New York City fines NZ startup Kiki more than $270,000

Co-founders Jack Montgomerie and Toby Thomas-Smith promoting Kiki on the New York subway. (Image: Supplied)

Thu, 20 Nov 2025

New Zealand-founded accommodation startup Kiki has paid more than US$152,000 (NZ$271,470) to settle charges it violated New York City’s short-term rental laws.The New York Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) announced the settlement on Nov 19.The OSE’s investigation determined Kiki had run a social media invite-only website in the city since 2023 for short-term rentals. The company had effectively created a platform for illegal stays without registration or regulatory oversight.'A clear message'It failed to sub...

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