New Zealand now has an open banking regime in place. That’s a big milestone — but it’s also just the start. The real work now is turning policy into practical delivery and real value for businesses and consumers. This is a pivotal moment for Aotearoa: we have momentum to keep building the digital public infrastructure that enables fintech innovation.
The next step is open finance — extending trusted data sharing beyond banking and payments into areas like insurance, savings, trading, budgeting and more. Done well, it can lift competition, improve services, and deliver stronger outcomes for people and businesses. And it doesn’t stop there: open finance is a foundation for a broader open data (open life) future that helps position New Zealand as a next-generation, digitised nation.
That’s why we’ve launched Fintech Insights 2026. We brought our community together through the FinTech Hui Taumata and our Insights Forum to capture a clear snapshot of where the sector is aligned, where delivery is being constrained, and what needs to happen next.
Whether you’re shaping policy, building products or enabling adoption, our report offers a clear, cross-sector view of where focused collaboration is needed. Read on for the key insights, the themes that came through most strongly, and the practical challenges we need to tackle to move from frameworks to outcomes.
Key insights from our Insights Forum
We’ve now released FinTech Insights 2026 — a snapshot of where the sector is aligned, where delivery is constrained, and what needs to happen next to deliver a digitised open economy. One message came through clearly: fintech is no longer a niche sector. It’s becoming core economic infrastructure — shaping productivity, competition, inclusion, exports, and trust in the digital economy.
In our report, we’ve pulled together the collective voice of our community across five key themes:
- Government and regulation
- Payments and digital identity
- Sector investment and capital
- Innovation in financial services
- Financial access that works for all
Across every topic, the same pattern showed up. Progress won’t happen organically. Open banking may now be in place, but it’s only the starting point. The real impact depends on what we build next. Fragmentation — across policy, regulation, infrastructure and capital — remains the single biggest blocker.
What needs to happen next?
- Collectively, we identified four system challenges that need to be overcome:
- Set a single national direction (align digital identity, payments, open data strategy and innovation)
- Make digital identity and open data real (publish and execute a clear digital identity delivery plan; extend open data beyond banking)
- Unlock capital at scale (treat fintech as long-term economic infrastructure, not only venture capital)
- Force convergence and accountability (mandate interoperability, real-time payments and data access with clear timelines).
Our FinTech Insights 2026 report is intended to inform where FinTech NZ focuses its time, energy and resources. It also supports alignment across the ecosystem through shared language and priorities and helps seed an ongoing programme of work.
Regulatory Updates
FMA Innovation Report
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) released its Supporting Innovation in New Zealand’s Financial Markets report, sharing insights from the fintech regulatory sandbox pilot and setting out its innovation strategy for the next 18 to 24 months.
The pilot worked with six firms across tokenised assets, payments, stablecoins, and novel investment platforms, and four have now identified a viable pathway to market. Virtual assets and tokenisation are priority focus areas going forward, with a multi-year work programme planned for virtual assets and payment service providers. Read the report.
MBIE consultation: Payment Services Regulation (submissions close 3 July)
Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has opened a consultation asking whether New Zealand’s rules for payment services are still fit for purpose. Today, payment services are covered by multiple different laws depending on the provider and how the service is structured. MBIE is asking whether that approach is working and what future reform should look like.
This matters for anyone operating in fintech, digital assets, or payments. The design choices made now will shape compliance costs and operating models for years to come. Read more or make your submission here.
RegTechNZ: Mission accomplished!
After five years of championing regulatory technology in Aotearoa, RegTechNZ is sunsetting — with its founding mission achieved. Co-chair Vincent McCartney reflects on the kaupapa, what’s changed in the market, and how the momentum will continue within FinTech NZ.
Community Noticeboard
BlinkPay and BNZ prove real-time payments capability using open banking
Congratulations to Tech New Zealand members BlinkPay and BNZ on a standout open banking milestone, proving real-time payments can work in Aotearoa right now! It’s great to see member-led collaboration turning open banking foundations into practical outcomes for New Zealanders. Read more.
Celebrating excellence in ethical and impact investment
Join us next week for an event that brings together the diverse voices driving change across fund management, financial advice, private capital, venture capital, research, and government. Together we’ll explore how to accelerate the growth of positive outcomes investing into the funds management mainstream. Learn more and register.
The Intelligence Era: Pricing AI for Growth (Techweek26 event recap)
During Techweek26, FinTech NZ member Stripe hosted The Intelligence Era: Pricing AI for Growth—a panel on how AI is reshaping SaaS value and pricing. Speakers shared why AI has real marginal cost and why hybrid, outcome-based pricing is emerging, alongside lessons on ROI and operating models. Read more.
Amplify financial services’ future
FSC26 Conference: Amplify (12–13 August 2026) lands at the New Zealand International Convention Centre, Auckland. It brings together financial services, government, politicians and regulators to help shape policy and the future of financial services in Aotearoa. Expect panels, roundtables and collaborative sessions, 12+ CPD points, and the FSC Awards 2026. Learn more.
Let’s keep building open finance momentum, turning frameworks into outcomes for all New Zealanders.
Ngā mihi nui,
Jason Roberts
Executive Director, FinTech New Zealand