menuclose
ForexBrokers.com is committed to the highest ethical standards and reviews services independently. Learn How We Make Money

Best Forex Brokers in New Zealand for 2026

Steven Hatzakis

Written by Steven Hatzakis
Director of Online Broker Research

John Bringans

Edited by John Bringans
Managing Editor

Joey Shadeck

Fact-checked by Joey Shadeck
Research Analyst

June 18, 2026
  Fact Checked
close
Steven Hatzakis Steven Hatzakis
Director of Online Broker Research

Steven Hatzakis is the Global Director of Online Broker Research for ForexBrokers.com. He is a forex industry expert and an active fintech and crypto researcher.

favicon.png Why you can trust us

Led by Steven Hatzakis, Global Director of Online Broker Research, the ForexBrokers.com research team collects and audits data across more than 100 variables. We analyze key tools and features important to forex and CFD traders and collect data on commissions, spreads, and fees across the industry to help you find the best broker for your needs.

We also review each broker’s regulatory status; this research helps us determine whether you should trust the broker to keep your money safe. As part of this effort, we track 100+ international regulatory agencies to power our proprietary Trust Score rating system.

Our researchers open personal brokerage accounts and test all available platforms on desktop, web, and mobile for each broker reviewed on ForexBrokers.com. Learn more about how we test.

New Zealand closely regulates forex and CFD trading. Any broker that wants to offer leveraged forex or CFDs to New Zealand residents must hold a Derivatives Issuer (DI) licence from the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), be listed on the Financial Service Providers Register, and belong to an approved dispute resolution scheme. The requirements to earn that licence are demanding, and include a physical office in New Zealand and substantial net tangible assets.

The FMA was established in May 2011 under the Financial Markets (Repeals and Amendments) Act and supervises the country's financial services under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

Best New Zealand Forex Brokers

To find the best forex brokers in New Zealand, we created a list of all FMA authorised brokers, then ranked brokers by their Overall ranking.

Here is our list of the top forex brokers in New Zealand:

Company Accepts NZ Residents Regulated by FMA Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account Minimum Deposit Overall Rating
IG logoIG
check check 0.91 £1 5/5 Stars
CMC Markets logoCMC Markets
check check 1.3 $0 5/5 Stars
Plus500 logoPlus500
check check 1.3 €50 4.5/5 Stars
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
check check 1.16 $0 4.5/5 Stars
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
check 0.226 $0 5/5 Stars
AvaTrade logoAvaTrade
check 0.93 $100 4.5/5 Stars
XM Group logoXM Group
check 2 $5 4.5/5 Stars
FP Markets logoFP Markets
check 1.3 $100 AUD 4.5/5 Stars
Tickmill logoTickmill
check 1.70 $100 4/5 Stars
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets) logoHYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
check 1.3 $20 4/5 Stars
HFM logoHFM
check 1.8 $0 4/5 Stars
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
check 1.08 $0 4/5 Stars
Questrade logoQuestrade
check 0.8 or higher $0 4/5 Stars
Spreadex logoSpreadex
check 0.81 $0 4/5 Stars

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Financial Markets Authority (FMA)

  • The FMA is a Highly Trusted, Tier-1 regulatory jurisdiction. Learn more about international forex regulation and why it's important.
  • The Financial Markets Authority supervises New Zealand's financial markets and investment services under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.
  • Any broker offering leveraged forex or CFDs to New Zealand residents must hold a Derivatives Issuer (DI) licence from the FMA, be listed on the Financial Service Providers Register, and belong to an approved dispute resolution scheme.
  • Earning a DI licence carries demanding requirements, including a physical office in New Zealand and substantial net tangible assets, which gives New Zealand traders a strong layer of local protection.
  • Always confirm a broker's regulatory status, and verify any broker's licensing directly on the FMA's Financial Service Providers Register.

Winners Summary

1. IG - Best forex broker in New Zealand

Company Accepts NZ Residents Regulated by FMA Overall Rating Minimum Deposit Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account
IG logoIG
check check 5/5 Stars £1 0.91

IG provides access to more than 19,500 instruments, including around 17,000 CFDs and 97 forex pairs, alongside indices, shares, and commodities. For traders who want more than spot forex, that range covers a lot of ground from one account.

