Top 2025 Best Brokers for Trading in New Zealand

A trading broker is a financial intermediary that allows you to place orders on the markets and trade many assets such as CFDs, Forex, cryptocurrencies or even commodities, as an individual in New Zealand.

But what is trading and how does it work? How do you choose the right broker to trade online in New Zealand?

Discover the top-rated brokers for this year, those who stand out for their quality of service, reliability, and ability to adapt to different market trends. On this page, we have compared brokers with user-friendly platforms, tight spreads, access to MetaTrader 4 or 5, or those offering a unique social experience with copy trading.

What is a trading broker? Definition of trading

In English, the term "trading" refers to the buying and selling operations that are carried out on the financial markets.

Individuals or professionals who carry out these operations are called "traders."

Trading can be carried out by professional traders who speculate from the trading floor or on behalf of a financial or stock market institution, but also by individual and independent traders who use online trading platforms for this purpose.

Good to know

Trading differs from traditional investment in that it aims for shorter-term gains and uses certain specific tools such as leverage to increase market exposure.

Trading broker: definition and role

A broker, is a financial intermediary that allows investors to buy and sell assets on financial markets. These assets can be diverse: stocks, currencies, commodities, indices, and more. The main role of a broker is to facilitate access to the markets for individual and institutional traders, by providing the platform, tools and services necessary to carry out transactions.

Brokers play an essential role in the trading ecosystem. They provide platforms de trading that allow users to view real-time prices, place orders, and analyze markets using technical indicators. In addition, they serve as a link between investors and stock exchanges, transmitting traders' orders to the markets, often in near real-time.

In addition to these basic functions, brokers may offer additional services, such as investment advice, market analysis, or training for beginners. They also play an essential role in ensuring the security of transactions and offering leverage that allows traders to increase the value of their positions, although this can increase the risks.

What are the best trading brokers in New Zealand in 2025?

Choosing the best broker depends on your trading strategy and the assets that interest you. Whether you are interested in Forex, copy trading, cryptocurrencies, or prefer to use a specific platform like MetaTrader, some brokers stand out for the quality of their services. Here is a selection of the best brokers in New Zealand in 2025, according to the types of trading practiced.

Best broker for Forex trading

The foreign exchange (Forex) market attracts many traders due to its high liquidity and extended hours. To get the most out of Forex trading, several criteria must be considered before choosing a broker Forex :

• Competitive spreads on major currency pairs (like EUR/USD) help reduce transaction costs, especially for short-term strategies.
• Fast order execution is essential in such a volatile market to limit slippage and ensure precise entry and exit points.
• High leverage, although risky, can be a strategic lever for experienced traders looking to maximise their exposure with limited capital. The maximum leverage allowed for retail traders in New Zealand according on the regulation.
• Reliable regulation (such as FMA, FCA, ASIC) ensures the protection of funds and compliance with industry best practices.
• Recognised platforms like MetaTrader 4 or 5 (MT4/MT5), or cTrader, offer powerful technical analysis tools and an interface suitable for all trader profiles.

Certain Forex brokers combine these advantages to offer an optimal experience, both for beginners and more advanced traders.

Best Broker for Copy Trading

Copy trading is an ideal solution for investors who want to benefit from the experience of professional traders without actively managing their portfolio. It allows you to automatically replicate the strategies of more experienced traders, while maintaining total control over the amounts invested.

Here are the main criteria to consider when choosing a broker suitable for copy trading:

• Integrated copy trading platforms: Some brokers offer their own social platforms, while others rely on recognised external solutions such as ZuluTrade or Myfxbook.
• Fee structure: Fees can vary between simple spreads, commissions on profits made, or copy fees charged on each transaction copied.
• Variety of assets offered: A versatile broker allows you to copy strategies across different markets such as Forex, stocks, cryptocurrencies or indices.
• Regulation: As with any financial service, it is essential to ensure that the broker is properly regulated by a recognised authority (such as the FMA).

