"The government confirmed this week that German-born billionaire Thiel was granted citizenship in June 2011, just two months after donating NZ$1.0 million (US$730,000) to an official Christchurch quake disaster fund. English acknowledged Thiel did not meet the usual requirements -- living at least 70 percent of the previous five years in New Zealand -- but said he was granted citizenship due to exceptional circumstances."New Zealanders are not stupid. There will be a backlash of sorts against, 'cash for citizenship', especially if the ^special deal^ is US favouritism of sorts.