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Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (“AML”)

Money laundering is the way criminals disguise the illegal origins of their money. Financers of terrorism use similar techniques to try and avoid detection by authorities and to protect the identity of those providing and receiving money for funding acts of terrorism.

Under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009, the Reserve Bank is one of three supervisors tasked with ensuring firms comply with new obligations designed to help deter and detect money laundering and terrorist financing.

Submit your response to the AML/CFT Survey 2011.

The following sections provide information for banks, non-bank deposit takers, life insurers and other interested parties on the AML regime:

  • AML guidance and publications
    Contains information on Codes of Practice, guidance documents and other relevant material issued by the RBNZ and others.

  • Questions and answers
    Offers answers to commonly asked questions about AML, as well as background information for the media and others. If you cannot find an answer to your question please send an email to amlcft@rbnz.govt.nz.

Latest update

13 December 2011 – Read the AML/CFT Programme guideline (PDF 145KB).

20 September 2011 – Read the “Interpreting “Ordinary Course of Business” (PDF 97KB) guideline.

1 September 2011 – Read the Identity Verification Code of Practice (PDF 122KB) which is now available.

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