The revenue of New Zealand’s ecommerce market is projected to reach $5.85 billion in 2025. For a small business, getting paid quickly and securely is just as important as making the sale. Whether customers pay using a credit card, digital wallet, or buy now, pay later (BNPL) service, a business’s online payment setup can make or break the checkout experience.

Below, we’ll look at the best online payment options available in New Zealand so you can find the right fit for your business.

What’s in this article?

• What are common online payment options for small businesses in New Zealand?
  
• How do online payment options impact customer experience in New Zealand?
  
• What are the fees associated with different online payment options in New Zealand?
  
• What are the regulatory and compliance considerations for accepting online payments in New Zealand?
  
• How does Stripe help small businesses in New Zealand with online payments?
  

What are common online payment options for small businesses in New Zealand?

Businesses in New Zealand have a range of payment options to choose from. Each caters to different consumer preferences and business needs. Here are some popular options.

Credit and debit cards

Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are popular choices for online payments in New Zealand. In 2023, cards accounted for 57% of the country’s ecommerce purchases, with credit cards making up more than a third of that figure.

Digital wallets

Digital wallets such as PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay simplify payments by allowing customers to pay quickly with their phones or browsers without manually entering card numbers. These options improve mobile checkout, speed up transactions, and augment security with biometric authentication.

Bank transfers and local payment methods

If customers prefer direct bank payments, POLi is a local option that charges lower processing fees than credit cards. It lets users pay straight from their bank accounts without needing to use a card, and it confirms transactions instantly. Providing bank transfer options can build rapport with customers who prefer not to use cards online.

BNPL

BNPL is popular in New Zealand and accounted for nearly 12% of ecommerce payments in 2023. Providers such as Afterpay, Zip, and Klarna allow customers to split purchases into interest-free installments. Businesses get paid up front (minus fees), while the BNPL provider handles collection. Although fees are typically higher than for standard card processing, the flexibility of BNPL can drive higher conversions and larger purchases.

Emerging payment methods

Some businesses are experimenting with cryptocurrency payments, although adoption remains low due to volatility and regulatory uncertainty. At the moment, most small businesses should focus on accepting credit and debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, and BNPL while keeping an eye on emerging trends.

How do online payment options impact customer experience in New Zealand?

The payment process is a core part of the customer experience. The easier and more familiar it feels to customers, the more likely they are to complete their purchases. Here’s how different payment options impact the customer experience in New Zealand.

Convenience drives conversions

Making a payment should be easy. If a customer’s preferred method isn’t available or if checkout takes too many steps, the customer might abandon their cart. Offering multiple options minimizes friction. Here are some examples:

• Digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay facilitate mobile checkouts.
  
• Credit and debit cards provide familiarity and ease.
  
• BNPL allows buyers to split payments, which makes larger purchases more accessible.
  Fast, simple processing matters: using a reliable gateway means instant confirmation and a pleasant customer experience. An unclear or slow checkout can cost a business sales.
  

Reassurance builds confidence

Customers need to have confidence in your site. Recognizable payment logos (e.g., Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Afterpay) signal security and legitimacy. Payment methods that eliminate the need to enter card details, such as POLi, feel safer to some customers than paying by card.

A safe, PCI-compliant payment gateway such as Stripe reassures shoppers, especially when paired with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption and a smart checkout design.

Accessibility expands your reach

Not everyone in New Zealand has a credit card. Supporting bank transfers through platforms such as POLi accommodates customers who prefer not to pay by card.

Technical accessibility matters, too. A mobile-friendly checkout makes payments easy on any device, while screen reader compatibility makes transactions possible for all users. If you sell to international customers, include globally accepted methods such as major card networks and PayPal to ensure they can make purchases easily.

What are the fees associated with different online payment options in New Zealand?

While accepting multiple payment options improves the customer experience, businesses need to factor in the costs. Plan for a percentage of revenue to go to your payment processing fees, and adjust that number according to consumer preferences for BNPL or bank transfers. Here’s what to expect from different payment methods in New Zealand.

Credit and debit card fees

Card payments come with a per-transaction fee that’s a percentage of the sale, plus a small fixed charge. With international cards or currency conversion, expect additional fees.

