Visiting annually on three month tourist visa...

[topcatone]

Hello all...we love NZ (several visits) and have now decided to pursue living there part time. We wouldn't qualify presently under any of the residency or other visa programs. Because we have older children, grandchildren in the United States and live in the Seattle area. we are thinking of visiting annually during our winter (NZ summer) for the three month max tourist visa period. We would buy/build a house in NZ for that purpose, and rent it out when not in NZ or allow friends/relatives to use it. Any problems with this scheme?

[ChrisMwn]

no problem at all. if you are meaning the visa waiver then that gives you 3 months on each arrival. You can stay for "9 months in any 18", or "12 months in 24" if your 3 month visa is extended on shore.

You could also make use of the following (from INZ Instructions)

V2.15 Multiple journey visas
a.The objective of the multiple journey visa instructions is to facilitate opportunities for individuals who have bona fide reasons to regularly travel to New Zealand for visits of up to six months.
b.To be granted a multiple journey visa under these instructions applicants: i.must lodge an application for a visitor visa, as set out in E4, from outside New Zealand; and
ii.must meet visitor visa requirements (see V2.1); and
iii.must not have been in New Zealand for more than nine months in the preceding 18-month period (see V2.5) at the time the application is lodged.

c.On arrival, an applicant may be granted entry permission, provided that they will not spend more than six months in New Zealand in the 12-month period before the end of their current stay.
d.Multiple journey visas may be current for travel for up to 36 months from the date they are granted so long as the passport remains valid, except in the case of nationals of the United States of America, in which case the visa may be current for travel for up to 48 months from the date it is granted.