The Commerce Commission has released its final decision to regulate interchange fees, providing cost relief for businesses.
The Restaurant Association is welcoming the Commerce Commission’s final decision to regulate interchange fees, delivering much-needed cost relief for hospitality businesses.
The decision will reduce the cost of accepting Visa and Mastercard payments by an estimated NZD 90 million a year, a significant win for small businesses, many of whom operate on tight margins.
“This is a very welcome move for our industry,” said Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association.
“Hospitality businesses have long been burdened by some of the highest card payment fees in the OECD. This decision puts money back into the hands of operators at a time when every dollar counts.”
The regulation applies to credit card and foreign-issued card payments, often the most expensive for businesses to process. ComCom estimates the average small business will save around NZD 500 annually, though actual savings will vary depending on the mix of transactions.
The Restaurant Association supported the Commission’s move throughout consultation, while also recommending that businesses be given time to adjust to the new regime before further regulation is considered.
“We know there are concerns around excessive surcharging, and we agree this should be kept under review,” said Bidois.
“But our recommendation was to allow the new fee structure to bed in before taking further steps. We’re pleased to see ComCom acknowledge this.”
The Association is also urging payment providers to be transparent about their fees and not shift the cost burden elsewhere.
“We’ll be watching closely to ensure payment providers don’t undermine this win for businesses by increasing fees in other areas,” Bidois said.
The Restaurant Association has also released the findings of the 2025 Remuneration Survey, showing continued wage growth across the hospitality sector. Based on data from nearly 14,000 employees across more than 100 roles, the report highlighted steady increases in both hourly and salaried pay, as well as clear progression opportunities across kitchen and front-of-house roles, reinforcing hospitality as a sector where workers can build meaningful and rewarding careers.
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