Contents
Our latest publication, Financial Services Sector: Trends & Insights 2026, is intended to help you navigate the continuing wave of regulatory change facing the sector, and to plan for the short to medium term with greater confidence.
Chapter 1.
More regulation is coming – but so is greater scrutiny
New Zealand’s financial services sector is heading into another year of significant regulatory change. Many of the reforms are positive in intent, aiming to improve clarity, modernise settings and close regulatory gaps, but they will still require firms to adapt systems, governance and compliance frameworks.
Key points include:
- The Department of Internal Affairs became the sole AML/CFT supervisor on 1 July 2026, alongside further reform intended to support a more risk-based and practical compliance model.
- Consumer credit regulation moved to the Financial Markets Authority, although the Commerce Commission will retain Fair Trading Act responsibilities, creating potential overlap for lenders.
- Insurance reform remains a major focus, with Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act modernisation and implementation of the Contracts of Insurance Act continuing to reshape the sector.
- KiwiSaver, climate disclosures and Financial Markets Conduct Act reform will also remain firmly on the agenda through 2026/27.
Read the full publication for our detailed analysis of the reforms and what they mean for providers.
