Kia ora,
This has been a significant month for New Zealand’s finance ecosystem and for fintech.
Many of you will have seen Payments NZ’s announcement to close the API Centre, with open banking standards management transferring to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) at the end of September. This will understandably be top of mind for many across the ecosystem, and we’ll be watching closely as the transition takes shape.
Payments NZ has provided the core clearing systems, rules and standards since 2010, and helped develop the API Centre’s standards since 2019. This infrastructure has been vital for many fintechs, particularly over the past few years. We are now starting to see open banking demonstrate real impact, with around $1 billion in transactions since November 2025. Westpac, for example, recently noted that more than 100,000 of its customers now use open banking to share data and/or make payments, with approximately 300,000 data checks each month.
This is an encouraging sign of progress, but it remains a very small percentage of the more than $8 trillion flowing through our economy.
The challenge now is to move faster into the next stage of the journey. This requires vision, execution and genuine cross-sector collaboration. In my view, it is essential that we move from a limited-access open banking environment towards a fully enabled open finance and open data economy: a genuine digital nation.
We need to consider the vision and architecture first, and then properly define the role of Payments NZ and other providers within it. Other nations have already made progress on this, and we need to move quickly. This means enabling real-time payments capability; building the foundations for on-chain finance and asset management; making digital identity accessible; and taking an infrastructure-led approach to opening data across sectors. Energy, insurance, health and public services all stand to benefit from the same foundations, not just payments.
As we approach the election, FinTechNZ continues to advocate for a bipartisan, long-term vision for New Zealand’s digital and financial infrastructure. Our vision needs to be built through an active partnership between industry and government, with a clear focus on solving the underlying architecture and coordination challenge.
I strongly believe we need a figurehead and leadership layer, positioned above or alongside the Council of Financial Regulators (COFR), with the mandate to develop this strategy jointly with government and industry, and then drive it forward with urgency.
With that in mind, I want members to know that we, as a neutrally positioned association, are developing a Future of Finance steering group to help tackle this challenge. We expect our group to support broad engagement across industry, government and the community, focused on the bigger prize: an open-data-led approach to a next-generation, digitally enabled economy.
This is not a view held by FinTechNZ alone. It is a direction shared by many across industry, government and our regulatory community.
It is timely, then, that we have a strong series of engagements with regulators underway, some of which are outlined below. Over the next month, we’ll run three mixed-format webinar and feedback sessions in association with the FMA, MBIE and RBNZ. These sessions will cover current consultations, share the direction of travel and gather member feedback.
In this edition, we also look back at a busy few weeks of ecosystem activity. Three weeks ago, we partnered with the Financial Services Council for the sixth year running at its Impact conference, delivering a packed AI and Digital Masterclass, followed by the Fintech Demo Breakfast hosted by Akahu.
Last week, I also enjoyed attending BlockchainNZ’s CryptoWinter hui in Queenstown. While crypto assets were undeniably a significant theme, what stood out to me was that on-chain finance, in all its forms, is no longer fringe. It is increasingly accepted, increasingly important and genuinely critical for New Zealand to understand and adopt.
The good news is that on-chain finance is becoming more mainstream, with many incumbent organisations developing credible business models and use cases for new forms of digital finance. The less good news is that we still need fit-for-purpose regulation, better alignment on identity, and progress on the real-time payments rails problem.
Hui Taumata 2027 Planning is underway
International trends will, as always, be an important part of the conversation, particularly the experience of nations that have grappled with these same challenges. Current plans include speakers from the UK, Singapore and the US sharing lessons from their own journeys.
On the technology and platform front, AI and agentic commerce are clearly top of mind, with further announcements to come.
I’m pleased to announce that we’re partnering with the AI Forum to establish a new AI in Finance working group, with three workstreams. We will share more details shortly. If you are interested in being involved, please get in touch
Upcoming Events
FinTech Hui Taumata 2027
Open Finance | The Next Frontier
17–18 March 2027 | Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wellington
FinTech Hui Taumata is returning, bringing together leaders from government, financial services, technology and startups to explore the future of finance in Aotearoa.
This year’s programme will look at the technology, infrastructure and policy choices shaping the sector — from AI and agentic commerce to Open Finance, digital identity, on-chain finance and new models of wealth creation.
Protecting Customer Money & Virtual Assets: FMA and MBIE Regulatory Update
Wednesday, 2 September 2026 | 12pm–1pm | Online
Join FinTechNZ, Blockchain Forum NZ, the FMA and MBIE for an update on key regulatory developments affecting fintech, payments and digital assets. The webinar will cover virtual-asset custody, payment-services regulation, current consultations and opportunities for members to provide feedback on emerging policy settings.
View event details and register
FinTech Week Australia 2026
1–4 September 2026 | Melbourne, Australia
For the fifth year, FinTechNZ members are attending FinTech Week Australia. The International Delegates Programme includes the Intersekt conference, an Australian market briefing, Global Pitch Night, an international delegates’ dinner and valuable regional networking opportunities.
It is a chance to connect with fintech leaders, investors, partners and policymakers from across Australia and the region.
If you’re in Melbourne this week there’s still a few tickets available. Register for the festival here
When the Signals Don’t Connect
Thursday, 17 September 2026 | 8:30am–10:30am | Banzpay Auckland Office + online
FinTechNZ and Banzpay bring together fraud and financial-crime leaders from fintechs, payment providers and across the wider ecosystem. Drawing on international examples, the discussion will explore how New Zealand can better connect intelligence, improve collaboration and strengthen customer protection against evolving fraud threats.
View event details and request to attend
The Future of Banking in New Zealand
Friday 18 September | 10:00am–11:00am | Online
Join Steven Bruce from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand for a forward-looking webinar on how banking may evolve through to 2035. Drawing on the Reserve Bank’s recent study, Steven will explore the technologies, consumer shifts, new competition and regulatory priorities reshaping the sector. The session will examine future scenarios, opportunities and risks for financial services, consumers, policymakers and the wider system.
Auckland Startup Week
12–16 October 2026 | Auckland
Auckland Startup Week brings together founders, investors, operators and ecosystem supporters for five days of keynotes, workshops, pitch competitions and networking. It is a valuable opportunity for fintech founders and emerging businesses to meet peers, build relationships and connect with the wider startup community.
Singapore FinTech Festival 2026
18–20 November 2026 | Singapore EXPO, Singapore
Singapore FinTech Festival brings together global policy, finance and technology communities for one of the world’s largest fintech gatherings.
We’re planning to attend this year’s festival alongside Visa. We will connect with international fintech leaders, regulators, investors and innovators across digital finance, open finance, AI, payments, digital assets and financial infrastructure.
We’ve already received strong interest, with over 30 applications to join our delegation. We are now working with Visa, KPMG and other in-market partners to shape a valuable programme of connections, insights and activities for attendees.
We will also host a pre-departure seminar in mid to late October, with further details to be announced soon.
Contact Jason to register your interest in joining the team going across.
NZ Tech Expo 2026
18 September 2026 | Shed 10, Auckland
NZ Tech Expo brings together New Zealand’s technology ecosystem for a day of connection, innovation and commerce. Last year’s fintech-focused sessions at GridAKL drew strong interest and a packed audience, highlighting demand for practical conversations across technology and financial services.
FinTechNZ member offer, Expo ticket: $36 using code Community or Executive Track: $350 using code FintechNZ
Regulatory Updates
In focus: the future of payments and Open Finance
New Zealand’s payments system is reliable, but it has not kept pace with the way people now live, work and transact. The RBNZ’s Future of Payments consultation highlights key issues including the lack of real-time retail payments, growing reliance on overseas payment networks, scam and fraud risks, and the need for clearer long-term system leadership.
The consultation is an important opportunity for the fintech community to share practical perspectives on how New Zealand can support faster payments, stronger safeguards, greater competition and innovation.
Public consultation closes 27 October 2026.
Have your say on the Future of Payments
For further context on the API Centre transition:
Read the Payments NZ announcement
Founder story: Feijoa makes saving part of everyday spending
Feijoa is a Wellington-founded fintech helping Kiwis build KiwiSaver savings from everyday spending. It rounds up purchases and invests the spare change automatically, making wealth building simpler for self-employed people, first-home savers and whānau. Its name reflects the kiwi spirit of abundance, sharing and generosity that guides the team.
One of only two Kiwi finance apps in the top 10 finance section of the app store, Feijoa is proof that kiwi fintech can compete on a global scale, without the massive budget.
Community Noticeboard
Applications open: Creative HQ’s Fintech Activate
Creative HQ’s Fintech Activate is now open for applications.
This free, 10-week pre-accelerator is designed for idea-stage fintech founders across Aotearoa. You do not need a product, co-founder or incorporated company to apply.
Participants receive practical support with customer discovery, prototyping and pitching, alongside access to people who fund and regulate fintech in New Zealand. No equity or IP is taken.
Two founders from last year’s cohort have already progressed to Fintech Lab and pitched at the Fintech Festival.
Applications close 2 September.
Apply for Fintech Activate
FMA thematic review: AI in financial advice
AI is moving quickly across financial services, and the Financial Markets Authority is seeking a clearer view of how it is being used, developed and considered across financial advice in Aotearoa.
Following its Access to Advice report and April’s AI in Financial Advice roundtable, the FMA has launched a thematic review to build a shared understanding of current practice, emerging opportunities and risks.
For FinTechNZ members working across AI, financial advice, digital identity, data, platforms and financial services, this is a valuable opportunity to provide practical industry insight and help inform responsible innovation.
Surveys close 4 September 2026.
Find out more and complete the relevant survey
Thanks for being part of our FinTechNZ community.
If you have news, events, insights or member updates you would like included in an upcoming newsletter, please get in touch with the FinTechNZ team.
Ngā mihi nui,
Jason Roberts
Executive Director, FinTech New Zealand
Read the full newsletter here: FinTechNZ August update: shaping the next phase of finance