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.
Your business experience does not have to be consecutive years. It could have been gained over a number of years but must add up to at least four years in total.
If you have New Zealand business experience, you must have gained it lawfully while holding an appropriate permit.