The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009
This Act aims to give New Zealanders confidence in our financial system and align us with international standards to detect and deter money laundering and terrorism financing.
About the legislation
The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (AML/CFT Act) came into force on 30 June 2013. It provides:
- a regime for supervising, monitoring and enforcing the Act by three supervisors – the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, the Financial Markets Authority and the Department of Internal Affairs
- requirements for businesses and organisations that have to comply with the AML/CFT Act (such as customer due diligence, account monitoring and reporting suspicious activities and transactions)
- civil and criminal offences and a framework to detect and deter money laundering and terrorism financing.
Read the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009
New regulations
On 9 July 2021, a new set of regulations came into force. They are publicly available from Legislation.govt.nz.
AML/CFT (Cross-border Transportation of Cash) Amendment Regulations 2021
AML/CFT (Definitions) Amendment Regulations 2021
AML/CFT (Exemptions) Amendment Regulations 2021
AML/CFT (Requirements and Compliance) Amendment Regulations 2021
Compliance date for nominee directors and general partners regulation
The AML/CFT supervisors have agreed a transitional compliance period until 29 April 2022 for the new regulations relating to nominee directors and nominee general partners.
The supervisors issued a communication on 9 July 2021: