Apple Pay has launched in New Zealand, via a partnership with ANZ Bank. The debut marks the 11th country where Apple’s contactless payments solution is available.
The “Coming Soon” label has been removed from the Apple Pay New Zealand website and New Zealand website Stuff confirms Apple Pay is now functional in the country.
Due to Apple Pay being limited to ANZ bank customers in New Zealand, the service can only be used with Visa credit and debit cards issued by ANZ for now. While some banks in Australia and New Zealand have been reluctant to partner with Apple Pay, due to the fees Apple collects, ANZ’s Liz Maguire says the service is worth the fee.
“For us it much more about the value it brings out customers than anything else. I think we’re going to see a lot of people using it because it’s so easy.”
She said the bank had received enquiries from new customers but did not say how many.
“We think there’s a lot of interest for Apple Pay in the market and when it was announced there was a lot of commentary on social media saying ‘when is my bank going to offer Apple Pay'”.
New Zealand customers may find that a PIN is required for purchases over 80 NZD. Purchases under that amount will only require confirmation via Touch ID on an iPhone 6, 6s, 7, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, 7 Plus, or SE, or via an Apple Watch.
A number of New Zealand merchants will accept the payments service, including McDonald’s, Domino’s, Glassons, K-Mart, The Warehouse, Hallenstein Brothers, Stevens, Noel Leeming, Storm, and many others.
Apple’s contactless payments solution is now available in the U.S., the UK, China, Australia, Russia, Canada, Switzerland, Singapore, France, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. Apple Pay will soon expand to Japan, Spain, and Taiwan.
Adding Your Credit or Debit Card to Apple Pay
Users can add their credit or debit card to Apple Pay, by doing the following:
iPhone users running iOS 9 can go to the Wallet app and tap the “+” icon in the upper right-hand corner to begin, and then just follow the prompts. Users of iPads with Touch ID can add a card to the service to use in apps by going into “Settings” -> “Wallet & Apple Pay” to add a card there.
Apple Watch users will need to enter the Watch app on their iPhone, Tap on the “Wallet & Apple Pay” option, and then tap the “Add Credit or Debit Card” option.
September saw Apple bring Apple Pay on the Web to the Mac, which allows users to pay for purchases or services in Safari on their Mac, by using their Apple Watch or compatible iPhone to authenticate the payment.