Best Broker for Crypto Trading

Cryptocurrency trading is increasingly attracting investors, drawn by price volatility and opportunities for rapid gains. To choose the right crypto broker, several criteria must be taken into account:

• Number of cryptos available: A diverse offering allows you to diversify your portfolio beyond the classic Bitcoin or Ethereum, with altcoins with high potential.
• Competitive trading fees: Brokers generally apply spreads or commissions. Comparing fees is essential to optimise your profitability.
• Trading platform: An intuitive, fluid interface with technical analysis tools is a real asset, especially for active traders.
• Regulation and security: Even in the crypto universe, it is preferable to go through a regulated intermediary, which guarantees the protection of funds and compliance with standards.

Best Trading Broker with MT4 or MT5

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are essential platforms in the world of online trading. Recognised for their stability, compatibility with Expert Advisors (EAs) and advanced technical analysis tools, they are used by both beginners and experienced traders.

To get the most out of these platforms, it is recommended to choose a broker that:

• Offer MT4 and/or MT5 without restriction, with all available features (customisable indicators, automated trading, advanced order management, etc.);
• Offer competitive spreads, particularly on major markets such as Forex, indices or commodities;
• Has leverage adapted to the user's profile (with options up to 1:500 in some cases);
• Is regulated by a recognised authority, guaranteeing the security of funds and the reliability of the platform.

How to find the best broker for trading?

Choosing the best broker for trading is important if you want to succeed in your investments. A good broker will allow you to maximize your chances of gains while minimizing risks, thanks to powerful tools, competitive fees, and quality customer support. Here are the main criteria to consider when finding the broker that best suits your needs and your investor profile.

• Regulation and Security: The first criterion to verify is the regulation of the broker. They must be regulated by a recognised financial authority, such as the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) in New Zealand. Solid regulation ensures that the broker adheres to strict standards regarding transparency, fund security, and fair treatment of clients. The security of your funds and personal data should always be the priority.
• Fees and Commissions: Fees represent a significant portion of your trading costs. These include commissions per transaction, spreads (the difference between the buying and selling price), and potentially account management fees. Opt for a broker whose fees are clear and competitive to minimise the impact of these costs on your potential gains. Be wary of brokers who offer very tight spreads but impose high commissions, and vice versa.
• Trading Platform: The quality of the trading platform is another fundamental element. A good platform should be intuitive, reliable, and offer quick access to market information. It should offer technical analysis tools (indicators, advanced charts), an ergonomic interface, and the ability to use advanced orders such as stop or limit orders. Some brokers offer popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 or 5, while others have developed their own tools.
• Available Assets: Depending on your investment strategy, you'll want to choose a broker that offers a wide range of assets: stocks, Forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, etc. Check if the assets that interest you are available, and if the broker offers advantageous trading conditions on these assets (leverage, spreads, etc.). The diversity of financial products allows you to vary strategies and spread risks.
• Leverage and Margins: Leverage allows you to amplify your exposure to the market, which can increase your gains but also your losses. Some brokers offer higher leverage than others, which may be attractive to experienced traders but risky for beginners. Verify that the broker offers leverage levels that are in line with your risk tolerance, and that it provides clear explanations of the necessary margins. The maximum leverage allowed for retail traders in New Zealand is according on the regulation.
• Customer Service and Educational Resources: Good customer service is essential, especially in the event of a technical problem or urgent question. Check that the support is easily reachable, ideally in multiple languages, and that the response times are reasonable. In addition to support, some brokers offer educational resources: tutorials, webinars, articles, to help you develop your trading skills. For beginners, these resources are a valuable asset.
• User Reviews: User reviews and online tests are also a good source of information. They allow you to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each broker based on the experience of real customers. Keep in mind, however, that each experience is subjective: you must cross-reference multiple sources of opinions to obtain a global and balanced picture.

How to trade with an online broker?

Getting started with online trading involves several key steps: from opening an account to using the trading platform, including managing funds and risks. Here's an overview of the standard process offered by most online brokers.

