This platform brings together analysis and commentary ahead of the Budget and our view on the outlook ahead. Against the backdrop of a difficult economic and fiscal environment, what will the government's budget deliver? Explore here for insights on the issues that matter and what this means for the road ahead.

Insights on the Issues That Matter

New Zealand’s Defence Budget surge: A strategic response in an uncertain world

May 15, 2025

The Coalition Government’s proposed NZ$12 billion Defence Capability Plan 2025 marks a significant increase in defence spending over the next four years. While NZ$12 billion may sound substantial, it represents a level of budget commitment that is not without precedent. New Zealand’s defence budget hovered near 1% of GDP for much of the past two decades, following a steady decline from a peak of around 3% in 1980 and 2% in the early 1990s. 

New Zealand’s New Golden Visa

May 13, 2025

New Zealand has been an attractive destination for human capital and a relative safe haven for financial capital throughout its history. Over the years many talented migrants have become permanent residents of New Zealand and developed financial and social connections to the country, even if they remain ordinarily resident in other parts of the world.

The key reforms about to impact workplaces

May 13, 2025

The Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden, has announced a host of health and safety reforms - all slated to be progressed this year. There are also proposals for a range of amendments to the Employment Relations Act, all aimed at making business easier for employers, but potentially creating significant uncertainty.

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities: Creating a sustainable infrastructure pipeline for New Zealand

April 4, 2025

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities: Creating a sustainable infrastructure pipeline for New Zealand is the second part of our infrastructure series. This edition explores recent reforms and the future of New Zealand's infrastructure sector. As the world's largest global law firm, we have both a uniquely global view, and a deeply local perspective.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are a tool, but not a solution, for New Zealand’s infrastructure challenges

March 21, 2025

Simon Wilson’s recent article on road tolls, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and the Investment Summit raises important questions about the models used to deliver infrastructure projects in New Zealand. The discussion focuses on infrastructure as a key priority for New Zealand given the pressing need to address New Zealand’s infrastructure challenges in developing effective methods of planning, funding and delivering critical projects (including exploring different procurement models for infrastructure delivery). In that context, PPPs are a valuable tool to meet New Zealand’s infrastructure challenges, but are by no means a universal solution.

Government to provide tax relief via new Foreign Investment Fund calculation method

March 18, 2025

In news that will be welcomed by new migrants to New Zealand, returning New Zealanders, and the business community, the Government has confirmed reforms to the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) rules with the introduction of a realisation-based calculation method.

The future of water services delivery

March 17, 2025

The water sector’s challenges are well known, long-standing, and increasingly interconnected. In this guide we explore the key challenges facing the sector.

New Zealand Government confirms relaxed requirements for residency by investment

February 9, 2025

The Prime Minister of New Zealand has just confirmed details of the long-awaited changes to the Active Investor Plus resident visa programme (AIP Programme) which is New Zealand’s residency by investment programme. The changes follow concerns over the current high investment thresholds of the programme and its focus on riskier investments, which has led to a significant decline in applicants as compared to the previous Investor 1 and Investor 2 resident visa programmes. The Government’s changes aim to make the AIP Programme more accessible, while still encouraging meaningful investments in New Zealand's economy.