The surcharge ban looks like a consumer win. But is it?

The days of Eftpos may be over. (Image: Getty)

Wed, 30 Jul 2025

The Government’s move to outlaw payment surcharges – those extra charges you see tagged onto your bill when you pay with a credit or debit card – has been trumpeted as a win for hard-pressed Kiwis.On the face of it, who wouldn’t want to see those annoying little fees banished? The 38 cent (2.5%) Paywave surcharge I’m charged at my local for a $15 pint of craft beer always grates with me. In a cost-of-living crisis, removing an annoying fee seems compassionate and pragmatic, a much-needed win for a beleaguered coali...

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