Overseas Investment Office (OIO) lawyers in Nelson Tasman

Pitt & Moore & your investment

Clear guidance for overseas buyers investing in New Zealand property, including those navigating OIO consent and Active Investor Plus visa requirements. If you are an overseas person looking to purchase land or property in New Zealand, you may need consent under the Overseas Investment Act 2005.

The rules can be complex, particularly where residential land, lifestyle property, farmland or sensitive land is involved.

Pitt & Moore provides practical, timely advice to our cients navigating the Overseas Investment Office process. We help you understand whether consent is required, what conditions may apply, and how to structure your purchase correctly from the outset.

For advice on business asset purchases, click here.

Not sure if you need help?

Speak with our team today

Do you need Overseas Investment Office consent?

Consent may be required if you are:

Clear advice at the beginning helps prevent costly delays or failed transactions.

We provide early advice so you understand:

Support throughout the OIO application process

Applying for consent involves detailed disclosure and careful preparation.

Our experience ensures your application is thorough, accurate and strategically presented.

We assist our clients with:

Residential and lifestyle property purchases

Many overseas buyers are seeking to purchase:

A family home
A holiday property
A lifestyle block
Property through a family trust

New Zealand’s foreign buyer restrictions mean residential purchases are tightly regulated. We guide you through eligibility rules and ensure your transaction complies with current legislation.

We work closely with your real estate agent, lender and advisers so the process runs as smoothly as possible.

Active Investor Plus visa and property investment in New Zealand

Many overseas buyers purchasing property in New Zealand are also applying for, or holding, the Active Investor Plus visa (often referred to as the “Golden Visa”).

While recent changes allow certain investor visa holders to purchase high-value residential property, these transactions remain subject to strict Overseas Investment Office (OIO) requirements.

We help clients navigate the intersection between immigration rules and overseas investment law.

What Active Investor Plus visa holders can (and cannot) do

Under current rules:

Item description
Item description
Item description

This means property ownership is a lifestyle benefit of the visa — not the qualifying investment itself.

Timing and risk management

OIO applications can take time.

Conditions in agreements must be drafted carefully to protect your position while approval is pending. Our role is to ensure your investment proceeds with clarity and confidence.

We help our clients: