Service

Overseas Investment

Summary

Whether you’re a local business looking to new shores or an international business wishing to expand into New Zealand, we will put together a bespoke team to advise, assist and connect you to new business opportunities.

The decision to invest overseas is complex; nothing can be taken for granted; there are new laws to interpret, new customs and cultures to understand, new languages and business norms to become acquainted with. We will partner with you to understand your business drivers, and if you speak English, French, Spanish, German, Samoan, Mandarin, Bahasa Malaysia or Taiwanese, we are happy to speak your language.

Key services

Property and real estate

Advising foreign investors on the regulatory framework and approval process for investing in property in New Zealand, including involving sensitive land. Advising on the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) application process, including preparing consent applications, engaging with the OIO and other government agencies, and ensuring compliance with consent conditions.

Corporate and commercial

Advising food and beverage businesses compliance, governance, mergers and acquisitions, procurement, manufacturing, and distribution. We have extensive experience in dealing with regulators and resolving investigations under various consumer protection and competition laws, including the Fair Trading Act 1986, the Commerce Act 1986 and the Privacy Act 2020.

Intellectual property

Advising on IP rights availability in New Zealand and protecting and establishing relevant rights and for your business.

Chambers and Partners

Investing In... 2026 Global Practice Guide

Our specialists provide an overview of the evolving cross-border investment landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand, examining the key market trends, regulatory reforms and economic settings shaping deal activity in 2025 and influencing how inbound investment and M&A are likely to unfold in 2026.

Read the report

Key people

Work Highlights

Acting for Chinese owned companies in applications for OIO consents for NZD257 million and NZD106 million geothermal projects in Taupō region, NZD130 million project to develop island in Auckland region, and NZD550 million investment and development in sensitive land.
Advising on an obtaining OIO consent for BSA International (France) on its acquisition of New Zealand New Milk Limited, New Zealand New Milk Brands Limited, and New Zealand New Milk Trading Limited (a consumer ready infant formula manufacturer), via Sanulac Oceania Pty Ltd.
Acting for international and domestic investors on applications for transition exemption certificates for projects from NZD25-300 million.
Advising on OIO consent for sale by Envictus NZ Limited (Singapore) of Envictus Dairies NZ Limited (manufacturing and bottling plant for dairy and juice products).
Acting for a Chinese-owned company on exemption to comply with transition exemption certificate for NZD300 million project.
Advising on and obtaining OIO consent for Targa Capital Limited (overseas controlled) to invest in the development of affordable housing – both on a build to sell, and build to sell basis, in NZ.
Advising on and obtaining notifications to the Overseas Investment Office, for Arcadea Group's (Canada) acquisition of Radford Software Limited; and Spider Tracks Limited.
Advising on and obtaining notifications to the Overseas Investment Office, for numerous acquisitions by Vela Software and Volaris Software (operating groups of Constellation Software (Canada)) in New Zealand.

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