Google founder Larry Page gets New Zealand residency, raising questions

Doubts were raised regarding Paige’s entry into the country during the time of pandemic when its borders were shut for foreigners.

August 06, 2021 04:13 pm | Updated 07:30 pm IST - Wellington

Larry Page

Larry Page

Google co-founder Larry Page has gained New Zealand residency, officials confirmed on Friday, stoking debate over whether extremely wealthy people can essentially buy access to the South Pacific country.

Immigration New Zealand said Mr. Page first applied for residency in November under a special visa open to people with at least 10 million New Zealand dollars ($7 million) to invest.

“As he was offshore at the time, his application was not able to be processed because of COVID-19 restrictions,” the agency said in a statement. “Once Mr. Page entered New Zealand, his application was able to be processed and it was approved on 4 February 2021.”

Gaining New Zealand residency would not necessarily affect Mr. Page's residency status in the U.S. or any other nations.

New Zealand lawmakers confirmed that Mr. Page and his son first arrived in New Zealand in January after the family filed an urgent application for the son to be evacuated from Fiji due to a medical emergency.

“The day after the application was received, a New Zealand air ambulance staffed by a New Zealand ICU nurse-escort medevaced the child and an adult family member from Fiji to New Zealand," Health Minister Andrew Little told lawmakers in Parliament.

Entry during lockdown

Mr. Little was responding to questions about how Page had managed to enter the country at a time when New Zealand had shut its borders to non-residents in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Mr. Little told lawmakers the family had abided by applicable virus protocols when they arrived.

Mr. Page's residency application was approved about three weeks later.

Immigration New Zealand noted that while Mr. Page had become a resident, he didn't have permanent residency status and remained subject to certain restrictions.

Still, the agency on its website touts the “Investor Plus” visa as offering a “New Zealand lifestyle,” adding that “you may be able to bring your car, boat and household items to New Zealand, free of customs charges.”

Some local news organisations reported that Mr. Page had since left New Zealand.

Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Forbes on Friday ranked Mr. Page as the world’s sixth-wealthiest person, with a fortune of $117 billion. Forbes noted that Mr. Page stepped down as chief executive of Google’s parent company Alphabet in 2019 but remained a board member and controlling shareholder.

Opposition frowns

Opposition lawmakers said the episode raised questions about why Mr. Page was approved so quickly at a time when many skilled workers or separated family members who were desperate to enter New Zealand were being turned away.

“The government is sending a message that money is more important than doctors, fruit pickers and families who are separated from their children," ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden said in a statement.

In 2017, it emerged that Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel had been able to gain New Zealand citizenship six years earlier, despite never having lived in the country. Mr. Thiel was approved after a top lawmaker decided his entrepreneurial skills and philanthropy were valuable to the nation.

Mr. Thiel didn’t even have to leave California for the ceremony — he was granted citizenship during a private ceremony held at the New Zealand Consulate in Santa Monica.

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