New Zealand

The US State Department's 2026 Investment Climate Statement, published in September, describes New Zealand as open and transparent, with foreign and domestic investors treated equally and Invest New Zealand acting as the main promotion agency. Sensitive land, fishing quota and significant business assets, including certain deals above NZ$100 million and those in critical infrastructure or dual-use technology, still need Overseas Investment Office screening.

U.S. Department of State · 2026-09-29

A Simpson Grierson/Mergermarket survey of 90 international investors, published 8 October, ranked New Zealand first in Asia-Pacific for ease of doing business and quality of investment opportunities for a third year running. 89% of respondents are considering investing within five years. The survey adds to the evidence that the March 2026 Overseas Investment Act reforms, which apply to all applications lodged since 6 March, have improved how foreign investors see the market.

ION Analytics / Mergermarket · 2026-10-08

New Zealand and India ratified their free trade agreement on 21 September, and it enters into force on 20 October 2026. A second round of tariff cuts follows on 1 January 2027, along with preferential quota access for some New Zealand goods such as apples and kiwifruit. The government also describes the deal as giving services exporters and investors more certainty in India.

New Zealand Government (Beehive) · 2026-09-21

The RBNZ raised the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 2.75% on 2 September, its second straight increase. June-quarter inflation was 4.1%, driven by Middle East–related fuel prices, and the Bank said it may need to raise rates again this year, so entrants should plan for higher borrowing costs and a firmer currency bias in the near term.

Reserve Bank of New Zealand · 2026-09-08

June-quarter GDP held up better than feared, bringing annual growth to 2.6%. A week later ANZ added two more 25-basis-point hikes to its OCR forecast and said oil prices are likely to push annual inflation back up in the fourth quarter, which points to tighter financing conditions than were assumed mid-year.

ANZ Research (Data Wrap) · 2026-09-25

Treasury's Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (29 September) cut the 2026/27 deficit forecast to NZ$6.8 billion from NZ$11.4 billion in the May Budget. Most of the improvement comes from higher tax receipts caused by persistent inflation. Treasury forecasts average growth of 2.6% and expects unemployment to fall from a 5.6% peak, but it says the risks lean towards weaker growth and higher inflation.

RNZ · 2026-09-29

Polls for the 7 November general election disagree. A Reid Research poll put the left bloc ahead for the first time since June, while the Verian and Taxpayers' Union–Curia polls kept the governing coalition in front, helped by a rise in NZ First support. The minor party Opportunity sits near the 5% threshold and could decide the outcome, so the make-up of the next government, and of its policies towards foreign firms, cannot be predicted yet.

The Conversation · 2026-10-06

The two main parties have set out different fiscal plans: National promises no new taxes, a surplus in 2028/29 and government spending below 30% of GDP, while Labour has promised more spending on public services. Entrants should expect the tax and spending outlook to depend on who wins and how coalition talks go after the election.

RNZ · 2026-09-29