Update to threshold for Australian investors

On 1 January 2023, the significant business assets threshold for Australian investors will be updated.

Australian non-government and government investments in significant business assets are exempt from the requirement to obtain prior consent from the Overseas Investment Office if they are under certain thresholds.

These thresholds must be adjusted each year if calculations, made in accordance with formulae set out in regulations 99(3) and 101(3) of the Overseas Investment Regulations 2005, produce an amount greater than the previous year’s amount.

Based on the above calculations, the thresholds for the period 1 January 2023 to the close of 31 December 2023 will increase to:

• NZ$586 million, if the investor is an Australian non-government investor; and
• NZ$123 million, if the investor is an Australian government investor.