New Zealand Plans Ban on Most In-Store Card Surcharges by 2026

New Zealand plans to ban most surcharges on in-store debit and credit card payments by May 2026, aiming to save consumers around NZ$150 million annually, including NZ$65 million in excessive fees. The government and Commerce Commission highlight that surcharges often exceed the actual costs merchants pay to accept payments and are sometimes unclear to consumers, leading to unexpected charges at checkout. The ban will apply to debit, EFTPOS, Visa, and Mastercard payments but exclude online transactions, foreign-issued cards, prepaid, travel, and gift cards. This move follows a recent Commerce Commission decision to reduce interchange fees, which is expected to save businesses about NZ$90 million per year and potentially keep price increases minimal despite the surcharge ban. Consumer advocacy groups, such as Consumer NZ, have welcomed the ban, noting it will simplify payments and align New Zealand with other regions like the UK and EU that have similar bans. Australia is also considering a comparable surcharge ban, reflecting a broader international trend toward transparency, fairness, and efficiency in payment systems.