Active Investor Plus (AIP) Visa - Conservation Investment

We welcome New Zealand Cabinet Minister’s decision to allow applicants in the Active Investor Plus (AIP) Growth Category to allocate up to 20 percent of their investment to eligible philanthropic causes. This innovative and forward-thinking policy recognises that philanthropy can complement productive investment while generating meaningful benefits for New Zealand’s conservation, environmental, cultural, and community initiatives.

For those seeking New Zealand residency through the AIP Visa programme, this presents a unique opportunity to align your investment with a lasting commitment to preserve, protect, and enhance New Zealand’s natural heritage. By supporting conservation efforts, you can help safeguard our country’s extraordinary flora and fauna for future generations while contributing to outcomes that benefit all New Zealanders.

New residents can drive change, immediately

New capital at this scale will be genuinely transformational for New Zealand conservation.

AIP applicants wishing to make philanthropic conservation investments under the new settings can do so by providing direct support to a DOC approved conservation initiative or by establishing your own conservation focused Donor Advised Fund with the New Zealand Nature Fund.

A Donor Advised Fund enables you to recommend how your contributions are deployed over time, while NZNF provides the governance, due diligence, grant-making infrastructure, and reporting required to ensure each dollar achieves the measurable conservation impact you are seeking.

Stewardship of your donor advised funds will be through the NZ Nature Fund (for up to three years before dispersal) to your selected conservation initiative(s).

This approach simplifies the philanthropic component of the Active Investor Plus Visa process by allowing your conservation funds to be committed through a single, established vehicle, providing assurance that the pathway for conservation support is in place enabling you to focus on completing property, investment, immigration and relocation requirements.

Contact the NZ Nature Fund here to learn more about Donor Advised Funds

What makes the NZ Nature Fund an excellent AIP choice?

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 throughout the country. Our long track record and direct relationships with on-the-ground projects make us well placed to support AIP investors seeking to direct conservation capital with confidence.

New Zealand’s biodiversity faces significant challenges, yet conservation expertise, innovation and commitment exist in depth across the country. Too often, conservation organisations spend valuable time seeking funding rather than delivering conservation outcomes.

At the same time, philanthropists, businesses and donors want to contribute but can struggle to identify trusted opportunities and measure impact.

NZ Nature Fund exists to bridge this gap. We connect capital with conservation excellence. We enable those restoring nature to focus on their work while we focus on stewardship, fundraising, reporting and long-term investment.

The New Zealand Nature Fund is ready to help applicants put their capital to work, to drive positive change for our environment, to protect biodiversity, and future-proof the outdoor-lead lifestyle that New Zealand is so famous for globally.

Enduring

We take a long-term view, building permanent support for nature that extends beyond political cycles, funding cycles and individual projects.

This makes us a trusted advisor and facilitator for those wishing to learn more about how best to connect with conservation, nationwide across Aotearoa.

Independent

We remain non-partisan and independent in our decision-making, guided by evidence and conservation outcomes.

This pillar allows us to remain focused on what matters most – achieving outcomes.

100% for Nature

100% of any donation to NZNF backed projects, go directly to the project. Our operating costs are funded separately through customised foundation partnerships for operational support, investment returns and other approved revenue streams.

This commitment ensures every donor dollar achieves maximum impact.