As we’re aware, tapping a card or paying by phone has become second nature for many customers. These options make paying easy, but the shift in payment habits also has implications for business costs.
The Commerce Commission’s June 2026 payments snapshot shows Visa and Mastercard account for 74% of payments across the networks it monitors, up from 43% in 2019. New Zealand businesses collectively pay around $1 billion each year to accept Visa and Mastercard payments. As more customers choose contactless and digital payments, a greater proportion of transactions can attract these fees—even when a business’s fee rates haven’t changed.
However, there are more emerging “pay by bank” options, which allow customers to pay directly from their bank accounts, potentially offering lower-cost alternatives, although ease of use and integration with existing systems will be important.
For hospitality businesses, it’s a useful reminder to review your merchant statements reviewing your payment mix and whether it has continued to change. Understanding what makes up your bill is a good starting point and the Restaurant Association can also get you in touch with partner, Westpac, if you’d like to have a conversation about your options.
Read the Commerce Commission’s payments snapshot here.
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