Updates relevant to founders in New Zealand. 42 in total.
New Zealand's Taxation (Annual Rates for 2026-27, FBT Simplification, Foreign Investment Funds, and Remedial Measures) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 10 September 2026. It le…
As of Immigration NZ's 4 September 2026 update, the revamped Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa has drawn 904 applications (467 approved) since the April 2025 changes, with about NZ$4…
Auckland orbital-manufacturing startup Outlier Space, founded by ex-Rocket Lab engineer Jamie France, announced on 3 September 2026 that it raised NZ$10.5 million (about US$7.35 mi…
New Zealand's R&D Career Grant, administered by MBIE Innovation Services, reopened for applications at 9am on Monday 31 August 2026. It funds six months of full-time salary (minimu…
The R&D Career Grant, now run by Innovation Services (MBIE) after Callaghan Innovation's disestablishment, reopened for its 2026/27 round on 31 August 2026. It funds a NZ business…
On 21 August 2026 the Government launched the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology (NZIAT), the country's fourth Public Research Organisation, based at GridAKL in Auckland…
Innovation Services (MBIE, post-Callaghan) is running an open round of the R&D Experience Grant that pays up to $11,960 plus GST for up to 400 hours (10 weeks, min 30 hrs/week) of…
Innovation Services (administered by MBIE) reopens R&D Career Grant applications at 9am on Monday 31 August 2026. The grant funds six months' salary for an R&D hire — up to $30,000…
As of 16 August 2026, New Zealand's revamped Active Investor Plus (AIP) investor visa had drawn 872 applications and 434 approvals, adding roughly NZ$4.8 billion to the investment…
On 21 July 2026 the Government announced New Zealand's Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) has now supported more than $10 billion of R&D spending, taking under seven yea…
On 21 July 2026 MBIE announced a refreshed Founder & Startup Support Programme, appointing 14 providers under new contracts that began 1 July 2026 with an initial two-year term. It…
On 21 July 2026, MBIE announced a refreshed Founder & Startup Support Programme delivered by 14 appointed providers under contracts that began 1 July 2026 (two-year initial term wi…
MBIE has appointed a refreshed network of 14 providers to deliver the Founder & Startup Support Programme, with new contracts commencing 1 July 2026 for an initial two-year term. T…
On 21 July 2026 the NZ government announced its Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) has passed $10 billion in supported business R&D, generating an estimated $6.7 billion…
On 21 July 2026 MBIE confirmed a refreshed Founder & Startup Support Programme (FSSP) with a network of 14 providers on new contracts that began 1 July 2026 for an initial two-year…
MBIE launched the refreshed Founder and Startup Support Programme (FSSP) on 21 July 2026, with new contracts that commenced 1 July 2026 for an initial two-year term. It appoints 14…
Applications for MBIE Innovation Services' R&D Experience Grant opened 13 July 2026 and close at 9am Monday 24 August 2026 (or earlier if funding runs out); it subsidises hiring a…
Innovation Services (administered by MBIE) funds up to NZ$11,960 plus GST for a 400-hour, 10-week full-time student R&D internship at a minimum NZ$29.90/hour. The 2026/27 round ope…
The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 13 July 2026, with the main changes taking effect 1 April 2027. It creates a new 'small PCBU' category for…
From 6 July 2026, Immigration New Zealand relaxed the Business Investor Work Visa: applicants can now invest in eligible franchise businesses, purchase businesses through a New Zea…
On 6 July 2026, Immigration New Zealand widened the Business Investor Work Visa: applicants can now invest in eligible franchise businesses, purchase a business through a New Zeala…
From 6 July 2026, Immigration New Zealand made three rule changes to the Business Investor Work Visa: applicants can now invest in qualifying franchise businesses, purchase a busin…
The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill passed its final reading on 1 July 2026, the largest overhaul of NZ's H&S system in a decade. It defines a 'small PCBU' with limited, p…
Google announced on 21 June 2026 that its Google for Startups Accelerator: Australia and New Zealand includes Kiwi startups for the first time. The equity-free 10-week hybrid progr…
On 11 June 2026, Small Business Minister Cameron Brewer announced Government funding for AI-powered SME support: $400,000 to Business South to expand its AcceleratorNZ programme to…
In Budget 2026 (announced 5 June 2026), the Government doubled the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) de minimis threshold from NZD 50,000 to NZD 100,000 for the first time since 2000,…
New Zealand's R&D Career Grant, administered by Innovation Services (MBIE), reopens for applications at 9am on Monday 31 August 2026. It co-funds hiring a recent graduate into a 6-…
Budget 2026 (announced 28 May 2026) proposes that founders and active investors who once held at least a 10% stake in a foreign-domiciled company can keep using the Attributable FI…
Budget 2026 (delivered 28 May 2026) allocated NZ$10 million in capital to a new Startup Support Package - Emerging Managers' Programme, delivered by NZ Growth Capital Partners (NZG…
Budget 2026 (delivered 28 May 2026) cuts the R&D Tax Incentive cap on non-administrative internal software from $25 million to $3 million per year, saving the Crown about $87 milli…
In Budget 2026 (delivered 28 May 2026) the Government confirmed the R&D Tax Incentive will introduce quarterly in-year payments so businesses receive the 15% credit during the year…
In Budget 2026 (announced 28 May 2026), the NZ Government is changing the Research and Development Tax Incentive to introduce in-year payments, so businesses receive the 15% R&D ta…
Under Budget 2026 changes applying from 1 April 2026, a founder or active investor who once held at least a 10% interest in a foreign investment fund can keep using the attributabl…
Under Budget 2026 (announced 28 May 2026 by Revenue Minister Simon Watts), six months after a company is liquidated or removed from the Companies Register, any outstanding loans it…
Budget 2026 (announced 28 May 2026) doubles the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) de minimis threshold from NZ$50,000 to NZ$100,000 of cost in offshore shares. The change takes effect…
From 1 June 2026, new applicants in the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa Growth category can direct up to 20% of their total investment (up to NZD $1m of the NZD $5m minimum) to eli…
Founders: The current UOMI rate is 8.97% The taxpayer paying rate for underpayment use of money interest (UOMI) is currently 8.97% per annum, effective 16 January 2026, down from 9…
Dependent-child sponsorship threshold rose to ~NZ$58,240/yr from 9 March 2026 (80% of the new $35.00/hr median wage), not NZ$55,844 (which held only 10 Mar 2025-8 Mar 2026).
From 1 April 2026, unlisted NZ companies can elect to designate ESS shares as 'employee deferred shares', deferring an employee's tax until the earliest liquidity event (company li…
New employment settings took effect on 21 February 2026 under the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026. A new contractor 'gateway test' gives upfront certainty on whether a work…
From 24 August 2026, Immigration NZ adds two new Skilled Migrant Category residence pathways alongside the existing points system. The Skilled Work Experience pathway needs 5 years…
From January 2026, new rules require mandated government agencies (over 100 agencies) to pay 95% of eInvoices within 5 business days and other domestic trade invoices within 10 day…