How much time did US vampire capitalist Peter Thiel spend in New Zealand before national granted him citizenship? Thanks to the Ombudsman, we now know: just 12 days:
US billionaire Peter Thiel spent 12 days in New Zealand before being granted citizenship by the then Internal Affairs Minister in 2011.
The entrepreneur was granted citizenship in June 2011 under exceptional circumstances despite not having lived in the country previously and not intending to do so in the future.
Normally a permanent resident has to spend more than 70 percent of their time in New Zealand over five years before they can apply for citizenship.
According to Stuff, that works out to 1350 days. So Thiel spent less than 1% of the required time here. I guess that's what being one of the 1% gets you. But again, it simply looks like naked corruption. Thiel was granted citizenship, and the normal requirements waived, because he was rich. And that should not be acceptable to any of us.