Backed by a long regulatory record. Founded in 1974 and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LON: IGG), IG Group is a FTSE 250 member that holds 11 regulatory licenses, eight of them Tier-1. That standing places it among the most regulated brokers ForexBrokers.com covers and earns one of our highest Trust Scores.

Platform depth for different styles. IG's five-platform lineup spans its proprietary web and mobile platforms, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, and L2 Dealer for direct market access, with ProRealTime adding institutional-grade charting. Trade-from-chart tools and integrated trading signals are built in.

Steven's take:

"After nearly 50 years in the market and with eight Tier-1 licenses, IG is a broker I treat as a benchmark for trust. Its five-platform lineup gives traders room to work the way they prefer rather than adapting to one system."

Steven Hatzakis
Director of Online Broker Research

Steven_headshot_170x170.png

Pricing. Pricing on the standard account is competitive, with EUR/USD spreads averaging 0.91 pips and no separate commission. The commission-based Forex Direct account narrows raw spreads to around 0.55 pips, with an all-in cost near 0.75 pips once commission is added, and tiered rebates are available for high-volume traders. Mini contracts carry the same spreads as standard sizes.

IG trading mobile app charting

The IG Trading mobile app charting supports trading from the chart, as well as news overlays and multiple concurrent indicators.

2. CMC Markets - Great web platform

Company Accepts NZ Residents Regulated by FMA Overall Rating Minimum Deposit Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account
CMC Markets logoCMC Markets
check check 5/5 Stars $0 1.3

CMC Markets is a publicly traded brand (LSE: CMCX) regulated across multiple Tier-1 jurisdictions. It's best known among forex traders for the depth of its currency offering, having won the ForexBrokers.com Annual Award for #1 Most Currency Pairs for five years running.

Extensive pairs and instruments. CMC offers access to more than 300 forex pairs, quoted both ways, alongside roughly 10,000 CFDs spanning indices, commodities, shares, and treasuries. That range covers far more currency options than most competitors.

A well-regarded platform suite. The Next Generation web platform and CMC's mobile app pair charting tools, pattern recognition, and integrated research with fast, fully automated execution. The mobile app in particular has earned Best in Class honors in the ForexBrokers.com Annual Awards.

Pricing for active traders. CMC's standard account is spread-only, while the commission-based FX Active account offers spreads from 0.0 pips on major pairs with a fixed, low commission. For traders who place higher volumes, that account provides a lower-cost route as activity grows.

Full screen of the Next Generation web platform on CMC Markets.

The layout of the CMC Markets Next Generation web platform including open windows for a watchlist of indices, multiple charts, product library, market calendar, insights, and positions.

3. Plus500 – Multi-asset CFD broker, intuitive platform

Company Accepts NZ Residents Regulated by FMA Overall Rating Minimum Deposit Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account
Plus500 logoPlus500
check check 4.5/5 Stars €50 1.3

Plus500 is a publicly traded broker (LSE: PLUS) and FTSE 250 member with a 99 Trust Score on ForexBrokers.com. It earned Best in Class honors in the 2026 Annual Awards for Trust Score, Ease of Use, and Beginners, reflecting a focus on a straightforward trading experience.

A broad multi-asset offering. Plus500 provides more than 2,800 CFDs across forex, shares, indices, ETFs, commodities, crypto, and options, and has expanded into share trading and futures through its Plus500 Invest and Plus500 Futures accounts. That range gives traders varied exposure from one provider.

Commission-free, spread-based pricing. Plus500 uses a commission-free model with costs built into the spread, with EUR/USD spreads starting around 0.8 pips during peak liquidity. There are no deposit or withdrawal fees, which keeps the cost structure simple to follow.

Worth knowing. Plus500 runs only its own WebTrader and mobile platform, so traders who prefer MetaTrader won't find it here, and its market research is limited compared with brokers built for active trading.

Plus500 mobile app charts.

Plus500 mobile app charts allows you to have a layout with watchlists showing popular instruments in addition to buy and sell buttons.

4. BlackBull Markets - Best for market access

Founded in 2014 in Auckland, BlackBull Markets is regulated by New Zealand's FMA and runs an ECN execution model built for speed, with fills often under 100 milliseconds. That focus suits active and algorithmic traders who prioritize execution quality.

