Why no surcharge will deliver a new wave of business opportunity.
The New Zealand government has announced plans to ban in-store surcharging, which will be implemented nationwide in May 2026.
Extra fees at the checkout are a massive hassle for shoppers, who have been facing hefty surcharges and now look forward to a no-surcharge future.
But what does this mean for you as a merchant? Well, for starters, it allows you to offer your customers a better payment experience.
What to expect
If you’re not currently surcharging, you’ll benefit from lower interchange costs when it comes into play. However, you’ll need to take action to ensure you get your fair share.
By choosing a provider like Smartpay, you gain a one-stop shop for merchant fees, settlements, and customer service.
Just think, no more extra hidden fees for you, or your customer. For your business, this changes everything. Because in a matter of months, PayWave won’t just be convenient — it’ll be the smartest way to get paid.
Why This Is a Win for Business
Let’s break it down:
Surcharging makes PayWave feel like a luxury. Customers are stung with an extra 1–2%, sometimes as high as 3.5%, which turns quick payments into a pain point.
With surcharges gone, PayWave becomes:
Fast
Customers can flexibly tap and go. No fumbling for cash, no PIN delays. That means shorter queues and faster sales.
Frictionless
No more “Do you charge extra for tap?”. A no-surcharge environment removes additional fees at checkout. That friction often causes abandoned purchases or lower spending.
Professional
Contactless is now the standard. Offering PayWave boosts your credibility, makes your business feel current, and keeps you competitive.
Painless
Tapping feels painless — and guess what? People spend more when they don’t have to pull out cash. That’s more revenue in your till and fewer overhead costs to manage.
Numbers That Tell the Story
It’s no secret that customers prefer the simplicity of tapping to pay, and with surcharges heading for the axe, customers’ preference to tap will only skyrocket.
Smartpay’s Low Cost Tap & Pay is ahead of the curve, and already spares customers any extra surcharges and gives us a pretty good idea of what a no-surcharge future looks like.
Let’s skip the marketing fluff and let the numbers do the talking:
- Shoppers use contactless for 9 out of 10 card-present purchases (90%) from a Low Cost Tap & Pay merchant.
- One projection shows card payments in NZ reaching $102.4 billion in 2023, growing at about 6.5%—driven by contactless transaction growth and regulatory caps on interchange fees.
- Globally, over 80% of in-store transactions are expected to be contactless by 2034— changing how businesses operate.
Smartpay Makes It Easy
Smartpay’s EFTPOS solutions offer PayWave-ready terminals and simple, transparent pricing. There are no hidden fees or nasty surprises.
You no longer need to go to your bank to get your merchant services, and now that surcharges are off the table, there’s zero reason not to go all-in on Low Cost Tap & Pay. Whether in retail, hospitality, or services, contactless payments make it faster, smarter, and easier to buy from.
Smartpay + PayWave = Smart Move
With surcharge bans on the horizon, there’s an opportunity for small businesses to create a flock of happier customers.
Smartpays Low Cost Tap & Pay solution levels the playing field for kiwi business, offering convenient ways to pay and making paywave cost effective.
PayWave is now the obvious choice — for your customers, and your bottom line.
Ready to ride the wave? We’ve worked tirelessly to design a payment solution that works better for both you and your customer, making sure neither goes out of pocket.
Smartpay is ready to partner with you for growth, embrace no surcharge and make every transaction smarter.
