The authorities of New Zealand confirmed on Thursday that Google co-founder Larry Page, the sixth wealthiest individual on the planet, has obtained residency in New Zealand, in keeping with a report from the information outlet Stuff. And with that, Page joins a rising record of super-wealthy Americans who’re secretly shopping for residency standing in New Zealand, a type of insurance coverage coverage for doomsday.

New Zealand’s borders have been tightly managed because the begin of the covid-19 pandemic and reporters began asking questions when phrase acquired out that Page, an American, may be in Auckland. New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs didn’t reply to a request for remark in a single day.

Page utilized for a particular visa on Nov. 3, 2020 and first flew into the nation on Jan. 11, 2021 after his little one grew to become sick in Fiji, in keeping with Stuff. Page’s residency visa is called the Investor Plus, which permits anybody into the nation supplied they’ve at the very least $10 million to take a position. The visa wasn’t authorised till Feb 4, 2021, after Page entered the nation.

The 48-year-old Page and his sick little one had been reportedly airlifted from Fiji to New Zealand’s Starship children’s hospital utilizing a New Zealand-based air ambulance, however authorities officers have refused to say whether or not Page paid for the flight himself, citing medical privateness considerations. It’s not clear what sickness Page’s little one is affected by, however Page in all probability isn’t within the nation proper now, in keeping with Stuff, and it’s unclear the place he may be for the time being.

Curiously, the New Zealand authorities denied to Stuff that Page was a resident of the nation earlier this week, however finally the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment admitted that had lately acquired his particular visa.

Page reportedly frolicked in quarantine as soon as he arrived in New Zealand, as everybody who enters is required to do, however the particulars round his lodging haven’t been launched. It’s not clear, for instance, whether or not Page was allowed to see his sick little one in individual throughout that point.

New Zealand, a rustic of simply 5 million folks, has seen 2,880 instances of covid-19 because the begin of the pandemic and 26 deaths, one of many lowest charges of an infection and dying on the planet. The nation is basically working like covid-19 by no means occurred and New Zealanders are understandably sensitive about wealthy folks shopping for their approach into the nation throughout a plague.

Page, price an estimated $121 billion, is simply the newest tech billionaire to be revealed as having secret residency or citizenship within the island nation, which has been attracting rich westerners who see it as a spot to flee if society really collapses from local weather change, rampant illness, “pitchforks” for the wealthy, or some other host of issues.

Peter Thiel, a co-founder of PayPal and an early investor in Facebook, was revealed in 2017 to have been granted New Zealand citizenship after locals questioned why he was allowed to personal a home on protected land. Thiel, an in depth ally of former president Donald Trump and his “America First” agenda, apparently took the oath of citizenship for New Zealand in Santa Monica, California.

New Zealand was lately decided to be the perfect place to trip out the apocalypse, because of its comparatively small inhabitants, renewable vitality, and plentiful recent water provide. The new study from the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University additionally included spots like Australia, the UK, and Ireland, however New Zealand topped the record.

The New Yorker reported in 2017 concerning the flood of individuals, particularly wealthy Americans and Europeans, who’re getting a foothold in New Zealand as their insurance coverage coverage towards collapse. And it’s principally an open secret among the many rich that we don’t have a lot time left for any type of “normalcy” right here on planet Earth.

“Saying you’re ‘buying a house in New Zealand’ is kind of a wink, wink, say no more,” Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, advised the New Yorker again in 2017.

Where is Page going to spend his $10 million in New Zealand, one thing that should occur inside the subsequent three years underneath the Investor Plus visa? The rumors are that he’s taken with air taxis.

From New Zealand’s Stuff:

Page is known to have an curiosity in Wisk Aviation, which has developed an electrical, autonomous plane supposed to be used as an air taxi. The firm has its headquarters within the US however has a presence in New Zealand and can trial plane right here.

A Wisk spokeswoman refused to touch upon its traders.

Page’s curiosity within the firm arises from Kitty Hawk, the aviation firm he backs. Wisk, previously known as Zephyr, is a three way partnership between Boeing and Kitty Hawk.

It has had a presence in New Zealand since 2016.

While New Zealand’s citizenship workplace didn’t reply to our e mail, the company notes on its web site that processing purposes is taking longer than usual. Probably as a result of so many tech billionaires are knocking on the door to get in.