Best Forex Brokers in New Zealand for 2025
ForexBrokers.com has been reviewing online forex brokers for over eight years, and our reviews are the most cited in the industry. Each year, we collect thousands of data points and publish tens of thousands of words of research. Here's how we test.
Trading forex (currencies) in New Zealand (NZ) is popular among residents. Before any broker in New Zealand can accept forex or CFD traders as clients, they must become authorised by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), which is the financial regulatory body in New Zealand. The FMA's website is fma.govt.nz. We recommend NZ residents also follow the FMA on twitter, @FMAmedia.
The FMA was formed in May 2011 as part of the Financial Markets Bill passed by New Zealand's Parliament. For a historical breakdown, here's a link to Financial Markets Authority webpage on Wikipedia.
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:
New Zealand Forex Brokers Comparison
Compare New Zealand authorised forex and CFDs brokers side by side using the forex broker comparison tool or the summary table below. This broker list is sorted by my overall rankings of the top forex brokers.
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.
Winners Summary
Best forex broker in New Zealand - IG
Company |
Accepts NZ Residents |
Regulated by FMA |
Overall Rating |
Minimum Deposit |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard |
IG
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check |
check
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£250.00 |
0.98 info |
IG is my top pick for forex traders in New Zealand in 2025. Founded in 1974 and publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: IGG), IG is regulated in more Tier-1 jurisdictions than almost any other broker with eleven in total.
New Zealand residents can access IG’s services through its global entity, which is regulated by the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA). IG’s local regulatory status means Kiwi traders benefit from strong investor protections and access to IG’s full suite of trading tools and markets.
Platform: IG’s web and mobile trading platforms are among the best I’ve tested. The proprietary web platform is clean, easy to navigate, and packed with professional-grade tools, including advanced charting, integrated news, and trade signals. The mobile app mirrors much of the web functionality, offering seamless trading from anywhere. IG also supports MetaTrader 4, ProRealTime, and API access, making it a great fit whether you’re a beginner or an advanced algo trader.
Pricing: IG’s minimum deposit in New Zealand is typically around NZD $450, though traders seeking DMA access will need to deposit at least £1,000. IG’s standard CFD account offers a spread-only pricing model, with average spreads on major pairs like EUR/USD at 0.69 pips during peak hours and 0.98 pips across all sessions. For high-volume traders, IG’s Forex Direct account offers tighter spreads (averaging 0.62 pips) plus a commission starting at $60 per million traded, which can drop to as low as $10 per million based on monthly volume. This tiered pricing allows active traders to achieve an effective all-in spread as low as 0.82 pips. Overall, IG’s pricing is transparent, competitive, and scales with your trading activity.
Great web platform - CMC Markets
Company |
Accepts NZ Residents |
Regulated by FMA |
Overall Rating |
Minimum Deposit |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard |
CMC Markets
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check |
check
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$0 |
0.61 info |
CMC Markets continues to be a standout broker in New Zealand for 2025, especially for traders who want low spreads and a powerful platform. Founded in 1989, CMC is publicly traded (LSE: CMCX) and regulated by the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA) as well as five additional Tier-1 regulators.
Platform: One of the highlights of trading with CMC is its Next Generation platform, which is available on both web and mobile. This platform features sophisticated charting with over 100 technical indicators, advanced order types, price projection tools, and integrated education. I’ve spent a lot of time using CMC’s platform, and it’s easily one of the best out there with tools that real traders actually use.
Pricing: CMC Markets offers highly competitive pricing for New Zealand traders, with average spreads on the EUR/USD at 0.61 pips on its standard account, and no minimum deposit required. For those seeking even lower costs, CMC’s FX Active account charges a $2.50 per-side commission, with minimum spreads as low as zero pips, bringing the all-in cost to 0.5 pips on major pairs like EUR/USD and NZD/USD. CMC’s tiered discount programs, including the Price Plus Scheme and Alpha rebates, offer further spread reductions based on trading volume and activity. This consistency and flexibility in pricing earned CMC Markets the #1 ranking for Commissions and Fees in our 2025 Annual Awards.
For cost-conscious traders who still want access to premium tools and platforms, CMC is a strong pick.
Plus500 – Multi-asset CFD broker, intuitive platform
Company |
Accepts NZ Residents |
Regulated by FMA |
Overall Rating |
Minimum Deposit |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard |
Plus500
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check |
check
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€100 |
1.5 info |
Plus500 is a broker available to New Zealand residents known for its user-friendly platform and wide range of CFD markets. Founded in 2008 and publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: PLUS), Plus500 is regulated in multiple major financial centers, including the New Zealand FMA, which oversees its local operations.
Platform: What sets Plus500 apart is its simplicity and ease of use. The proprietary trading platform, available on web and mobile, is designed for efficiency, with a clear layout, customizable interface, and built-in risk management tools like guaranteed stop-loss orders. It’s not overloaded with advanced tools, which makes it ideal for traders who want to trade without the learning curve that comes with platforms like MT4 or Interactive Brokers' Trader Workstation.
Pricing: Plus500 offers access to over 2,800 CFDs, covering forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, and crypto. Spreads are competitive, and the broker operates with an all-inclusive pricing model, no commissions, just spreads. There’s also a low minimum deposit requirement, and funding options are straightforward.
If you're a New Zealand-based trader looking for a clean, intuitive platform with access to a large variety of global markets, Plus500 is a strong choice.
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.
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.
Article Resources
Financial Markets Authority (FMA) Website,
FMA Wikipedia,
Financial Service Providers Register
Compare New Zealand Brokers
Popular Forex Guides
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Oceania
2025 Review Methodology
At ForexBrokers.com, our reviews of online forex brokers and their products and services are based on our collected 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).
Our research team conducts thorough testing on a wide range of features, products, services, and tools (collecting and validating thousands of data points in the process). We test all available trading platforms for each broker – whether they are proprietary or come from third-party providers – and evaluate them based on a host of data-driven variables.
We also take an in-depth look at each broker’s commissions and fees, such as bid/ask spreads – including the average spread data for some of the most popular forex currency pairs. We research other trading costs, such as inactivity or custody fees, minimum deposit requirements, VIP rebates and/or discounts, and a range of other important fee-based data points.
Some of the other important research categories that are factored into our testing include mobile trading accessibility and capability, availability of market research and educational content, and each broker’s overall Trust Score.
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.
Read our full explanation and accounting of our research and testing process to learn more about how we test.
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 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 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 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.