Forex and CFD trading in New Zealand has expanded quickly over the past ten years. Oversight comes from the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), which works to keep markets fair, efficient, and transparent.
Any company serving New Zealand clients must be listed on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) and have an FSP number. Registration on the FSPR is not the same as holding an FMA license, and it does not mean the firm is supervised by the FMA.
Many brokers regulated by ASIC in Australia also appear on the FSPR so they can market or offer limited services in New Zealand. They may look “registered” locally, but their main regulator is still ASIC, not the FMA.
This guide reviews leading forex brokers available to New Zealand traders, their pricing, platforms, and what sets them apart.
Pick a broker that fits your goals and trading style. Keep these core points in mind:
Plus500 is a global CFD provider operating in New Zealand through Plus500AU Pty Ltd. It is not regulated by the FMA, but it appears on the FSPR with FSP number FSP486026. Plus500 holds licenses from ASIC, FCA, CySEC, MAS, and FSCA, and reports serving more than 30 million traders worldwide.
You can trade CFDs on forex, indices, commodities, shares, options, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. All products are available on the Plus500 platform for web, desktop, and mobile.
Pricing is based on variable spreads that move with market conditions. The EUR/USD spread is around 0.9 pips, with no commission on trades.
82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
IG is a long-standing broker known for its pricing, tools, and range of products. In New Zealand, it operates via IG Australia PTY Ltd, listed on the FSPR as FSP684191. While not under the FMA, IG is regulated by ASIC, FCA, CySEC, BaFin, and other authorities.
IG offers more than 17,000 instruments, including CFDs on shares, forex, indices, commodities, and ETFs. Supported platforms include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, L2 Dealer, TradingView, and ProRealTime.
Spreads are tight, and pricing is transparent. The average spread on EURUSD is about 0.6 pips.
70-74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
BlackBull Markets is a New Zealand broker fully regulated by the FMA under Black Bull Group Limited, FSP number FSP403326. Founded in 2014 in Auckland, it also holds regulation from the FSA in Seychelles.
Clients can access over 26,000 instruments, including CFDs on forex, commodities, indices, shares, and cryptocurrencies. Platforms include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, BlackBull Invest, and BlackBull CopyTrader.
Pricing is competitive across three ECN accounts. Standard offers spreads from 0.8 pips with no commission. Prime provides spreads from 0.1 pips with a $6 commission per lot. Institutional features 0.0 pip spreads with a $4 commission per lot.
CMC Markets is regulated in New Zealand by the FMA under CMC Markets NZ Limited, FSP number FSP41187. It also holds licenses from the FCA and ASIC.
Its lineup includes more than 12,000 products, covering CFDs on forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities, individual stocks, stock baskets, and government bonds. You can trade on the Next Generation platform, MetaTrader 4, and TradingView.
Spreads on major pairs start from 0.5 pips, which is sharp for active traders.
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is regulated in New Zealand by the FMA under Interactive Brokers LLC, FSP number FSP1005789. It is also overseen by the FCA, ASIC, and the Canadian CIRO, among others.
Trading is available on Trader Workstation (TWS) and the IBKR Platform. Markets include CFDs on forex pairs, stocks, options, futures, bonds, funds, and crypto.
Fees are among the lowest in the industry. Major forex spreads can be as low as 0.1 pip, with a volume-based commission.
ThinkMarkets serves New Zealand clients under FMA oversight via TF Global Markets (Aust) Pty Limited, FSP number FSP623289. It is also regulated by CySEC, FCA, ASIC, and FSCA.
Products include CFDs on forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, precious metals, commodities, and shares. Supported platforms are MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ThinkCopy, and ThinkTrader.
Pricing depends on the account type. Standard and ThinkTrader accounts offer spreads from 0.4 pips on major pairs with no commission. ThinkZero offers 0.0 pip spreads on major pairs with a $3.5 per side commission.
Axi is regulated in New Zealand by the FMA via AxiCorp Financial Services Pty Ltd, FSP number FSP518226. Founded in 2007, Axi also holds regulation from ASIC, FCA, and the FSA in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
You can trade CFDs on forex, shares, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies using MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the Axi Trading Platform.
There are three account types. Standard features spreads from 0.9 pips with no commission. Pro and Elite offer spreads from 0.0 pips on major pairs, with commissions of $7 and $3.5 per round trip, respectively.
New Zealand offers a strong regulatory base and access to respected global brokers. The firms above provide a solid mix of safety features, tools, and a wide range of markets.
Each broker has its own strengths, so match your choice to your strategy, risk tolerance, and experience. Always confirm a broker’s details on the official Financial Service Providers Register. Testing a demo account is a smart way to check pricing, platforms, and support before you commit.
