Doing business in New Zealand - Grant Thornton

Foreword
If you are planning on
doing business in New
Zealand knowledge of the
investment environment
and information on the
legal, accounting and
taxation framework are
essential to keep you on
the right track…
New Zealand is a relatively small
trading market in world terms. It
welcomes foreign investment
and is a relatively easy country in
which to do business. Nevertheless, it
is essential that prospective investors
obtain advice concerning regulatory,
legal and cultural issues arising from the
conduct of business in New Zealand.
Grant Thornton has prepared this
guide to assist those interested in doing
business in New Zealand. It includes
legislation in force as of 1 August
2012. The guide does not cover the
subject exhaustively but is intended to
answer some of the important, broad
questions that may arise. When specific
problems occur in practice, it will
often be necessary to refer to the laws
and regulations of New Zealand and
to obtain appropriate accounting and
legal advice. If you require any further
information, please do not hesitate to
contact your nearest Grant Thornton
New Zeland office, details of which are
noted on the back cover.
Grant Thornton International
Grant Thornton International is one
of the world’s leading organisations
of independently owned and managed
accounting and consulting firms,
providing assurance, tax and specialist
advice to privately held businesses and
public interest entities.
Member firms focus on helping
businesses reach their commercial goals
by providing practical, customised
solutions and identifying and pursuing
business opportunities domestically
and internationally. They share a
commitment to providing the same high
quality service to their clients wherever
they choose to do business.
Grant Thornton International and
member firms are not a worldwide
partnership. Services are delivered
independently by member firms within
Grant Thornton International, a
non-practicing, international umbrella
organisation that does not deliver
services in it own name.
Grant Thornton New Zealand
Grant Thornton New Zealand is a
major firm of chartered accountants
with offices in the three main
centres of Auckland, Wellington and
Christchurch.
As a member firm of Grant
Thornton International we are able to
combine the knowledge and experience
of our local marketplace with the
technologies, methodologies and
specialist resources of a professional
services organisation at the forefront of
the global accounting profession.
Our policy is to provide a high
quality and partner-led service that is
tailored to the client’s needs wherever
the client operates. Our client service
teams comprise professionals with the
requisite skills to deliver practical and
cost effective business solutions.
Our range of services includes:
• Accounting and business advisory
• Assurance and internal audit
• Business risk services
• Business transformation
• Corporate finance
• Government advisory
• Recovery and reorganisation
• Tax compliance and advice
• Transaction services
• Wealth management
• Other specialist services such
as litigation support, forensic
accounting and independent reports
Doing business in New Zealand 3