Experience

Professional background: Richard Howard founded Pathways to New Zealand in 1992, originally launching the Pathways business as The International Group (TIG). This early effort positioned the firm as one of the first in New Zealand to service the international immigration and education markets, laying a foundation built on long-term client relationships and a holistic approach to immigration and study pathways.
Career history: As Managing Director and a Licensed Immigration Adviser, Richard focuses on the firm’s business and investor immigration practice, personally handling investor applications and overseeing a small number of corporate clients. Before establishing Pathways to New Zealand, Richard worked as a financial analyst with the New Zealand Government Development Finance Corporation (DFC), bringing financial and strategic insight to immigration advisory work.
Notable roles: Richard has served as a life-member of the New Zealand Association for Migration & Investment (NZAMI) and was elected Chairman of NZAMI in 2021, continuing a long-standing leadership trajectory within the professional migration community. He has also contributed to immigration policy discussions and working groups, and has served on the Immigration Advisers Authority Industry Reference Group. In addition to his NZAMI leadership, Richard was invited to join the ANZ Education & Migration Delegation in Shanghai in 2021, reflecting international engagement and recognition within the sector. He also became the fourth licensed Immigration Adviser in New Zealand in 2021, marking a notable milestone in the licensing history of the profession.
Current practice focus: Richard’s daily work centers on business and investor immigration, with direct involvement in high-value investor pathways and corporate immigration matters. This hands-on role underscores his emphasis on complex cases and strategic immigration planning for business leaders and investors. Pathways to New Zealand presents a broad suite of services, including visitor, work, residence, investor, study, and citizenship pathways, and Richard’s leadership role aligns with the firm’s emphasis on tailored advisory for investor and corporate clients.

Specialty

Practice areas: Immigration law with a pronounced emphasis on business and investor immigration. Richard’s role within Pathways to New Zealand is specifically oriented toward investor visas and corporate immigration strategies, supporting executive moves and investment-related residency pathways for clients seeking international mobility and New Zealand residency.
Focus industries: Investment and corporate sectors, including high-net-worth individuals and business investors who require strategic immigration planning and guidance on investor visa programs and related regulatory requirements. Pathways positions Richard as a leading practitioner in these domains, with direct engagement in investor applications and advisory services for corporate clients.
Types of cases handled: Investor visa applications and related pathways for residency, alongside broader immigration matters managed by Pathways. The firm’s service scope encompasses visitor visas, work and residence pathways, study visas, and immigration appeals, with Richard personally overseeing investor-related matters and advising corporate clients on immigration strategies.

Achievements and Recognition

Richard Howard elected NZAMI Chairman (September 9, 2021) — Pathways to New Zealand® confirms Richard’s leadership role within NZAMI and his continued influence on industry governance.
Licensed Immigration Adviser #4 (Richard became the fourth licensed immigration adviser, October 21, 2021) — A milestone milestone in New Zealand’s licensing history documented in Pathways’ history timeline.
Life member of NZAMI (since August 2018) — Recognized for long-standing contributions to the migration and investment profession.
ANZ Education & Migration Delegation: Richard Howard invited to Shanghai (December 2, 2021) — Indicates international engagement and leadership in cross-border migration discussions.

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