Thiel has been a NZ citizen since 2011: DIA

UPDATE: Nathan Guy says he granted Peter Thiel citizenship in 2011 on the advice of officials an an "exceptional cricumstances" clause. But can't remember doing it.

He said Mr Thiel was granted citizenship under a provision of the Citizenship Act that stated it would be "in the public interest due to exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian or other nature".

EARLIER: It may have only just come to light this week, but the Department of Internal Affairs says controversial Trump-backer Peter Thiel has been a New Zealand citizenship since June 30, 2011 — despite the billionaire never coming close to meeting the usual criteria of spending at least 240 days a year in NZ for each of the five years leading up to an application.

Nathan Guy was the minister of internal affairs at the time. 

The DIA says it won't comment further — including whether ministerial discretion was involved — while it processes Official Information Act requests from NBR and other media.

Mr Guy did not immediately return a request for comment. But with the California-based Mr Thiel not living in New Zealand, a ministerial waiver was clearly in play back in 2011 (if you have $10 million, you can buy your way into residency, but not citizenship).

In March 2012, Mr Thiel invested $15 million into a Crown-backed NZVIF fund, following months of negotiation. He put $4 million into Xero in 2010 and a further $24 million in 2012. He also participated in a $5.5 million funding round for Pacific Fibre.

Given there was controversy at the time about local venture capital community about NZVIF partnering with Mr Thiel, it's not clear why the "foreigner's" New Zealand citizenship was kept under the radar. 

Mr Thiel (49) was born in Germany but his family moved to the US while he was an infant, and he became a naturalized American before adding a Kiwi passport to his collection.

The Facebook investor and Paypal founder's current major project is Palantir, a company that makes software aimed at detecting crime from fraud to terror. It has a private equity value of $US20 billion and an IPO is expected this year.

MORE: 

• Citizenship grant requires benefit ‘well outside the norm’: lawyer
• Peter Thiel company tipped for monster IPO, new details emerge about NZ property buy

RAW DATA: DIA statement, January 25

While the Department doesn’t usually discuss individual citizenship details, there is sufficient public interest in Mr Peter Thiel to warrant comment. The Department confirms that Mr Thiel was approved New Zealand citizenship on 30 June 2011.

All applications for New Zealand citizenship are considered based on an assessment of relevant eligibility criteria (as set out in the Citizenship Act 1977). 

Eligibility criteria include:

• Right to Reside in New Zealand - Applicants for the grant of citizenship are required to be entitled, in terms of the Immigration Act 2009, to be in New Zealand indefinitely.
   
• Presence in New Zealand -  Applicants for the grant of citizenship are required to be present in New Zealand with the right to remain indefinitely.  Applicant needs to have been physically in New Zealand for a minimum of 1,350 days in the five years preceding the citizenship application, and for at least 240 days in each of those five years.
• Good Character -  Applicants must be of good character.  Checks are undertaken with various external agencies to confirm this.
   
• Responsibilities and Privileges - Applicants for the grant of citizenship must have sufficient knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges attaching to New Zealand citizenship.
   
• English Language - Applicants for the grant of citizenship must have sufficient knowledge of the English language.
   
• Intention to Reside in NZ – Applicants must intend if granted citizenship to continue to reside in New Zealand.

However, from time to time the Department may make a recommendation to the Minister of Internal Affairs, that where an applicant does not clearly meet these criteria, the Minister may exercise discretion to grant New Zealand citizenship where there are exceptional circumstances and/or if it would be in the public interest to do so.

We are considering a number of other questions from various outlets and will respond to them under the terms of the OIA.