November has been an incredibly busy, but very productive month for the API Centre.
All four of our API providers met the 28 November timeline to implement version 2.3 of the Account Information standard. And after a lot of consultation, both across the industry and by our working groups, we also released our Performance Standard for all API Standards Users, which will ensure consistency across the ecosystem.
We also entered a standards licensing agreement with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. This agreement ensures continuity by allowing MBIE to incorporate by reference the API Centre’s standards into regulation.
We welcome this new chapter for the open banking journey in Aotearoa New Zealand and will continue to work closely with regulators to ensure regulatory objectives are aligned with market outcomes.
November ended with a pause to celebrate Payments NZ’s 15th birthday, which included a fantastic panel that spoke about how open banking has, in fact, been happening here for a long time. A heartening recognition for those of us who have been on this journey for a while!
The API Council has approved the standards development pipeline, which will be published in the new year, so there will be plenty to get stuck into in 2026.
Thank you to all who have contributed to the API Centre over what has been a huge year. We’ve navigated significant change and uncertainty in the run-up to 1 December while continuing to deliver for the industry – and we can take pride in everything we’ve achieved as we enter a new era for open banking.
It wouldn’t have happened without dedicated commitment by our industry to empower customers, support thriving businesses, and build a resilient digital economy. I look forward to this continuing as we grow open banking together in 2026.
Phil Cass, API Centre Manager
