Kia ora,
It’s been another big month across the fintech community, and October will be no different. We’re keeping the focus on what matters in our lane: a wrap of our SFF webinar, Executive Council nominations (closing 5pm today!), our joint Tokenisation Roundtable with BlockchainNZ on 13 October, and building momentum toward the FinTechNZ Hui Taumata launch in Wellington (11-12 March 2026).
We’re also looking ahead with renewed optimism following the appointment of Dr Anna Breman as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) Governor. Her sector leadership, including Open Banking in Sweden, and deep European experience, shaped by PSD2 and GDPR, give us confidence in what’s possible. We’ve called this a watershed year for New Zealand, and we hope her vision aligns with our ‘forging ahead: driving the future of finance’ ambition.
With so much activity, we’re introducing a regular Policy & Advocacy section highlighting what’s coming up on that front.
Let’s get cracking.
FinTechNZ Updates
SFF Webinar Wrap – Join the NZ crew
Thanks to everyone who joined our “Gateway to Asia” webinar live. If you missed it but are still interested in the Singapore FinTech Festival delegation, please start by reviewing the event page with the recording, speaker details, and session outline — it will help you make an informed decision.
We’ll confirm the agenda and in‑market activities over the coming weeks, and may run a short pre‑departure briefing. If SFF is on your radar, contact Jason.
FinTechNZ Hui Taumata tickets on sale + first keynote announced
The Hui Taumata will take place in Wellington, 11-12 March 2026, with a refreshed 1.5‑day format designed to deepen engagement across startups, scale‑ups, and government. Launch special tickets are on sale now!
We’re also delighted to announce our first keynote speaker: Dr Scott Farrell. Dr Farrell led the Australian Government reviews that designed and developed Australia’s Open Banking and Consumer Data Right frameworks and modernised its payment regulation. He serves on the Payments System Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia, is a member of Australia’s Data Standards Advisory Committee, an Adjunct Professor at UNSW Sydney Law School, and Strategic Counsel at King & Wood Mallesons (having been a senior partner for many years). He also chairs the global ISO committee developing international standards for blockchain technologies and is a member of Lawtech UK’s International Jurisdiction Taskforce on digital assets, international digital finance, and digital trade. Previously, he chaired the Australian Government’s FinTech Advisory Group and served on the government’s advisory board for innovation, research, and science.
More speakers will be announced soon.
FinTech Lab 2026 – Applications Open
We’re proud to once again support Creative HQ’s FinTech Lab — applications are now open. The Lab accelerates early‑stage fintech ventures with coaching, tools, and strategic connections, and is fully free to join with no equity taken, backed by leading industry partners, mentors, and investors. Even better, Creative HQ will showcase selected Lab companies at the Hui Taumata Pitch Breakfast they’re supporting — a great platform for emerging founders.
Applications close: 29 October 2025
Launch night: 22 January at Creative HQ (save the date)
Please share with founders in your network – or apply if that’s you.
Executive Council Nominations + AGM
Executive Council nominations are now open, with five seats up for renewal this year—an ideal time to get involved and help shape the future of fintech. Nominations close 5pm TODAY, Wednesday, 1 October. If you’re considering standing or nominating a colleague, please get in touch with any questions about the process or expectations.
Our AGM will be held on Wednesday, 5 November, from 5:00–7:00pm in Auckland (venue to be confirmed). If you would like to attend, please register.
Submit your Executive Council nomination here.
Policy and Advocacy
Tokenisation: FinTechNZ x BlockchainNZ Joint Roundtable
Monday 13 October | 3 – 5pm | Auckland
Alongside BlockchainNZ, we’re hosting a sector roundtable to coordinate a response to the FMA’s consultation on tokenisation – exploring current use cases, market potential, risks, and opportunities for New Zealand’s financial markets. If you’re strongly interested or have something substantive to contribute, please reach out to Jason to participate.
CDR/CoPD Timing – Watchlist
The much-anticipated era of regulated Open Banking begins on 1 December, with ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Westpac leading the charge and Kiwibank to follow in May 2026. This is a major step forward for Aotearoa’s financial innovation—and we’re excited to go on this journey with you. We’ll share details as they’re confirmed, and Open Banking will feature prominently at Hui Taumata with contributions from FMA, RBNZ, ComCom and DIA.
Community Noticeboard
ANZ venture arm exits Airwallex stake
ANZ’s VC fund 1835i has sold its Airwallex shares to founders and executives for US$44m (A$66.8m), part of a broader operational review. 1835i (formerly ANZi Ventures) first invested in 2020 and was spun out in 2021, with ANZ continuing to fund and oversee governance.
Qippay x Sevaka collaboration – Open banking for KiwiSaver
GoodReturns reports plans for open banking capability to extend into KiwiSaver via a Qippay–Sevaka collaboration, signalling potential improvements in data portability and payments for retirement products.
Revolut unveils £10bn global expansion strategy
Revolut announced a significant expansion push, underscoring the intensity of international competition and the continuing need for Kiwi fintechs to differentiate and scale.
TIN Report Launch (5 November, The Cloud, Auckland)
Join TIN for the launch of the 2025 TIN Report—network over canapés and drinks, then be among the first to hear this year’s insights and an industry leaders’ panel on the future of New Zealand’s tech sector.
Looking Ahead
We’re keeping the focus squarely on what matters for our community over the next quarter: coordinated policy input, a strong governance process, a growing pipeline of founders through the Lab, and a standout Hui Taumata in Wellington.
If you want to be involved, we’d love to hear from you.
Ngā mihi nui,
Jason Roberts
Executive Director
Read full news here: AGM, Tokenisation Roundtable, Hui News & SFF Wrap
