Quick-response (QR) codes in New Zealand (NZ) are changing the way Kiwis pay. The shift is driven by a growing consumer preference for mobile payment methods and the increasing availability of QR code payment systems from banks, payment providers, and third parties. From big retailers to market stalls and cafés, QR code payments give businesses an easier way to accept digital payments without paying expensive card fees. And customers with smartphones get more contactless payment options.

Below, we’ll discuss what businesses need to know about QR code payments, including how they work, where they fit into New Zealand’s payment system, and best practices for implementation.

Key takeaways

• QR codes are a way for New Zealand businesses to accept contactless payments without having to add more hardware.

• Though they are becoming more common, QR code payments aren’t as widely adopted in New Zealand as other mobile payment options.

• QR code payments in New Zealand offer numerous benefits including easier setup, lower fees, a quicker checkout experience, and more customer engagement opportunities.

• Implementation is straightforward for most businesses and often more affordable than incorporating other payment methods.

• QR codes are generally safe to use, but knowing the security and fraud risks associated with them can help with prevention.

What are QR code payments and how do they work?

A QR code is a square barcode made up of black-and-white symbols. It holds payment details such as merchant account information and a transaction identification (TXID) number. For New Zealand businesses, QR code payments provide an alternative, hardware-free way to accept digital payments. And unlike contactless card payments, QR payments don’t rely on near-field communication (NFC) technology; they just need a smartphone camera.

When a customer is ready to make a payment, they use a smartphone to scan the business’s QR payment code. Most QR codes then pull up a payment screen where the customer can choose from different payment options such as digital wallets, mobile pay applications (apps), and direct bank transfers. After approving the payment amount, the system transfers funds instantly to the business.

Where do QR code payments fit into New Zealand’s payment system?

Contactless payment methods are becoming more common in New Zealand’s payment system due to the country’s open banking framework and customers’ growing trust in mobile transaction security. A 2024 survey found that 88% of Kiwis used contactless payments at least sometimes, and 15% preferred to use digital wallet payments for everyday transactions. Mobile payments have increased in popularity across the country, especially among Māori and younger customers.

QR code payment adoption has been slower than that of other contactless payment methods. However, that’s starting to change as additional QR code payment systems and apps become more widely available. In 2025, for example, the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) launched the payment system Payap with Centrapay. Payment providers, fintechs, and other third parties are also developing QR code payment systems and apps for the New Zealand market, giving businesses and customers even more ways to pay by QR code.

Here are some popular QR code payment options in New Zealand:

• Bank-led solutions: QR code payment systems from banks (e.g., BNZ’s Payap) let customers scan to pay straight from their bank accounts.

• Payment provider: Payment providers such as Stripe let customers scan to pay by credit card or digital wallet.

• Closed-loop systems: Closed-loop systems let customers make transactions within a single business’s controlled ecosystem.

• Third parties: Apps from fintechs, software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms, and intermediaries (e.g., DuePay, Tillify) let customers scan to pay from their bank accounts.

How can businesses implement QR code payment systems effectively?

Whether you’re a retailer, café or restaurant owner, or service provider, setting up QR payments is fairly straightforward and, in many cases, more affordable than setting up other contactless methods. Here’s how to implement these payment systems.

Choose the right QR payment system

First, decide how you want to accept QR payments. The best option depends on your business model.

• Bank-led QR payments: This can be a good option for businesses that want low-cost, direct bank transfers with no card fees.

• Payment provider solutions: These might be suitable for businesses that want to accept credit cards and digital wallets via QR codes. Stripe lets you create a QR code–linked checkout page in minutes and handles encryption, fraud prevention, and compliance for you.

• Closed-loop QR payments: This might be the right choice for businesses that want to link to stored-value wallets or loyalty programs (e.g., a prepaid QR payment system for a café).

• Apps from fintechs and other third parties: These might be the right option for small businesses that want to accept QR code payments without an existing Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale (EFTPOS) terminal.

Decide between static and dynamic QR codes

Your business can choose from two types of QR codes to accept payment:

• Static QR codes: These QR codes store fixed data, such as your business’s payment details, in the QR pattern itself, and they prompt the customer to enter the payment amount. They’re fairly simple, reusable, and tend to work best for small vendors, charities, or invoices where the customer enters their own payment amount.

