NZ regulatory landscape
New Zealand regulatory obligations applicable to a locally incorporated registered bank operating under the Deposit Takers Act 2023 and adjacent legislation.
RBNZ prudential regulation
Banking Supervision Handbook — live BS standards
The Banking Supervision Handbook (BS series) applies to registered banks until the DTA standards take effect on 1 December 2028.
| Standard |
Subject |
DTA replacement |
Page |
| BS1 |
Statement of Principles — registration & supervision |
— |
nz-bs1.md |
| BS2A/BS2B |
Capital Adequacy Framework (standardised and IRB approaches) |
DTA Capital Standard |
nz-bs2a-bs2b.md |
| BS3B/BS3C |
Disclosure Statements (general and simplified) |
DTA Disclosure Standard |
nz-bs3b-bs3c.md |
| BS4 |
Audit Obligations |
— |
nz-bs4.md |
| BS8 |
Connected Exposures Policy |
DTA Related Party Exposures Standard |
nz-bs8.md |
| BS11 |
Outsourcing Policy |
DTA Outsourcing Standard |
nz-bs11.md |
| BS13 |
Liquidity Policy (including BS13A Annex) |
DTA Liquidity Standard |
nz-bs13.md |
| BS14 |
Corporate Governance |
DTA Governance Standard |
nz-bs14.md |
| BS17 |
Open Bank Resolution Pre-Positioning |
DTA OBR Standard |
nz-bs17.md |
| BS19 |
High-LVR Residential Mortgage Lending Restrictions |
DTA Lending Standard |
nz-bs19.md |
Deposit Takers Act 2023 — core standards
The DTA prescribes four core standards. All apply to registered banks. Effective 1 December 2028.
Deposit Takers Act 2023 — non-core standards
Nine non-core standards. All apply to registered banks unless noted. Effective 1 December 2028.
RBNZ guidance and supplementary standards
Not formal DTA standards but part of the RBNZ supervisory framework and referenced in bank risk policy.
Financial Markets Authority (FMA)
| Regulation |
Subject |
Page |
| Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 |
Financial products, licensing, disclosure, fair dealing |
nz-fmc-act.md |
| CoFI Act 2022 (Conduct of Financial Institutions) |
Fair conduct programme, conduct obligations |
nz-cofi-act.md |
| CCCFA 2003 (Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act) |
Consumer credit obligations, responsible lending |
nz-cccfa.md |
MBIE — AML/CFT and sanctions
| Regulation |
Subject |
Page |
| AML/CFT Act 2009 |
CDD, transaction monitoring, reporting, AML programme |
nz-amlcft-act.md |
| Sanctions legislation (Russia + others) |
Financial sanctions screening and obligations |
nz-sanctions-act.md |
Privacy and data
| Regulation |
Subject |
Page |
| Privacy Act 2020 |
Privacy principles, data collection, disclosure, breach notification |
nz-privacy-act.md |
Payments
| Regulation |
Subject |
Page |
| Payments NZ rules |
Interchange, direct debit, cheque standards; real-time payment rules |
nz-payments-nz-rules.md |
Corporate and employment
Industry codes and standards
| Standard |
Subject |
Page |
| NZ Banking Code of Practice |
Voluntary industry code — customer obligations |
nz-banking-code.md |
| FSCL / FSOS |
Financial disputes resolution scheme membership |
nz-fscl.md |
| NZISM |
NZ Information Security Manual — government ICT security standard |
nz-ism.md |