FMA Regulatory Review | The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) is New Zealand's core financial regulator, responsible for securities, foreign exchange, funds, insurance, and financial advisors. This article explains the FMA's background, license types, and official registration verification procedures. It also features examples of licensed companies like ANZ New Zealand and Craigs Investment Partners, along with cautionary tales. It also compares these with stronger regulators like ASIC, the FCA, and the MAS, and includes multi-dimensional assessment scores to help investors identify spoofing risks and address compliance boundaries.

I. Regulatory Background and Positioning

• Full name : Financial Markets Authority

• Official website : https://www.fma.govt.nz

• Official email : [email protected]

Established in 2011 , the FMA is New Zealand's independent regulator. Its responsibilities include:

• Regulating securities markets and issuers

• Overseeing Forex and CFD platforms

• Fund management and financial advisory licenses

• Supervision of financial intermediaries and insurance companies

• Investor Education and Market Integrity

Source: FMA About page

2. License Type

The licenses administered by the FMA under the Financial Markets Conduct Act (FMCA) 2013 include:

• Financial Service Providers (FSPs) — Financial Service Provider Registration

• Derivatives Issuers — Derivatives Issuer License (Forex/CFDs)

• Managed Investment Schemes (MIS) — Fund and Asset Management

• Licensed Financial Advisers

• Insurers

👉 Official registration tool: FMA Financial Service Providers Register

3. Verification Steps

1. Open FSP Register

2. Enter your company's full name or FSP number

3. Verification:

• Legal Name (Company Full Name)

• FSP Number (Registration Number)

• Licence Type

• Status (Active/Deactivated)

• Address (registered address)

4. Compare the information disclosed on the official website to prevent "copycat"

IV. Regulated Objects (True Compliance List)

• ANZ Bank New Zealand Ltd — New Zealand's largest bank, regulated by the FMA

• ASB Bank Ltd — a major local bank with an FSP license

• Craigs Investment Partners Ltd — New Zealand local investment advisory and securities company

• Fisher Funds Management Ltd — Well-known fund management company

• Kiwi Wealth Ltd — asset management and retirement fund provider

Source: FSP Register

V. Blacklist and Warning Cases

• FMA Warnings List : The FMA regularly updates its list of unregistered forex, CFD and crypto platforms

• Penalty Case : Several derivatives issuers fined for failing to comply with client funds segregation regulations

• Typical risks : Fraudulent platforms pretend to be “FSP numbers”, but are only registered in the database as “registered” and do not hold derivative brand licenses.

👉 Official blacklist: FMA Warnings

6. Comparison Table

7. Multi-dimensional evaluation scores

8. Conclusion

The FMA is New Zealand's core financial regulator, strictly overseeing foreign exchange, derivatives, funds, and advisors. Authentic and compliant companies such as ANZ, ASB, and Craigs Investment Partners can be verified on the FSP registration database.

However, fraudulent companies often use FSP numbers that are only registered but not licensed to pretend to be compliant. Investors must verify their FSP Register and the FMA's warning list to effectively prevent risks.