Created: 2009-08-03 23:06:19

New Zealand is known as geographically isolated, but highly developed country. Year after year this island country ranks in the highest places of various lists on international country features comparisons like quality of life, prosperity, economic freedom, ease of doing business, lack of corruption, press freedom, protection of civil liberties and political rights, life expectancy, literacy, public education and peace. So there is little surprise to the fact that millions of people from all over the world would like to live in New Zealand more than in their home country. However, moving to New Zealand is not an easy task. The country has strict rules of immigrations and admits only those, who satisfy the strict requirements.

Moreover, New Zealand immigration requirements are based on the lack of people with specific education or profession. Therefore, for many immigrants the land of New Zealand as their new home remained only in the dreams.

However, recently the government of New Zealand relaxed entry conditions for business migrants with aim to encourage investment in the country. This change is of course related to economic recession and its main purpose is to boost economic performance by making New Zealand more attractive for business and entrepreneurial migrants. The good news is that some requirements for such immigrants, like English-language level are lowered. The worse is that they need to bring the certain amount of capital into the country. Required sums start from half a million and immigrant businessmen also have to create at least three full-time jobs.

These requirements disappointed people who expected that changes of immigration rules will open the doors to the New Zealand for those who would like to start their own business there.

It is clear that the changes are aimed at large-scale businessmen, not at the starters.

Moreover, such relaxation can give open entry to potentially unsavory characters who may downgrade the perfect image of the country itself.

What do you think of these new rules? Are they fair? Maybe they are not needed at all? Choose your option and vote in favour or against these rules.