Safer Online Banking in NZ: What You Need to Know
Safer Online Banking in New Zealand: What You Need to Know 💰
Great news for online banking users in New Zealand! Banks are now required to use the Confirmation of Payee (CoP) system. This new feature significantly enhances security by making it easier to verify payment details, helping you avoid accidentally paying the wrong person or falling victim to a scam.
What if You Accidentally Pay the Wrong Account?
Even with enhanced security, mistakes can happen. If you accidentally transfer money to the wrong account, here's what you should do:
👉 Act Immediately: Contact your bank as soon as you realise the error.
👉 Bank's Role: Banks' ability to reverse payments varies. In most cases, they'll need permission from the recipient to retrieve your money. If consent is given, your funds will be returned.
👉 No Consent? Next Steps: If the bank can't get consent to reverse the transaction, you might need to escalate. For claims up to $30,000, the Disputes Tribunal is your next step. For amounts over $30,000, you'll need to make a claim at the District Court.
👉 Invalid Account Numbers: If you type in an invalid account number, your bank should be able to reverse the transaction, and you typically get your money back within a few business days.
👉 Fees Apply: Be aware that your bank will likely charge a fee for their payment retrieval or credit recovery service, even if they're unable to get your money back.
This new CoP system is a welcome step towards greater financial security for everyone in New Zealand. Stay vigilant and know your rights!
Info credit: Citizens Advice Bureau NZ
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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