In accordance with section 157(6)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (“Act”), the Associate Minister of Justice hereby gives notice that he has granted the following exemption from the Act:
Ministerial Exemption: New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited
1. As the Associate Minister of Justice, and pursuant to section 157 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (“Act”), I exempt New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited from the following provisions of the Act:
- Sections 10–71 (inclusive).
2. This exemption is made subject to the following conditions:
- New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited must inform the Ministry of Justice of any changes that may affect the exemption and/or conditions imposed by this written instrument within 10 working days from when the change affecting the exemption occurs.
3. This exemption has been made for the following reasons:
- New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited is a Crown-owned company listed in Schedule 4A of the Public Finance Act 1989 and subject to public accountability and transparency requirements in the Crown Entities Act 2004.
- All of New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited’s funding comes from the New Zealand Government.
- New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited will only lend to New Zealand domiciled entities and projects, following a robust customer and investment due diligence process of the loan recipient and counterparties involved.
- New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited does not handle cash and all loan payments and repayments are made electronically through banks.
- New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited’s investments are primarily medium- to long-term in nature. As the investments are in projects/entities, and assets are not acquired, New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited’s investments are illiquid.
4. This exemption comes into force on 4 August 2020.
This exemption will expire on 4 August 2025.
Dated this 4th day of August 2020.
Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO, Associate Minister of Justice.