New Zealand's Financial Market's Authority Podcasts

Join FMA Chief Executive Samantha Barrass as she shares an overview of the Financial Conduct Report (FCR) and what it means for the year ahead.
The Financial Conduct Report sets out the FMA’s regulatory priorities for the next 12 months, highlighting the key risks and opportunities we see across financial markets and how we plan to respond. It also reflects on the progress made over the past year to support better outcomes for consumers, investors and businesses. 
In this episode, Sam discusses why the FCR is an important tool for industry, providing greater transparency on our expectations and helping firms understand where we are focusing our supervision and engagement. 
She also outlines what boards, executives and leaders should be considering, and how organisations can use the insights from the report to strengthen their approach to conduct and deliver better outcomes for their customers.
Watch now for a clear overview of the FMA’s priorities and how industry can engage with us over the coming year.

Join Michael Hewes, Director of Deposit Taking, Insurance and Advice, as he discusses the risks incentives can pose to fair consumer outcomes.
Why non‑monetary benefits and sales campaigns can create conflicts of interest
What insurers need to consider under CoFI and Fair Conduct Programmes
Where the FMA is seeing gaps in incentive design, governance and oversight
Listen now for a practical overview.
Read the full paper here: Insurer benefits and campaigns insights

Feeling unsure about your KiwiSaver right now? You’re not alone.
With rising costs and market ups and downs, many New Zealanders are asking whether they should be making changes to their KiwiSaver.
In this episode of Jess Learns to Invest, Jess speaks with John Duffy from Consumer NZ about what’s happening  and what to think about before making decisions.
In this episode, we cover:
✅ Why KiwiSaver can feel harder to prioritise during cost of living pressure
 ✅ What it means when your balance drops
 ✅ Why reacting in the moment can lock in losses
 ✅ Why it pays to know what fund you’re in
 ✅ How fees impact your savings over time
 ✅ What to watch out for with financial advice online
 ✅ Where to go for trusted KiwiSaver information
If you’ve ever wondered whether you should make changes to your KiwiSaver, or just want to feel more confident about your long-term savings, this episode is a great place to start.

We’ve released updated guidance to help issuers clearly and accurately disclose sustainability‑related characteristics of financial products.
As products are increasingly marketed as ethical, sustainable, ESG or green, good disclosure matters. 
Our updated Sustainability‑related disclosure guidance:
✔ explains how existing fair‑dealing and disclosure obligations apply
 ✔ outlines what good practice looks like
 ✔ is built around four core principles — clarity, substantiation, consistency and effective management of third‑party involvement
 ✔ brings earlier guidance together in one place
Listen to the latest 5 Minutes with the FMA podcast to hear Acting Head of Specialist Supervision, Marcus McMillan, talk through what’s changed and why it matters.
Find the guidance and listen to the podcast on our website: https://www.fma.govt.nz/assets/Guidance/Sustainability-related-disclosure-guidance.pdf

Kiwis are increasingly turning to social media for money advice from finfluencers and online forums to podcasts. Some of this content can be genuinely informative, but other posts can be misleading, heavily promotional, or even linked to scams.
In this episode of our Occasional Conversation podcast, Jess is joined by Anna Godfrey from our Financial Advice team and Elizabeth Asmerom Asfaha from our Regulatory Services team to unpack what to look out for when engaging with money content online.
They discuss:
What “finfluencers” are and why their content is so popular
The difference between general financial information and regulated financial advice
Common red flags, including guaranteed returns, pressure tactics and flashy lifestyle marketing
What to look for in paid promotions, referral links and sponsored content
Simple steps you can take before acting on money advice they see online
The risks for financial advisers and firms using finfluencers or influencer-style content
If you come across money content that feels high pressure, too good to be true, or unclear about incentives, slow down and do your research.
Find our finfluencer guidance here: Staying Safe with Online Money Advice | Financial Markets Authority