New Zealand Tech Industry Association launches fintech working group to focus on innovation

The New Zealand Tech Industry Association (NZTech) announced the launch of a new working group, FinTechNZ that will focus on fintech and innovation.

The launch will take place in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland next week and will see New Zealand’s biggest and smartest financial businesses, innovators and experts, along with the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE).

The fintech group will unite innovative companies across diverse financial services industry to become significant contributors in shaping and driving fintech revolution. FinTechNZ Core Working Group leader and NZTech chair Mitchell Pham mentioned that the purpose of the group is to enable fintech businesses to connect with other companies and groups to make a difference for New Zealand in the global fintech community.

“What is powerful about fintech is that it is shaping the digital economy of New Zealand, as well as making it easier to connect ours to those that are bigger and faster-growing. This will accelerate our exports, trade and international business, especially with the large economies of Asia,” Pham stated. “So far, we have received expressions of interest from over fifty organizations including banks, insurers, finance companies, government agencies, fintech start-up’s and international giant Alibaba Group, who all want to actively participate in growing fintech in New Zealand.”

There will be series of events in the coming weeks, organized by FinTechNZ and the group will also take part in the nationwide Techweek’17 from May 6 to 14 next year. FinTechNZ is initiated by NZTech in association with sponsor Augen software group, MBIE, members of the NZTech board and FinTechNZ Core Working Group.

“We are inviting other interested Kiwi business and organizations, from financial service providers to financial technology businesses, to join us. Collectively, we will determine what we want FinTechNZ to be and do for our businesses, the sector and how we will engage with the rest of the economy and the world,” Pham added.