Wide platform and market access. BlackBull supports MetaTrader 4 and 5, cTrader, TradingView, and its BlackBull CopyTrader and BlackBull Invest platforms, the latter powered by Interactive Brokers' TWS. Across these, traders can access more than 26,000 instruments spanning forex, shares, commodities, indices, and crypto.

Pricing for active traders. The ECN Prime account offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips with a $6 round-turn commission and no minimum deposit. Worth noting: education is thinner than at the largest brokers, and some international entities operate under lighter regulation.

Trading platforms for New Zealand forex traders

Company Accepts NZ Residents Regulated by FMA MetaTrader 4 (MT4) MetaTrader 5 (MT5) TradingView
IG logoIG
check check Yes Yes Yes
CMC Markets logoCMC Markets
check check Yes Yes Yes
Plus500 logoPlus500
check check No No No
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
check check Yes Yes Yes

FAQs

How to Verify FMA Authorisation

To verify if a forex broker is regulated as a Financial Services Provider (FSP) by New Zealand's Financial Markets Authority (FMA), the first step is to identify the register number from the disclosure text at the bottom of the broker's New Zealand homepage. For example, here's the key disclosure text from KVB Kunlun's website:

KVB Kunlun Financial Group of Companies (including KVB Kunlun Pty Limited, KVB Asset Management Limited, KVB Kunlun New Zealand Limited, KVB Kunlun International (HK) Limited, KVB Kunlun Securities (HK) Limited, KVB Kunlun Asset Management (HK) Limited, KVB Kunlun Canada Inc, KVB Global Markets Limited, KVB Global Markets Pty Limited).

Next, look up the firm's NZ entity name on the FMA website to validate its current regulatory status and FSP number. Here is the official FMA page for Financial Services Providers that lists KVB Kunlun New Zealand Limited.

securityWhy regulation is important

Choosing a well-regulated forex broker is important for avoiding forex scams. Check out my popular educational series that teaches you how to identify common forex scams and provides helpful information about what to do if you've been scammed. For crypto traders, I explain how you can spot common crypto scams.

Do you have to pay taxes on forex trading in New Zealand?

Yes, forex trading profits are taxable in New Zealand. The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) may treat forex gains as income, especially if trading is frequent, organized, and conducted with the intention of earning a profit. Unlike some jurisdictions, New Zealand doesn’t have a capital gains tax for most individuals, but that doesn’t mean trading profits are tax-free. If you’re trading forex as a business or your trading resembles a business (e.g. regularity, volume, intent), the income is likely to be taxable. It’s important to consult a local tax advisor to understand how your trading activity may be assessed under New Zealand tax law.

What time does the New Zealand forex market open?

The forex market officially opens for the new trading week at 5:00 PM EST (or 10:00 PM GMT) on Sunday, which corresponds to 11:00 AM Monday morning in New Zealand (NZDT). This marks the start of the global forex trading cycle, with the Wellington and Sydney sessions kicking things off as the first major markets to open. While liquidity can be lower in this early session compared to the more active London or New York hours, the New Zealand and Australian openings help set the tone for the week, especially for AUD and NZD currency pairs. Keep in mind that forex is a decentralized market so some brokers may offer early access to trading. It’s always best to check your broker’s specific trading hours. Learn more about forex market sessions and the hours of trading at our comprehensive guide to forex market hours.

What is the best forex broker in New Zealand?

IG is the best forex broker in New Zealand, offering a trusted blend of regulation, platforms, and tools. Fully licensed by the New Zealand FMA, IG provides a comprehensive trading experience across desktop, mobile, MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime, and API access. Pricing on standard accounts follows a spread-only model, with typical EUR/USD spreads averaging 0.69 pips during peak hours, while DMA accounts offer lower spreads plus a commission. Active traders may qualify for tiered discounts, reducing trading costs further. IG’s strong regulation, top-tier platforms, and transparent pricing make it a standout choice for traders at every level.

Our testing

Why you should trust us

Steven Hatzakis is a well-known finance writer, with 25+ years of experience in the foreign exchange and financial markets. He is the Global Director of Online Broker Research for Reink Media Group, leading research efforts for ForexBrokers.com since 2016. Steven is an expert writer and researcher who has published over 1,000 articles covering the foreign exchange markets and cryptocurrency industries. He has served as a registered commodity futures representative for domestic and internationally-regulated brokerages. Steven holds a Series III license in the US as a Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA).

