New Zealand's Financial Market's Authority Podcasts

In this special episode of our 5 mins with the FMA podcast, we take a look at outcomes- focused regulation with Liam Mason, FMA Executive Director of Evaluation and Oversight and General Counsel.

The FMA is moving towards an outcomes-focused approach to regulation and part of this change is setting out ideas around fair outcomes for consumers and markets.

Our new guide: "Fair outcomes for consumers and markets" introduces outcomes-focused regulation and what it means for engagement with industry. It's open for consultation now and describes seven fair outcomes for consumers and markets we consider providers should be working towards.
We are seeking feedback and invite submissions via our website:
https://www.fma.govt.nz/news/all-releases/media-releases/fma-opens-consultation-on-fair-outcomes-for-consumers-and-markets/
Read more:

Download the proposed fair outcomes for consumers and markets consultation, PDF

View the consultation page with all relevant documents

FMA Director of Banking and Insurance Conduct Clare Bolingford discusses the incoming Conduct of Financial Institutions (CoFI) regime, which will require New Zealand's retail banks, insurers and non-bank deposit takers to treat customers fairly at all stages of the relationship.

Here she outlines the key changes CoFI will bring about, what treating customers ‘fairly’ means in practice, and what firms can do now to prepare before CoFI comes into effect in 2025.

Today we’re looking at scams – particularly those investment scams that have led to Kiwis losing a lot of money – we’re talking retirement savings, house deposits and hard-earned savings being stolen by overseas criminals.

We’re speaking to Sam McGuire, the FMA’s Regulatory Services manager. She sees a lot of the scam complaints that come in and she’s got some good advice for keeping safe.

• Check out the FMA’s Warning and Alerts page here: https://www.fma.govt.nz/library/warnings-and-alerts/
• Sign up for regular updates on scams, warnings and alerts here: https://www.fma.govt.nz/subscribe-to-fma-news-and-alerts/
• And the FMA’s main scams page here: https://www.fma.govt.nz/scams/

In this episode, to mark World Investor Week, we take a look at ethical investing, with Paul Gregory, Executive Director, Response & Enforcement at the FMA.

We talk with Paul about the challenges facing investors looking for ethical investments and the role of a regulator in making sure fund managers really are doing what they promise. We also explore the main things that investors should think about when looking at ethical investments.

How do investors go about making these decisions – and is “greenwashing” is getting better or worse?

Read more:

• Ethical Investing
• Disclosure framework for integrated financial products
• Integrated financial products: Review of managed fund documentation
• Ethical investing journey research

In this episode, we look at the latest KiwiSaver Annual Report, with John Horner, Director of Markets, Investors and Reporting at the FMA.

The FMA’s latest KiwiSaver Annual Report shows that KiwiSaver has held firm through a continuing period of market volatility. Total funds in KiwiSaver have grown again this year, by $4 billion, due to contributions of $10.5bn from members, employers, and government.

This growth in total KiwiSaver funds is despite $1.9bn in investment losses at the March year end, the fourth time total investment returns have gone backwards in the scheme’s 16-year history. This points to the importance of ongoing contributions from investors, employers and the Government in building long-term retirement savings.
We talk with John about what’s happening with KiwiSaver fees, withdrawals by over 65s and what impact volatile world markets have had on KiwiSaver investor behaviour.
You can read the latest KiwiSaver report here.

• More on KiwiSaver here.
• Checking your KiwiSaver statement – Own your tomorrow

To find out more about the different types of KiwiSaver funds, see our Spotlight on Funds series:

• KiwiSaver Default Funds
• Spotlight on Balanced Funds
• Spotlight on Conservative Funds
• Spotlight on Growth Funds