Once a relatively lax regulatory jurisdiction, attracting online trading scams, New Zealand overhauled its financial regulatory framework in 2011, introducing the Financial Markets Authority, or FMA.
New Zealand’s FMA now enforces strict rules for brokers, maintains a list of more than 195 unregistered firms, takes legal action against violators – notably handing out a $900,000 fine to Tiger Brokers – and frequently issues warnings for online investors, with over 600 alerts published.
Explore the best brokers regulated by New Zealand’s FMA. We’ve personally checked every platform recommended is authorized on the FMA’s Financial Services Register.
Top New Zealand FMA Brokers
These 3 FMA-regulated trading platforms stand out as the best for day traders:
-
- Demo account
- Regulator: FMA, FSA
- Min. deposit: $0
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- Demo account
- Min. deposit: $0
- Min. trade: 0.01 Lots
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- Demo account
- Regulator: ASIC, FMA, VFSC, FSA, FSC, CMA-Kenya
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradingCentral
Learn how we test brokers and why you can trust our ratings.
This is why we think these brokers are the best in this category in 2026:
- BlackBull 4.5/5 BlackBull is a New Zealand-based CFD broker providing diverse trading opportunities on over 2,180 instruments. After undergoing a rebrand in 2023, it now sports a modern look and feel complete with professional-grade trading tools and ultra-fast execution speeds averaging 20ms.
- IG 4.8/5 Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand offers a top-tier selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.
- TMGM 3.4/5 TMGM is an ASIC-regulated forex and CFD broker with a vast range of tradeable assets covering forex, stock, index, crypto and commodity markets. The account types on offer provide a flexible choice between no commission or zero spreads, with competitive pricing all-round.
New Zealand FMA Brokers Comparison
| Broker | Regulated by FMA | NZD Account | Minimum Deposit | Markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlackBull | 1 | ✔Yes | $0 | CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Crypto |
| IG | 1 | - | $0 | CFDs (not in US), Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK only) |
| TMGM | 1 | ✔Yes | $100 | CFDs, Stocks, Energies, Indices, Metals, Cryptos, Forex |
Community Sentiment
See how users rate these brokers based on the average customer ratings submitted on DayTrading.com, plus ratings from Trustpilot, the Apple App Store and Google Play.
| Broker | Our Users' Rating | Trustpilot Score | Trustpilot Reviews | iOS App Rating | Android App Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlackBull | 3521 | ||||
| IG | 10208 | ||||
| TMGM | 1157 |
BlackBull
After improving its trading infrastructure with Equinix servers in London, reducing latency for traders, BlackBull is an obvious choice if you want to day trade stock CFDs with ECN pricing. With competitive spreads and no commission on a growing roster of digital tokens paired with USD, BlackBull also works for active crypto traders.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
BlackBull quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Crypto
- Regulator
- FMA, FSA
- Platforms
- BlackBull Invest, BlackBull CopyTrader, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, ZAR, SGD
Pros
- BlackBulls’s research is superb, especially the daily ‘Trading Opportunities’ articles that break down complex market movements into easy-to-understand insights, making it simpler to capitalize on emerging trends.
- BlackBull is a much greater fit for aspiring traders following the overhaul of its ECN Prime account, now featuring improved spreads averaging 0.16 on EUR/USD and a more accessible minimum deposit of $0 compared to the old $2,000.
- With two ECN-powered accounts (Standard and Prime), plus Prime+ - an active trader rewards program offering trading rebates - BlackBull accommodates beginners through to high-volume active traders.
Cons
- Unlike most top brokers, BlackBull charges an irritating $5 withdrawal fee, which can detract from the overall cost-effectiveness, especially for active traders who frequently move funds.
- Although the Education Hub now features improvements like webinars and tutorials, the courses we’ve explored need more focus on explaining the wider economic factors influencing prices.
- Despite a growing selection of 2,180+ assets, including additions to its Asia Pacific indices, they are mainly stocks with an average selection of currency pairs and indices.
IG
IG continues to provide a comprehensive package with an intuitive web platform, best-in-class education for beginners, advanced charting tools bolstered by its recent TradingView integration, real-time data, and robust trade execution for experienced day traders.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
IG quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs (not in US), Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK only)
- Regulator
- CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA, CONSOB
- Platforms
- Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD
Pros
- The proprietary web-based platform continues to caters to traders of all levels, with advanced charting tools and real-time market data useful for day trading, while IG has also added TradingView integration.
- The IG app offers a superb mobile trading experience with a clean design that helped it secure Runner Up at our 'Best Trading App' award.
- The ProRealTime advanced charting platform is free as long as certain modest monthly trading activity requirements are met.
Cons
- Beginners might find IG’s fee structure complex, with various fees for different types of trades or services, potentially leading to confusion or unexpected charges.
- IG has discontinued its swap-free account, reducing its appeal to Islamic traders.
