New Zealand’s credit and charge card payments market is projected to reach $32.1 billion (NZ$55.1 billion) in 2026, growing 1.8% year-on-year, according to estimates from GlobalData.
This marks an improvement from the 0.8% growth recorded in 2025, when the market was valued at $31.5 billion.
According to Kartik Challa, the sector is set for steady expansion over the next five years, supported by rising e-commerce adoption, a strong payments infrastructure, appealing rewards and installment options, and a supportive regulatory environment.
GlobalData noted that incentives such as rewards, discounts, and flexible payment plans continue to drive the use of credit and charge cards in the country.
New Zealand also stands out in the Asia-Pacific region for its high number of point-of-sale terminals, with 43,359 per million people in 2025—surpassing Australia, China, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Additionally, the country has recently updated its interchange fee structure. Debit card transactions made via swipe or insertion incur no fees, while credit card charges are capped at 0.3% for in-store purchases and 0.7% for online transactions.
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