Business experience is recognised if it is experience in planning, organisation, control, senior change-management, direction-setting and mentoring acquired through ownership of, or management level experience in, a lawful business enterprise that has at least five full-time employees and an annual turn-over of NZ$1 million.

A principal applicant is considered to own a business if they own at least 25 percent of a business.

A lawful business enterprise is an organisation that:

• operates lawfully in a commercial environment with the goal of returning a profit; and
• is not set up primarily for passive or speculative purposes.

The length of business experience is based on at least 30 hours per week.  We may give you credit for part-time business experience on a proportional basis, so if you have gained eight years’ business experience at 15 hours per week, this would equate to four years’ business experience based on a 30-hour week. Credit is given for 30-hour weeks only, even where you may have worked more than 30 hours in any week.