- IG applies an inactivity fee of $12-$18 per month after 2 years, deterring casual investors.
TMGM
TMGM is a great all-round choice thanks to its huge range of assets, diverse account types and platform choices, plus competitive pricing.
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer
TMGM quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Stocks, Energies, Indices, Metals, Cryptos, Forex
- Regulator
- ASIC, FMA, VFSC, FSA, FSC, CMA-Kenya
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradingCentral
- Minimum Deposit
- $100
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD
Pros
- Good range of rewards and bonuses offered through a points-based loyalty system
- Well-regulated and reputable brand with a solid client base
- Excellent platform support with MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and IRESS
Cons
- Not a spotless regulatory record, with a 2024 ASIC action temporarily preventing it from opening new accounts
- Despite strong oversight in Australia, some offshore entities offer weaker regulatory safeguards and peace of mind
- $30 fee levied monthly on accounts which are inactive for 6 months or have a balance below $500
Methodology
To pinpoint the top brokers regulated in New Zealand, our experts:
- Leveraged our directory of 143 brokers to find those claiming to be authorized by the FMA
- Entered their details in the FMA’s register to confirm they were licensed in New Zealand
- Sorted them by their rating, combining 100+ quantitative entries with our qualitative findings
How Can I Check A Broker Is Regulated In New Zealand?
You can check whether a broker is regulated by the FMA by following these three steps, which we took to verify the credentials of every recommended platform:
- Open the FMA’s Financial Services Register
- Type in the broker’s name, FSP number or NZBN number (usually found in the footer of brokers’ websites) and click ‘search’
- Click on the returned results to check their status is listed as ‘Registered’ and to view details like ‘Registration Date’ and ‘Financial Services’
As an example, you can see I verified that BlackBull Markets is regulated by the FMA below.
New Zealand-based BlackBull continues to offer the best selection of instruments I’ve seen after years testing online brokers, with 26,000+ tradable assets on powerful charting platforms.
With execution speeds averaging less than 20 milliseconds combined with ECN pricing delivering spreads from 0.0 pips, BlackBull delivers one of the most optimal environments for day trading I’ve experienced.
James BarraAuthorWhat Rules Must FMA-Regulated Brokers Follow?
The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (Te Mana Tātai Hokohoko in Maori) has strengthened its Broker Obligations over the years. Among the key requirements and safeguards for traders include:
- Brokers must meet minimum capital requirements, typically NZ$1 million, aligning with rules in the European Union.
- Brokers must be part of the Financial Dispute Resolution Service (FDRS), providing a mechanism to settle disputes between brokerages and traders.
- Brokers must maintain segregated accounts to keep client money and company capital separate.
- Brokers must have an office and at least one director based in New Zealand.
- Brokers must process KYC and AML checks from their New Zealand office.
- Brokers must register as a Financial Services Provider (FSP).
What Powers Do the FMA Have?
Brokers that fail to follow the FMA’s rules risk legal consequences, with New Zealand’s regulator demonstrating a willingness to take proactive action against various trading platforms in recent years.
- The FMA can issue public warnings about unregistered brokers and firms potentially operating trading scams. For example, in 2024 it issued a warning about Prospero Markets after learning it was offering CFD trading products (popular with day traders) without an FSP license.
- The FMA can issue fines and deregister non-compliant brokers. For example, in a high-profile case in 2023, it fined Tiger Brokers $900,000 for “multiple AML/CFT Act breaches”.
- The FMA can educate investors about the risks of online trading and fraudulent platforms. For example, it operates social media channels, notably X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, teams up with partners like KiwiSaver, and runs campaigns on trending topics, such as ethical investing.
Bottom Line
New Zealand has stepped up its regulatory oversight of online brokers in recent years, with its FMA now on an equal footing with financial bodies like the ASIC in Australia.
For New Zealand residents, opening an account with an FMA-regulated broker is highly advisable. This should give you confidence that the brokerage can be trusted and operates a fair and transparent trading environment.
Still, it’s important to note online trading remains risky, regardless of whether your broker is regulated in New Zealand or not. You risk losing all the New Zealand Dollars you invest.
Article Sources
- New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (FMA)
- Licensed and Reported Entities - FMA
- Unregistered Businesses - FMA
- Warnings and Alerts - FMA
- $900,000 Tiger Brokers Fine - FMA
- Broker Obligations - FMA
- Report A Scam - FMA
- Prospero Markets Warning - FMA
- Ethical Investing Campaign - FMA
- FMA - X
- FMA - YouTube
- KiwiSaver
- Financial Dispute Resolution Service (FDRS)
The writing and editorial team at DayTrading.com use credible sources to support their work. These include government agencies, white papers, research institutes, and engagement with industry professionals. Content is written free from bias and is fact-checked where appropriate. Learn more about why you can trust DayTrading.com