FutureFive New Zealand - Consumer technology news & reviews from the future

Kiwi Stories

Anteup builds mortgage marketplace to let banks bid
Digital Transformation

Anteup builds mortgage marketplace to let banks bid

Auckland fintech Anteup is building a mortgage marketplace where banks compete for borrowers, aiming to simplify home loans and refinancing.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Thu, 26th Mar 2026
NZ watchdog plans fibre rules shake-up for 2029 reset
Chorus

NZ watchdog plans fibre rules shake-up for 2029 reset

New Zealand's watchdog has outlined draft rule changes for fibre networks ahead of a 2029 reset, aiming to clarify investment tests and capex.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Wed, 18th Mar 2026
Luxury homes in New Zealand above $5 million in short supply
Physical Security

Luxury homes in New Zealand above $5 million in short supply

Ultra-wealthy buyers chase luxury New Zealand homes above NZD $5 million, but a thin supply of ultra-premium listings is driving competition.

By Active Investor Plus • 5 min read • Tue, 17th Mar 2026
Feijoa wins audience vote with KiwiSaver round-up app
Fintech

Feijoa wins audience vote with KiwiSaver round-up app

KiwiSaver round-up app Feijoa has clinched the Audience Choice award at the Kiwibank Start Up Pitch Breakfast in Wellington.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Thu, 12th Mar 2026
NZ small businesses embrace AI but struggle to scale use
Digital Transformation

NZ small businesses embrace AI but struggle to scale use

Over half of SMEs in New Zealand now use AI, but most still lack training and strategy to turn experiments into real productivity gains.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Tue, 10th Mar 2026
LogicMonitor boosts New Zealand push with local data hub
DevOps

LogicMonitor boosts New Zealand push with local data hub

LogicMonitor will open its first New Zealand data centre and expand local partners to support rising cloud, AI and hybrid IT demand.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Tue, 10th Mar 2026
'Shadow AI' misuse emerges as key cyber threat in NZ
Data Protection

'Shadow AI' misuse emerges as key cyber threat in NZ

'Shadow AI' misuse by staff has surged as a top cyber threat for New Zealand firms, fuelling rising losses and extortion pressures.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 10th Mar 2026
Security expert links NZ retail crime spike to inflation
Surveillance

Security expert links NZ retail crime spike to inflation

A security expert says NZ's retail crime 'wave' is overstated, blaming inflation and new reporting systems rather than a crime explosion.

By Kaleah Salmon • 4 min read • Tue, 10th Mar 2026
Propopoly wins FMA nod for tokenised NZ housing push
Fintech

Propopoly wins FMA nod for tokenised NZ housing push

Propopoly secures FMA guidance to launch a tokenised housing platform, offering Kiwis fractional stakes in new-build projects nationwide.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Mon, 9th Mar 2026
NZ luxury homes scarce as visa change drives demand
Smart Cities

NZ luxury homes scarce as visa change drives demand

New Zealand faces a squeeze in ultra-luxury homes as visa rule changes unleash overseas demand for properties above NZD $5 million.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 6 min read • Mon, 9th Mar 2026
The Optimisers launches in Auckland to target AI search
Software-as-a-Service

The Optimisers launches in Auckland to target AI search

Auckland's The Optimisers debuts as a digital agency helping brands win visibility in AI-led search, summaries and autonomous agent results.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Fri, 6th Mar 2026
Give to gain: How sponsoring women strengthens national security
Firewalls

Give to gain: How sponsoring women strengthens national security

Sponsoring women into senior cyber roles is emerging as a strategic lever to plug talent gaps and bolster New Zealand's national security.

By Misti Landtroop • 4 min read • Fri, 6th Mar 2026
New Zealand's economy is wasting women's leadership
Human Capital Management

New Zealand's economy is wasting women's leadership

New Zealand's economy is squandering vital leadership potential by sidelining female, Māori and Pasifika leaders in key decision-making roles.

By Juliet Jones • 5 min read • Thu, 5th Mar 2026
Wallo Pay launches open banking push to cut NZ fees
Fintech

Wallo Pay launches open banking push to cut NZ fees

Auckland startup Wallo Pay launches open banking service, targeting card surcharges it says drain over USD $1 billion a year from NZ.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 25th Feb 2026
New Zealand backs low-cost digital tools for factories
Robotics

New Zealand backs low-cost digital tools for factories

New Zealand funds expansion of low-cost factory tech scheme to help 180 manufacturers boost productivity and compete with digital rivals.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Tue, 24th Feb 2026
Auckland, Northland most at risk in NZ resilience index
Unified Communications

Auckland, Northland most at risk in NZ resilience index

Auckland and Northland top a new index of New Zealand's most fragile infrastructure, as experts urge maintenance-first spending on resilience.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Fri, 20th Feb 2026
NZ SMEs lift hours while wage growth softens in January
Jobs

NZ SMEs lift hours while wage growth softens in January

New Zealand SMEs lifted staff hours but eased wage growth in January, leaning on existing rosters as they cautiously test post-holiday demand.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026

Global Stories

UK fintech delegation backs New Zealand open finance push
Data Protection

UK fintech delegation backs New Zealand open finance push

UK fintech heavyweights visit New Zealand to help shape open finance rules, eyeing partnerships and a testbed for new banking technology.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 5 min read • Mon, 9th Mar 2026