Securing the Future – An API Centre Technical Deep Dive
We’ve just wrapped up our Techweek 2025 webinar, “Securing the Future – An API Centre Technical Deep Dive”.
Nigel Somerfield, Lead Architect at Payments NZ, laid out the API Centre tech stack and the thinking behind it and demonstrated hands-on ways to build trust through open banking APIs.
Using our API Centre’s sandbox, the webinar explored the technical foundations of open banking including security design, API standards, and practical implementation.
During the webinar we covered:
- The API Centre’s technology stack and its strategy for implementing layered security measures
- Typical security hurdles faced when developing and rolling out open banking APIs
- Live demos showcasing core open banking use cases, including secure consents, account details, balances, and payment initiation
- A guided tour of our free sandbox environment, built to enable developers and ecosystem partners to test and experiment securely
- Updates on the API Centre’s ongoing workstreams and future steps in Aotearoa’s open data journey
Phil Cass, API Centre Manager, also shared an update on what the API Centre has been working on with the industry and the state of open banking in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Speaker profiles
Phil Cass, API Centre Manager, Payments NZ
As API Centre Manager, Phil works collaboratively with the Payments NZ team and the industry to design and deliver the API Centre’s framework and lead open banking for Aotearoa. Phil has a financial services background spending 15 years in the UK working on mergers and acquisitions and also setting up target operating models within large global banks. Phil led a team that designed and implemented the UK Open Banking Implementation Entity target operating model and later held the role of head of operations.
Nigel Somerfield, Lead Architect, Payments NZ
Nigel Somerfield is the lead architect at Payments NZ’s API Centre. As an enterprise architect and technical consultant, he has significant experience across both the public and private sector including financial services, government, and education. His expertise extends across small tactical solutions to large-scale, strategic initiatives focused on delivering transformational and innovative solutions.