New York Post reports wealthy Californians paying millions to relocate to New Zealand under golden-visa program as California billionaire-tax measure nears November vote

The report says some high-net-worth residents are seeking New Zealand residency through a program advertised as a route to living in the Southern Alps, as a proposed California levy on billionaires heads toward a November ballot decision.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

A report by New York Post says some affluent Californians are paying roughly $3 million apiece to relocate to New Zealand, using the country’s “golden visa” program as a pathway to residency. The publication frames the move as an effort to reduce exposure to state taxes in anticipation of a proposed California billionaire tax that would be put to voters in November.

According to the New York Post, the relocations are tied to New Zealand’s “golden-visa program” and a broader pattern of interest among wealthy Americans in moving to New Zealand’s tourism- and lifestyle-oriented destinations. The report describes the destination as the “Southern Alps” region and cites images associated with Queenstown, New Zealand, in its coverage.

The New York Post also reports that the proposed California measure would impose a 5% tax on billionaires. It characterizes the upcoming November vote as the point at which the proposal could become law, and it links that timing to the reported fundraising or relocation efforts described in the article.

The report does not provide in the materials available here any state agency filings, ballot text, or implementing regulations for the California billionaire proposal. It also does not provide documented details about individual payments, eligibility determinations, or the approval status of any specific golden-visa applications.

In general, New Zealand’s residency-by-investment options are administered through immigration rules that require applicants to meet program requirements and undergo review, and the “golden visa” terminology can refer to different investment and residency pathways depending on the version and criteria in effect. The New York Post account, as provided, does not supply primary documentation verifying the exact fee structure the article describes or the specific compliance steps taken by the individuals it names.

Separately from the reported personal moves, the November ballot decision would determine whether California adopts the billionaire-tax approach described by the New York Post. If enacted, the policy’s practical effect would depend on the measure’s language, the taxable base it defines, compliance rules, and enforcement mechanisms, including how residency or tax obligations would be measured under California law.

Because the central allegations in the report are not corroborated by any ballot text, tax code excerpts, or New Zealand immigration program documents included in the materials provided here, readers would need to consult the official California election materials and the relevant New Zealand immigration guidance to confirm the measure’s details and the residency-by-investment requirements described in the coverage.

Why It Matters

The timing of a November ballot vote is central to the reported pattern, raising questions about how quickly tax policy changes can affect residency and tax planning decisions.
If a billionaire-tax measure advances, its effectiveness would depend on legal definitions of residency, taxable income or wealth, and enforcement and compliance rules under California law.
The report points to potential administrative and legal questions about how jurisdictions handle high-net-worth individuals who relocate before an election or before implementation.
The episode highlights the need for primary documentation when linking specific immigration costs or application outcomes to state tax proposals.

Sources

report (New York Post)

Key Facts

New York Post reports wealthy Californians are paying roughly $3 million to relocate to New Zealand under the country’s “golden visa” program.
The report links the reported relocations to a proposed California billionaire tax that it says would impose a 5% rate.
The article says the proposal is set for a November vote.
The coverage describes the destination as New Zealand’s Southern Alps region and associates its reporting with Queenstown imagery.
The materials provided here include no official ballot text, state agency summaries, or New Zealand program documents to independently verify the reported tax or fee specifics.