The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) of New Zealand has released a comprehensive report titled "Access to financial advice in New Zealand," published on March 25, 2026. This report, presented in two volumes, stems from a commitment made in the 2025/26 Financial Conduct Report to better understand the accessibility of financial advice. The first volume, "Challenges and opportunities for the financial advice sector," outlines findings from engagements with industry stakeholders and highlights questions the FMA intends to explore further to improve advice accessibility. The second volume, "Consumer research findings," presents results from a survey on New Zealanders' perceptions of financial advice, their information sources, demographic influences, and the impact of digital tools.

This report serves as an informational document and does not impose new regulatory requirements or compliance deadlines. However, compliance officers in the financial advice sector should review the findings to understand the FMA's current focus areas and potential future policy directions. The FMA indicates it will engage further with the sector on the highlighted questions, suggesting that entities should be prepared for potential future consultations or guidance updates related to improving consumer access to financial advice.