Since March 2026, Active Investor Plus visa holders have been able to buy or build a home in New Zealand worth $5 million or more through a streamlined Overseas Investment Office consent pathway.
For advisers working with clients at this end of the market, that opens up another option. Rather than trying to find an existing property that meets a very specific brief, they can build the home they actually want.
But building introduces a different set of decisions. The Architect, builder and wider project team matter, as does when they are brought together. If your client is considering building in New Zealand, there are a few things worth understanding early.
Why your clients may choose to build, not buy
At $5 million and above, the New Zealand property market is relatively small. Recent industry analysis points to tens of thousands of overseas searches for homes at this level against only a few hundred listings nationally.
For someone looking for a particular location, level of privacy, architectural style or way of living, finding all of that in an existing home can be difficult.
Building removes some of that compromise. It gives the owner the opportunity to start with the site, engage the right Architect and create a home around the way they want to live.
That’s where the conversation changes from finding the right property to assembling the right team to deliver it.
What the Active Investor Plus visa allows
Qualifying Active Investor Plus visa holders can buy or build one residential property valued at $5 million or more.
Overseas Investment Office consent is still required, but the process has been streamlined, with applications assessed under a national interest test.
The exact requirements should always be confirmed with Immigration New Zealand and Land Information New Zealand for each client. From a building perspective, however, the important change is that an architectural home in New Zealand is now a genuine option for qualifying investors.
What to look for in a builder
At this end of the market, you should expect a builder to be capable of producing an exceptional home. Craftsmanship is the starting point.
The questions I would ask are around everything that sits behind it.
Who is controlling the cost throughout the project? How is progress measured against actual spend? Who owns quality on site? How are decisions recorded? And if the owner is overseas, can they see the same information as their Architect, builder and project team?
Those things matter on any architectural build. They matter even more when the owner is on the other side of the world.
At Faulkner, every build has a dedicated Project CFO responsible for its financial management. We measure work completed against actual spend at cost-code level, so we can see where a project sits financially while there is still time to do something about it – not discover it at the end.
Our Craftsmen are trained and employed by Faulkner, which means quality is owned within our business and led on site every day. And we use Procore across our projects so owners can see progress, photos, decisions and costs wherever they happen to be.
None of those things are particularly glamorous. But on a complex architectural build, they're the things that keep the project under control.
Bring the builder in early
One of the biggest pieces of advice I would give anyone considering an architectural build is to get the builder involved early.
By the time a fully resolved design reaches tender, many of the decisions that determine cost and buildability have already been made.
Early builder involvement doesn't mean compromising the Architect's design. Done properly, it's the opposite. It gives the Architect access to construction knowledge, current pricing and buildability input while there is still room to work through options together.
For an offshore owner, that early alignment is particularly valuable. Architect, owner and builder start with the same understanding of the design, budget and programme rather than trying to reconcile those things later.
Working with an Architect in New Zealand or overseas
Your client may already have an Architect engaged. They may also have an overseas Architect they want to lead the design. Either can work.
If the Architect is based overseas, the important part is having the right New Zealand expertise around them to navigate local consent requirements and construction. Our role is to work alongside that team, protect the design intent and help take the home from drawings through to construction here.
If your client hasn't selected an Architect yet, we can also introduce them to New Zealand Architects whose work suits the type of home they have in mind.
The important thing isn't where the Architect is based. It's that the owner, Architect and builder work as one team.
How Faulkner works with advisers
We regularly work alongside Architects, project managers and other professional advisers representing owners.
We're also straightforward about how we engage. Depending on the project, we may negotiate directly with the owner and their Architect, or tender through the Architect as part of a competitive process.
If you're advising someone considering building in New Zealand, we're happy to be involved early. That may simply mean an initial conversation about the site, design, likely programme and where we see the cost and construction risks.
Nobody needs to have all the answers at that stage. That’s the best time for us to talk.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Active Investor Plus visa holder build a home rather than buy one?
Yes. Qualifying investors can build one residential property valued at $5 million or more. Overseas Investment Office requirements still apply through the streamlined pathway, so current requirements should be confirmed for each individual investor.
Does my client need a New Zealand Architect?
Not necessarily. We can work alongside an overseas Architect and bring in the New Zealand expertise required for local consent and construction. If your client needs an Architect, we can also introduce them to Architects here whose work may suit their project.
How can an overseas owner keep control of the cost?
Every Faulkner build has a dedicated Project CFO responsible for financial management throughout the project. We measure work completed against actual spend, while Procore gives the owner visibility of progress, decisions and costs from wherever they are.
When should the builder become involved?
Ideally, early in the design process. It allows the Architect and builder to work together on buildability, programme and cost before the design is fully resolved.
Building in New Zealand from overseas
If you're advising a client considering an architectural home in New Zealand, we're happy to have an early conversation about what they're planning and what the build is likely to involve.
