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On July 1, 2026, the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) – Te Mana Tātai Hokohoko assumed regulatory responsibility for the consumer credit sector from the Commerce Commission, becoming New Zealand's single conduct regulator for financial markets. The transfer, enabled by the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2026, consolidates financial market conduct oversight under one authority. The FMA will centralise regulation of consumer credit alongside its existing financial services responsibilities, delivering clearer rules, enhanced regulatory tools, and more streamlined oversight for lenders and consumers. Clare Bolingford, FMA Executive Director Licensing and Conduct Supervision, said the alignment of credit regulation with broader financial services creates a framework that better supports responsible lending and consumer protection. The FMA identified consumer credit as playing an important role in helping New Zealanders manage finances and access funds for major purchases and everyday living costs. The FMA will build on expectations established by the Commerce Commission while focusing on three priority areas: lending practices, particularly suitability and affordability assessments; remuneration structures and how conflicts of interest are managed; and complaints handling processes. The authority aims to protect New Zealanders and ensure fair treatment across financial services, concentrating efforts on areas where it identifies the greatest potential for consumer harm. The consolidation represents a significant shift in New Zealand's financial services regulatory architecture, unifying conduct oversight across credit and broader financial markets under a single regulator.