5 ms·

Who cares?

freehunter 10y ago
I agree. If NZ let him buy his way to citizenship, then what's the problem? He didn't break any laws, he followed the rules, and he got his citizenship legally. What's the story here?
- kennywinker 10y ago
  We like to think we live in a world with one set of rules. But of course we live in a world with multiple sets of rules, one for if you're a billionaire, one for if you're a racial minority, one for...
  - JumpCrisscross 10y ago
    > We like to think we live in a world with one set of rules Different people, and hence different societies, have different values. These values, which vary over time, give rise to systems of laws. I wouldn't want to be bound by a different culture's system of values. On the topic at hand, most countries have an "investor visa" [1] or "extraordinary person" exception [2]. Even some EU countries grant citizenship in exchange for investment [3]. Economic prerogatives matter. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EB-5_visa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EB-5_visa [2] https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/o-1-visa-individuals-extraordinary-ability-or-achievement https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-worker... [3] https://www.ccmalta.com/publications/malta-citizenship-investment https://www.ccmalta.com/publications/malta-citizenship-inves...
    - kennywinker 10y ago
      Sorry if I wasn't clear. I guess I wasn't talking about different laws or mores in different countries. I was talking about the same country with different rules depending on who you are.
- owenwil 10y ago
  It isn't legal - he was granted an exception to the rules after being denied because he had a change of heart and donated $700m - for the first time ever - to the disaster fund, then applied again immediately. In NZ you must actually live there to gain citizenship, even if you pay.
  - JumpCrisscross 10y ago
    > It isn't legal It appears the Internal Affairs Department may legally approve citizenship under "exceptional circumstances". And he is not alone: "one to two dozen [applicants] a year...are approved for citizenship by the minister of internal affairs under 'exceptional' circumstances" [1]. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/business/peter-thiel-new-zealand-citizenship.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_dk_20170201&nl=dealbook&nl_art=20&nlid=65508833&ref=headline&te=1 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/business/peter-thiel-new-...
    - owenwil 10y ago
      Yes! James Cameron got one of those - but they forced him and his family to live in the country for five years first! Odd.
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
    - conistonwater 10y ago
      Even if technically legal, that's still really quite dodgy.
      - JumpCrisscross 10y ago
        I agree. But the proper response shouldn't be "that's illegal," but instead, that the interior minister should be stripped of that power.
        strken 10y ago
        Why? That minister got the NZ public $700m USD in disaster relief in an exchange that cost them virtually nothing. If anything he should be given an award for outstanding excellence in the field of defrauding rich yanks. EDIT: 700k, not 700m. Still, not a bad deal.
- kafkaesq 10y ago
  "Different rules for very, very rich" is the basic theme. If that's the world you want to live in, then yeah, I guess there's no story here.
gramstrong 10y ago
Insightful comment. Why don't you start with telling us why you don't care?
_tulpa 10y ago
People who don't want American politics leaking into NZ any more than it already does... Here's one thing he can do now: http://www.elections.org.nz/parties-candidates/registered-political-parties/party-donations/about-annual-returns-party-donatio-2 http://www.elections.org.nz/parties-candidates/registered-po...
toomanybeersies 10y ago
Well the population of New Zealand, for one.

Who cares?

I agree. If NZ let him buy his way to citizenship, then what's the problem? He didn't break any laws, he followed the rules, and he got his citizenship legally. What's the story here?

kennywinker 10y ago
We like to think we live in a world with one set of rules. But of course we live in a world with multiple sets of rules, one for if you're a billionaire, one for if you're a racial minority, one for...
- JumpCrisscross 10y ago
  > We like to think we live in a world with one set of rules Different people, and hence different societies, have different values. These values, which vary over time, give rise to systems of laws. I wouldn't want to be bound by a different culture's system of values. On the topic at hand, most countries have an "investor visa" [1] or "extraordinary person" exception [2]. Even some EU countries grant citizenship in exchange for investment [3]. Economic prerogatives matter. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EB-5_visa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EB-5_visa [2] https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/o-1-visa-individuals-extraordinary-ability-or-achievement https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-worker... [3] https://www.ccmalta.com/publications/malta-citizenship-investment https://www.ccmalta.com/publications/malta-citizenship-inves...
  - kennywinker 10y ago
    Sorry if I wasn't clear. I guess I wasn't talking about different laws or mores in different countries. I was talking about the same country with different rules depending on who you are.
owenwil 10y ago
It isn't legal - he was granted an exception to the rules after being denied because he had a change of heart and donated $700m - for the first time ever - to the disaster fund, then applied again immediately. In NZ you must actually live there to gain citizenship, even if you pay.
- JumpCrisscross 10y ago
  > It isn't legal It appears the Internal Affairs Department may legally approve citizenship under "exceptional circumstances". And he is not alone: "one to two dozen [applicants] a year...are approved for citizenship by the minister of internal affairs under 'exceptional' circumstances" [1]. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/business/peter-thiel-new-zealand-citizenship.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_dk_20170201&nl=dealbook&nl_art=20&nlid=65508833&ref=headline&te=1 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/business/peter-thiel-new-...
  - owenwil 10y ago
    Yes! James Cameron got one of those - but they forced him and his family to live in the country for five years first! Odd.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - conistonwater 10y ago
    Even if technically legal, that's still really quite dodgy.
    - JumpCrisscross 10y ago
      I agree. But the proper response shouldn't be "that's illegal," but instead, that the interior minister should be stripped of that power.
      - strken 10y ago
        Why? That minister got the NZ public $700m USD in disaster relief in an exchange that cost them virtually nothing. If anything he should be given an award for outstanding excellence in the field of defrauding rich yanks. EDIT: 700k, not 700m. Still, not a bad deal.
kafkaesq 10y ago
"Different rules for very, very rich" is the basic theme. If that's the world you want to live in, then yeah, I guess there's no story here.

gramstrong 10y ago

Insightful comment. Why don't you start with telling us why you don't care?

_tulpa 10y ago

People who don't want American politics leaking into NZ any more than it already does... Here's one thing he can do now: http://www.elections.org.nz/parties-candidates/registered-political-parties/party-donations/about-annual-returns-party-donatio-2 http://www.elections.org.nz/parties-candidates/registered-po...

toomanybeersies 10y ago

Well the population of New Zealand, for one.