I see that there are some who have painted this as an anti-Chinese move, racist in its conception. This is more indicative of what's in their mind, rather than what's on the minds of the politicians in New Zealand. China or its citizens aren't really in the political picture at all.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/29/silicon-valley-new-zealand-apocalypse-escape

It's all about the super-rich (Americans) trying to find a place to hide in case global civilization "falls apart", or something like that. If global civilization falls apart, they'll be reduced to being farmers. Which is a good life, but not champagne cocktails on 5th Avenue.

If they're thinking of surviving a pan-global nuclear war, they're being a bit foolish. That's just a recipe for a very slow death...remember "On The Beach"?