A wealthy Donald Trump supporter's speedy route to becoming a New Zealand citizen has been described by an immigration lawyer as unusual.
Tech mogul Peter Thiel's citizenship has triggered questions about how he side-stepped procedures.
Billionaire Mr Thiel was granted New Zealand citizenship in 2011. Normally, people are required to live in New Zealand for the majority of a five-year period before gaining citizenship.
Principal of Queen City Law Marcus Beveridge told Newshub applicants normally have to spend more than 70 percent of their time in New Zealand.
"It's not common. The 90-something percent of people would just stay here for the five years and then they would apply for citizenship and all the privileges that go with that, like getting a New Zealand passport."
Mr Beveridge says Mr Theil may have been given citizenship because of his potential to assist New Zealand's technology industry.
"If he's assocated with [information technology] or angel investment or assisting New Zealand entrepreneurs who are undercapitalised, I'd say most people would see that as a good thing."
An "exceptional circumstances" clause allows the Internal Affairs Minister to grant citizenship in the "public interest". The clause may have been Mr Thiel's route to citizenship.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy, who was Internal Affairs Minister at the time, says he does not remember Mr Thiel's application.
Mr Thiel now serves on Mr Trump's transition team.
Newshub.
