New Law Establishes Invest New Zealand to Boost Global Investment and Jobs

Parliament has passed landmark legislation that formally establishes Invest New Zealand, a new autonomous Crown entity designed to supercharge foreign investment and help drive economic growth across the country. The newly formed agency will begin operations on 1 July 2025, marking a major milestone in the Government’s strategy to modernize and energize the New Zealand economy.

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay hailed the move as a “major step forward” in the Government’s economic agenda, which places international investment and innovation at the core of long-term growth and productivity.

A Commercially-Driven Investment Attraction Agency

With a clear commercial mandate, Invest New Zealand will be tasked with attracting high-quality global investors, facilitating partnerships with local businesses and researchers, and helping to scale up advanced and high-growth industries in the country.

“Invest New Zealand will act as a bridge between global capital and New Zealand’s economic potential,” said Minister McClay. “It’s about making it easier to do business here—cutting red tape, speeding up decision-making, and targeting investment that delivers long-term benefits for the country.”

The agency will work to:

• Connect offshore investors with promising business and R&D opportunities

• Accelerate investment into key sectors like advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, clean energy, digital technology, and agri-tech

• Support the expansion of global firms’ research and development operations within New Zealand

• Enhance the local workforce by helping develop the skills needed for a more innovative and knowledge-based economy

Strong Funding and Strategic Oversight

The 2025 Budget allocated $85 million over four years to support the establishment of Invest New Zealand. This funding will be used to build operational capacity, launch international marketing campaigns, recruit sector specialists, and develop systems that streamline the investment process for global partners.

To ensure that Invest New Zealand remains industry-aligned and strategically focused, a private sector advisory group—chaired by veteran business leader Rob Morrison—was established during the agency’s design phase. The group will continue to offer high-level guidance as the agency moves into its operational stage, helping shape priorities and maintain commercial relevance.

A Focus on Long-Term Economic Gains

Invest New Zealand’s creation signals a broader policy shift by the Government: from passive reception of foreign investment to active, targeted attraction of capital that aligns with national development goals.

The agency is expected to:

• Create high-value jobs through capital-intensive, innovative ventures

• Stimulate knowledge transfer and international collaboration

• Catalyze export growth and domestic value chains

• Position New Zealand as a competitive destination for R&D, startups, and regional investment

By proactively shaping investment flows, the agency aims to address long-standing challenges like low productivity growth, brain drain, and a narrow export base.

Next Steps

Invest New Zealand will be fully operational starting 1 July 2025, with staff, systems, and international offices expected to be progressively activated over the first year. It will operate independently as a Crown entity but report to the Minister for Trade and Investment.

The Government will also begin work on integrating Invest New Zealand’s functions with other business development and immigration initiatives to ensure a whole-of-government approach to international economic engagement.

Stakeholders in the business, investment, and technology sectors have welcomed the announcement, citing the need for a central, professionally managed agency that can both market New Zealand effectively abroad and facilitate real-time investor support at home.