Nature of a New Zealand exempt trust.

The New Zealand Trust has been a part of New Zealand's legislative framework since 1856.

The New Zealand Trust offers non-residents of New Zealand all the advantages of a conventional structure within a well-regulated jurisdiction.

New Zealand trusts are regulated by the Trustee Act 1956, and contain the following features:

• A trustee holds the trust assets for the persons described in the Trust Deed as beneficiaries. Beneficiaries may be natural persons, companies, partnerships or any other legally recognised entity.
• A Trust Deed describes an equitable and contractual relationship between persons, which is regulated only by the Courts.
• There is no requirement for registration of a trust; the deed remains an entirely private document.
• A trustee may be a natural person, company or a limited partnership. The trust may have any number of trustees.
• A New Zealand Trust may hold property, trade or operate a business.
• A custodial or principal trustee must be a New Zealand resident in order to be trustee of an Exempt Trust.
• A trust can be terminated at any time.
• The trust may operate for a maximum of 80 years.
• A trust may use the trust laws of another country on its proper law.

What we do, continued

• Trustee Relationship
• Nature of an Exempt Trust
• International Aspects and Double Tax Agreement
• New Zealand Trust Structure
• New Zealand Tax Position
• Private Trustee Companies (PTC)
• New Zealand Limited Partnerships
• Confidentiality and Reporting Requirements