All content on ForexBrokers.com is handwritten by a writer, fact-checked by a member of our research team, and edited and published by an editor. Our ratings, rankings, and opinions are entirely our own, and the result of our extensive research and decades of collective experience covering the forex industry.

Ultimately, our rigorous data validation process yields an error rate of less than .1% each year, providing site visitors with quality data they can trust. Click here to learn more about how we test.

More about New Zealand forex markets and regulation

New Zealand's forex trading environment operates under the supervision of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), the country's primary financial regulator. The FMA oversees financial markets and investment services under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, with a mandate covering market integrity, fair dealing, disclosure, and investor protection. Unlike jurisdictions that lack a local licensing regime, New Zealand requires any broker offering leveraged forex or CFDs to residents to hold a Derivatives Issuer (DI) licence from the FMA.

Earning a DI licence carries demanding requirements, including a physical office in New Zealand and substantial net tangible assets. Licensed brokers must also be listed on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) and belong to an approved dispute resolution scheme, which gives New Zealand traders a meaningful layer of local protection and recourse. This makes New Zealand one of the more rigorous Tier-1 jurisdictions for retail forex in the Asia-Pacific region.

Because New Zealand maintains a genuine local licensing regime, traders can choose between FMA-licensed brokers and those regulated by other Tier-1 authorities, like the U.K.'s FCA, Australia's ASIC, or Cyprus's CySEC. Our research team independently verifies every broker's regulatory licenses to ensure New Zealand traders have accurate, reliable information about the brokers they use, and residents can confirm any broker's status directly on the FMA's Financial Service Providers Register. Learn more about Trust Score and the 100+ regulatory agencies tracked by the ForexBrokers.com research team.

How we tested

At ForexBrokers.com, our online broker reviews are based on our collected quantitative data as well as the observations and qualified opinions of our expert researchers. Each year we publish tens of thousands of words of research on the top forex brokers and monitor dozens of international regulator agencies (read more about how we calculate Trust Score here).

Mobile testing is conducted on modern devices that run the most up-to-date operating systems available:

  • For Apple, we use MacBook Pro laptops running macOS 15.3, and the iPhone XS running iOS 18.3.
  • For Android, we use the Samsung Galaxy S20 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra devices running Android OS 15.

All websites and web-based platforms are tested using the latest version of the Google Chrome browser.

Our researchers thoroughly test a wide range of key features, such as the availability and quality of watch lists, mobile charting, real-time and streaming quotes, and educational resources – among other important variables. We also evaluate the overall design of the mobile experience, and look for a fluid user experience moving between mobile and desktop platforms.

Compare New Zealand Brokers


Popular Forex Guides

More Forex Guides

Forex Risk Disclaimer

There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities. With respect to margin-based foreign exchange trading, off-exchange derivatives, and cryptocurrencies, there is considerable exposure to risk, including but not limited to, leverage, creditworthiness, limited regulatory protection and market volatility that may substantially affect the price, or liquidity of a currency or related instrument. It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable, or that they will not result in losses. Read more on forex trading risks.

About the Editorial Team

Steven Hatzakis

Steven Hatzakis is the Global Director of Online Broker Research for ForexBrokers.com. Steven previously served as an Editor for Finance Magnates, where he authored over 1,000 published articles about the online finance industry. A forex industry expert and an active fintech and crypto researcher, Steven advises blockchain companies at the board level and holds a Series III license in the U.S. as a Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA).

John Bringans

John Bringans is the Managing Editor at ForexBrokers.com. An experienced media professional, John has a decade of editorial experience with a background that includes key leadership roles at global newsroom outlets. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University, and conducts research on forex and the financial services industry while assisting in the production of content.

Joey Shadeck

Joey Shadeck is a Content Strategist and Research Analyst for ForexBrokers.com. He holds dual degrees in Finance and Marketing from Oakland University, and has been an active trader and investor for close to ten years. An industry veteran, Joey obtains and verifies data, conducts research, and analyzes and validates our content.

close