Outrage as billionaire Trump adviser Peter Thiel is quietly granted New Zealand citizenship

HE’S one of Donald Trump’s richest backers, but has quietly become a citizen of a different country and bought property amid speculation he is looking for Plan B.

HE’S one of Trump’s richest and most high-profile backers, now a storm is brewing across the ditch over how and why billionaire Peter Thiel was granted New Zealand citizenship under “exceptional circumstances”.

The PayPal founder and early Facebook investor sat on President Trump’s transition team and has supported him throughout the presidential campaign, putting him at odds with the majority of Silicon Valley’s elite.

But it turns out the tech entrepreneur, who controversially funded Hulk Hogan’s sex tape case against website Gawker, has been quietly developing a back-up plan in the land of the long white cloud.

In the last month, Thiel has been revealed as the mysterious buyer behind a $13.8 million lakefront property in Wanaka, adding to his portfolio that also includes a $4.7 million home in nearby Queenstown.

The multi-million purchases were made possible by the fact that Thiel became a New Zealand citizen in June 2011 at a ceremony in Santa Monica. His status was granted by Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy under “exceptional circumstances” despite the fact Thiel did not meet requirements for a certain number of days spent in the country.

Most New Zealand citizens are able to live and work in Australia under a Special Category visa granted on arrival.

Amazon's chief Jeff Bezos, Larry Page of Alphabet, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Vice President Mike Pence and Donald Trump pictured with Peter Thiel. Picture: AFP/TIMOTHY A. CLARY

More than 140 pages of documents released by New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs relating to the case show Thiel never intended to live in New Zealand but could be offered citizenship based on “public interest”.

It contains evidence he made a $1 million donation to the Christchurch earthquake recovery fund in April 2011 and had invested in online accounting business Xero — the former chairman of which also serves as an adviser to Trump.

The documents state Thiel, who also holds US and German citizenship, set up a venture capital fund in the country and discussed creating a hub for start-ups. Xero boss Rod Drury and TradeMe Founder Sam Morgan also wrote in support of his bid.

“Mr Thiel wishes to be granted citizenship from both a personal and professional perspective,” a letter from Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy reads.

“Mr Thiel states that being a New Zealand citizen would enable to him to represent the country on the international stage and give him greater confidence in mobilising New Zealand’s talented entrepreneurs. The Department recommends you approve Mr Thiel’s application.”

Peter Thiel has just bought a huge lake front site in the scenic South Island town of Wanaka. Agent Graham Wall said the property had been on the market for five years. Picture: istock

The case has sparked outrage in New Zealand given Thiel, who is worth $3.7 billion, has only been to the country four times after first visiting in 1995 and had apparently kept his citizenship secret for the last six years, despite claims he would champion the country overseas.

Labour MP Iain Lees Galloway said on Twitter “In this turbulent and insecure world NZ citizenship has become an asset. National treats it like a commodity.”

However real estate agent Graham Wall, who sold Peter Thiel the two properties, said it’s a case of jealousy and envy that has led people to see the negative side of things.

“[Thiel] came here when he was a student and hitchhiked around and it was paradise,” he said.

“He didn’t turn up five minutes ago, he had a long lasting deep interest in New Zealand. We should be giving these guys knighthoods. Not that they’d want them. I’d love that.”

A Wanaka local who owns property near Mr Thiel’s new bolthole said he too had “no problem” with foreign investors buying land in the area which is becoming increasingly unaffordable for locals.

“I’ve got no problem with people coming into our town as long as they contribute and are good community people,” he said. “That’s all I worry about is the calibre of the person not how much money they’ve got. I’ve got more worries about someone from a gang rather than someone overseas.”

“It’s a shame that young people can’t get into farming and into land but it’s just a sign of the times in this area. Even if we don’t like it we’re not going to stop it.”

New Zealand has been the subject of US media attention recently after a profile in the New Yorker featured wealthy American’s prepping for a “doomsday” scenario by buying second properties in the country.

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