• Dynamic QR codes: These QR codes contain a short link that routes a customer to a destination Uniform Resource Locator (URL) such as a checkout page. They’re modifiable, more secure than static codes, and often a good fit for retail, hospitality, and businesses with high-volume sales.

Integrate with your existing systems

There are various ways to integrate QR code–based payments. Depending on the kind of business you run and what makes sense for your customer, you might add QR codes to:

• POS screens
  
• Receipts
  
• Invoices
  
• Online checkout pages
  
• Physical displays (e.g., stickers, table tents, business cards)
  

Tell your customers

An effective rollout means ensuring your team understands how QR payments work; they need to be confident in their ability to help customers use the payment method. You’ll also want to post clear signage (e.g., “Scan to Pay”) and, if needed, offer customers quick guidance—especially in the early days of adoption. If your QR payment system saves you money, consider incentivizing its use (e.g., “Save 1% when you pay via QR code”).

Keep your system secure and reliable

Using reputable providers such as Stripe can help keep customer data safe. You’ll also want to check static QR codes regularly to ensure they haven’t been tampered with and monitor transactions in real time via your payment provider’s dashboard to spot any unusual activity.

How do QR code payments benefit businesses and customers?

QR code payments can offer businesses and customers the following benefits:

• Simple setup: QR code payment systems typically don’t require new terminals or costly upgrades. You can display them on menus, screens, receipts, or product packaging. And customers only need a smartphone with a camera to scan and pay.

• Lower fees and higher margin: Not all types of QR code payments can avoid New Zealand’s surcharges. But generally, the processing fees are lower for QR payments set up to bypass credit card networks and route money directly from a shopper’s bank account to your business.

• Faster checkouts and deeper customer engagement: In restaurants and cafés, QR payments let diners scan a code when they’re ready to pay, split the bill if necessary, and settle payment instantly. QR payments can also be linked to digital receipts, discounts, and loyalty programs to enhance the customer experience.

What are the security and fraud risks associated with QR code payments?

Here are some common QR code payment risks and how to mitigate them.

Tampered QR codes

A fraudulent actor might cover your business’s real QR code with a fake one and reroute payments to their own account. You can reduce security risks by using dynamic QR codes for your business, double-checking printed codes, and reminding customers to be wary of QR codes found on public posters, emails, or social media.

Phishing scams

A well-placed fake QR code can direct a customer to a spoofed banking page and trick them into entering login credentials or credit card details. You can help prevent fraud by encouraging customers to review checkout details (e.g., total amount due, your business name) closely before they confirm payment.

Malware risks

Tampered QR codes can prompt users to download malicious apps or software. Letting your customers know where your QR code should lead them to and regularly checking any static QR codes to ensure they haven’t been altered can help avoid this issue.

Interceptions

Unlike NFC transactions, QR codes rely on internet-based payments. If a payment system isn’t properly encrypted, attackers could intercept data midtransaction. Using a QR payment system from established providers and platforms helps ensure transactions aren’t exposed to interception by encrypting payment data end to end.

What is the future of QR code payments in NZ?

As consumer payment preferences continue to shift and as new regulatory practices under the Consumer and Product Data Act and New Zealand’s open banking system go into effect, the future of QR code payments in the country is uncertain. Staying informed on the latest changes (e.g., new and developing legislation that bans surcharges for NZ businesses) can help your business stay competitive and keep up with changing consumer preferences.

How Stripe Payments can help

Stripe Payments provides a unified, global payment solution that helps any business accept digital wallet payments online, in person, and around the world.

Stripe Payments can help you:

• Optimize your checkout experience: Create a frictionless customer experience and save thousands of engineering hours with prebuilt payment user interfaces (UIs), access to 100+ payment methods, including more than a dozen digital wallet payment methods, and Link, a wallet built by Stripe.

• Expand to new markets faster: Reach customers worldwide and reduce the complexity and cost of multicurrency management with cross-border payment options, available in 195 countries across 135+ currencies.

• Unify payments in person and online: Easily track and reconcile digital wallet payments across online and in-person channels.

• Improve payment performance: Increase revenue with a range of customizable, easy-to-configure payment tools, including no-code fraud protection and advanced capabilities to improve authorization rates.

• Move faster with a flexible, reliable platform for growth: Build on a platform designed to scale with you, with 99.999% historical uptime and industry-leading reliability.

Learn more about how Stripe Payments can power your online and in-person payments, or get started today.

FAQs about QR code payments in New Zealand