Editorial: A Poor Policy
OPINION: At a time when farmers are advocating for less government spending and no new taxes, the dairy sector is rightly concerned by ACT's new immigration policy.
This week, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced that from 1 June 2026, applicants in the Growth category will be able to include philanthropic gifts of up to 20% of their total investment, with the remainder continuing to be invested in higher-growth assets.
The changes are anticipated to be attractive to globally mobile philanthropists choosing New Zealand as their home and could help strengthen the charitable sector, which is comparatively small and undercapitalised against the scale of the causes it serves, and reliant on a narrow funding base.
Changes Designed to Strengthen Economic and Community Outcomes
Stanford says the AIP Visa is designed to attract experienced investors who can make a meaningful contribution to the country's economy and communities.
"The Growth category is focused on investment that supports business growth, innovation and productivity," she says.
She says that allowing a capped philanthropic option adds flexibility, while keeping the category's focus on strong economic outcomes.
She adds that feedback from investors and charities highlighted strong demand for a philanthropic pathway within the Growth category.
“Over the last year I have met a number of investors, potential investors, and heard from charities, asking for investors to be able to contribute directly to social, environmental, conservation, or cultural good in New Zealand through a philanthropic gift as part of their AIP Visa," Stanford says.
According to Stanford, while this option is currently available in the Balanced category, it is not available in Growth which has attracted the majority of applications.
She says the changes will help charities and conservation organisations access new funding streams while maintaining the category’s focus on active investment.
“This expansion to Growth gives investors the option to support eligible charities or specified Department of Conversation initiatives with philanthropic gifts alongside their investment,” Ms Stanford says.
“Charities make invaluable contributions to our communities and for many a philanthropic gift can make a significant difference in being able to continue their important work."
Stricter Charitable Eligibility Settings
Eligibility criteria for registered charities to receive philanthropic gifts via the visa has also been changed.
Now, to receive a gift via the AIP Visa, charities must:
- have been operating for at least five years;
- be a Tier 1-3 charity;
- and the gift must be used to benefit New Zealand and cannot personally benefit the applicant.
“This expansion retains the Grown category’s focus on active investment, while recognising that philanthropy also supports positive outcomes for communities alongside strong economic investment,” Stanford says.
Donor Advised Funds to Support Conservation Investment
NZNF chief executive Nicky Sygrove says the announcement is "genuinely transformational".
"For our charitable sector, and for conservation in particular, this is a turning point — it opens the door to a scale of philanthropic investment that simply has not been available to us before,” Sygrove says.
AIP applicants wishing to make philanthropic conservation investments under the new settings can do so by establishing their own donor advised fund with the New Zealand Nature Fund.
A donor advised fund allows the philanthropist to recommend how their contributions are deployed over time, while NZNF provides the governance, due diligence, grant-making infrastructure, and reporting required to ensure each dollar achieves measurable conservation impact.
The New Zealand Nature Fund has operated as an independent charitable trust for more than 25 years, channelling donor philanthropic funds to the Department of Conservation as well as to regional, district, and community conservation initiatives the length of the country.
“For more than two and a half decades we have helped donors translate generosity into measurable outcomes for native species, landscapes, and the communities that protect them,” Sygrove says. “We stand ready to work with AIP applicants, their advisers, and government to ensure this new pathway delivers lasting impact for Aotearoa’s natural taonga.”
