The Council of Financial Regulators (CoFR) – Kaunihera Kaiwhakarite Ahumoni – contributes to maximising New Zealand’s sustainable, economic wellbeing through effective and responsive regulation of the financial system in New Zealand.
The Council of Financial Regulators (CoFR) held its quarterly meeting on Tuesday 2 December 2025. The meeting was chaired by Financial Markets Authority Chief Executive Samantha Barrass. The Council approved the revised CoFR operating model, that sees CoFR adopting a leaner, more strategic and system focused model.
10 December 2025
The Council of Financial Regulators (CoFR) is embracing the findings from a self-commissioned independent review by Sapere as a timely and necessary catalyst for change.
3 November 2025
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The Council of Financial Regulators has released the Q3 2025 update to the Regulatory Initiatives Calendar for New Zealand’s financial sector. This document is produced to help the sector understand the aggregate picture of regulatory initiatives from CoFR members that are either planned or under way. The next update is planned for December.
25 September 2025
The Council of Financial Regulators (CoFR) held its quarterly meeting on Monday 1 September 2025. The meeting was co-chaired by Financial Markets Authority Chief Executive Samantha Barrass and Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Christian Hawkesby. The Council discussed the progress of the independent review of CoFR, commissioned by Heads in June to assess CoFR's effectiveness and make recommendations on how to implement a more strategic and purposeful future state.
17 September 2025
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The Council of Financial Regulators has released the Q2 2025 update to the Regulatory Initiatives Calendar for New Zealand’s financial sector. This document is produced to help the sector understand the aggregate picture of regulatory initiatives from CoFR members that are either planned or under way. The next update is planned for the end of September.
1 July 2025
CoFR Heads met on 4 June to discuss an independent review of the Council of Financial Regulators (CoFR).
10 June 2025
The operating model sets out the governance, oversight, engagement and resourcing arrangements for CoFR.
Our vision and activities operate within the framework of the statutory responsibilities set for each agency and the preferences and priorities set by Government. Our charter sets out how we work together to deliver the vision.
CoFR Regulatory Charter (PDF 718KB)
The regulatory charter promotes good regulatory stewardship to monitor the performance and quality of the financial markets regulatory system.
CoFR has agreed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate consistent cooperation and mutual assistance between CoFR members.
CoFR Memorandum of Understanding
The Memorandum of Understanding is a statement of the members’ intent to work together and cooperate in relation to the regulation of New Zealand’s financial system.