BNPL fees

BNPL services tend to have higher processing fees than card payments, but in a similar format—typically a percentage of the transaction, plus a small fixed fee. The trade-off is that the flexibility BNPL provides can increase conversion rates and purchase values.

Bank transfers and POLi fees

Bank transfer platforms such as POLi have low processing fees, which makes them ideal for businesses on a budget. POLi also caps fees so large transactions don’t result in massive processing charges.

Digital wallet fees

Digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal usually have processing fees similar to those of physical cards: a percentage of the sale, plus a small fixed charge.

What are the regulatory and compliance considerations for accepting online payments in New Zealand?

Accepting online payments comes with legal and security responsibilities. While payment providers handle many of the compliance requirements, businesses still need to stay informed. Here’s what matters most.

PCI DSS compliance

If you accept credit or debit cards, you must comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Card networks enforce these rules to guarantee that businesses handle cardholder data securely. The simplest way to stay compliant is to use a trusted payment provider such as Stripe, which encrypts transactions and keeps sensitive data off your servers. Ignoring PCI requirements can lead to fines, the loss of card processing privileges, and security breaches that damage customer confidence.

Privacy and data security

Under the Privacy Act 2020, businesses must protect customer data, including payment details. Using PCI-compliant processors minimizes risk, since they use tokenization and encryption to safeguard transactions. If you store customer information yourself, confirm that it’s encrypted, limit access, and use two-factor authentication for admin accounts. If you ever accept payments manually (e.g., over the phone), avoid writing down card details. Use a virtual terminal instead.

Consumer protection and BNPL regulations

New Zealand enforces strong consumer protection laws, particularly for finance-related services. If you have BNPL options, be aware that BNPL providers in New Zealand must comply with lending regulations, including conducting credit checks and helping customers understand what they’re signing up for.

Surcharging rules

You can add a surcharge for certain payment methods (e.g., credit cards), but it must be clearly disclosed and businesses are expected to present at least one payment method that does not incur a surcharge.

Goods and services tax (GST)

Any business with an annual taxable turnover of at least 60,000 New Zealand dollars (NZD) must register to collect GST. Platforms such as Stripe can automatically collect GST and issue tax invoices for accounting purposes. If you sell digital services overseas, special GST rules might apply, so check with your accountant when you expand internationally.

Compliant payment providers

Ensure your payment processor is legally registered in New Zealand. Platforms such as Stripe comply with local financial regulations, which means added security for you and your customers. If a new payments service emerges, verify its legitimacy before you integrate it into your business.

How does Stripe help small businesses in New Zealand with online payments?

Since launching in New Zealand in 2017, Stripe has become a go-to payments platform for New Zealand businesses. It provides a fast, safe, and flexible way to accept payments online and in person. Here’s how Stripe helps small businesses.

Multiple payment methods in one integration

Stripe makes it easier to accept credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and BNPL payments without needing separate integrations. You can activate these payment methods directly from the Stripe Dashboard to facilitate faster checkouts.

Transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing

Stripe has transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing with no setup or monthly fees. Everything is presented up front, with no hidden charges.

Easier international sales

Stripe supports more than 135 currencies so you can charge customers in their local currencies while settling in NZD. This makes cross-border sales easier, as Stripe handles conversions and deposits funds directly into your New Zealand bank account.

Integration with your existing tools

Stripe works with platforms including Shopify, WooCommerce, Xero, and QuickBooks, so you can collect payments from invoices, online stores, and service bookings easily. Link also lets you create one-click payment pages without coding.

Advanced tools

You can manage subscriptions with Stripe Billing, send invoices with payment buttons through Stripe Invoicing, accept in-person sales with Stripe Terminal, detect fraud with Stripe Radar, and access deep sales analytics with Stripe Sigma.

Localized support

Stripe Tax can automatically calculate, collect, and report GST for businesses that sell in New Zealand. This simplifies tax compliance.

Scalability

If you’re a freelancer who sends invoices, an ecommerce store that sells internationally, or a business that processes subscriptions, Stripe scales with you. By consolidating all payments into one easy-to-manage dashboard, Stripe reduces admin time while improving cash flow.

Stripe is a flexible, cost-effective payment solution for many New Zealand businesses because it combines international reach with strong local support and avoids the complexity of traditional business accounts.