,000 compared to $16,000 for Australia \u2013 so we\u2019re already punching above our weight \u2013 our present settings are clearly doing something right!<\/p>\n Founders who relocate don\u2019t just bring themselves \u2013 they bring teams, capital, customers and the compounding economic activity of companies that employ highly skilled people, pay real wages and invest in the local ecosystem. The maths on welcoming them is straightforward.<\/p>\n In January 2025, the Government established Invest New Zealand, a dedicated agency designed as a single point of contact for prospective overseas investors navigating local regulation and business set-up, and they also created new investor visa categories.<\/p>\n Ireland built a global tech hub through deliberate policy and relentless promotion. Singapore actively recruits founders with its zero CGT regime. The United States offers QSBS \u2013 paying zero federal capital gains tax on exits up to US$10 million ($17m). New Zealand could be that answer for founders, risk takers and builders looking for a safe place for people and capital.<\/p>\n Visa and immigration settings have improved but should go further, including for those arriving with existing offshore assets. We need to make it genuinely frictionless for someone with capital, a team and a track record to establish here quickly. <\/p>\n The talent they bring with them \u2013 engineers, product leaders, operators \u2013 are exactly the people we need more of. We need to continue investing in the innovation ecosystem. <\/p>\n We should also be deliberate about our renewable energy advantage, actively building additional energy capacity and the data centre and AI infrastructure narrative around it.<\/p>\n While Australia considers its settings, New Zealand should resist any temptation to follow and should now double down on the things we already do well.<\/a> This isn\u2019t about protecting the wealthy; it\u2019s about making sure the next billion-dollar company gets built here rather than somewhere else. <\/p>\n People are looking for a place where ambition is welcomed, where the infrastructure to build a global company exists, and where the quality of life justifies uprooting a team and a family \u2013 New Zealand can be that place.<\/p>\nPrime Minister Christopher Luxon’s Goverment has created a dedicated agency designed as a single point of contact for prospective overseas investors. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell<\/p>\n
The tech ecosystem has grown more than six times in value since 2019. Photo \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n
As Australia tightens CGT, New Zealand is in a strong position to pitch itself as a founders\u2019 haven. Photo \/ 123rf<\/p>\n