1. Open a trading account

The first step is to open an account with a regulated broker. This process generally includes:

• Online registration: You need to fill out a form with your personal information (name, email address, phone number), then choose your country of residence.
• Identity verification (KYC): To comply with international regulations, it is mandatory to provide a valid ID and proof of address. This verification ensures account security and prevents fraud.
• Choice of account type: Brokers offer different types of accounts (standard, commission-free, with reduced spreads, etc.) adapted to various trader profiles.

2. Deposit Funds

Once the account is activated, the next step is to fund it:

• Deposit Methods : Most brokers accept payments by credit card, bank transfer or e-wallets such as Skrill, Neteller or PayPal.
• Minimum amount required : The minimum initial deposit varies depending on the broker, but is often around NZ$150 to NZ$400. It is advisable to start with sufficient capital to properly manage the risk, especially when using leverage.

3. Using the trading platform (e.g. MT4/MT5)

Once the funds have been deposited, you can access the chosen trading platform. The most common are MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5):

• Installation and connection: The platforms are available for download on computers or as a web version. Once installed, simply log in with the credentials provided by the broker.
• Interface discovery: MT4/MT5 offer advanced features: real-time chart display, technical indicators, analysis tools, window customization, fast order execution, and automated management via trading robots (EAs).
• Demo accounts: It is strongly recommended to start with a demo account to familiarize yourself with the interface, test strategies, and understand market mechanisms without risking your capital.

4. Practical Example: Forex Trading on NZD/USD

Let's take the example of a typical trade on the Forex market, trading the pair NZD/USD:

• Market Analysis: Before opening a position, it is strongly advised to perform a technical analysis. With MT5, you can use technical indicators (such as moving averages or Bollinger Bands) to identify a trend. Suppose you identify a bullish signal indicating that the New Zealand dollar could strengthen against another currency.
• Placing a Buy Order: On Eightcap's MT5 platform, click "New Order". Select your desired currency pair and choose the trading volume (for example, 0.1 lot). Then, click "Buy" to open a long position.
• Risk Management: To protect your capital, we recommend placing a stop loss. Imagine that you place a stop loss at 50 pips below your entry point to limit your potential losses. You can also set a take profit at 100 pips above your entry point to lock in your gains if the market moves in your favour.

5. Monitor and close the position

• Monitoring : With MT5, you can track the evolution of your position in real time. The charts allow you to see if the trend is evolving as expected. You can also adjust your stop loss or take profit according to market movements.
• Closing the position : When the EUR/USD pair reaches your target or you deem the moment opportune, you can manually close the position by clicking on "Close Position". If the take profit or stop loss are reached, the position will close automatically.

6. Analysis of Results and Adjustments

Once the position is closed, analyse the result:

• Gains or losses: Suppose the EUR/USD reached your 100-pip profit target. This means that, depending on your position size, you have made a proportional profit. For example, with a volume of 0.1 lot, 100 pips could equal approximately $100 USD profit.
• Trading journal: Use the journal integrated into MT5 to review all the decisions made during this trade. Understanding what worked well and what can be improved is essential to developing your trading skills.

Good to know

If you're a beginner, we advise choosing an online broker that will also allow you to follow a trading training course assiduously and will offer you a demo account.

Are trading brokers secure in New Zealand?

Security is one of the main concerns for investors when choosing a trading broker. In New Zealand, brokers are subject to strict regulation to ensure the protection of investor funds and a secure trading experience. Here’s an overview of the key regulations and protections that apply to brokers operating in New Zealand.

• Regulation and supervisory authorities: trading brokers in New Zealand must be registered on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) and are regulated by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). The FMA enforces compliance with the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 and ensures that brokers adhere to strict standards for transparency, risk management, and client protection. It also oversees compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) laws.
• Segregation of client funds: regulated brokers are required to segregate client funds from their own operational capital. This means investors’ deposits are held in separate bank accounts and cannot be used by the broker for its own financial obligations. This measure ensures the protection of clients’ funds, even if the broker faces financial difficulty.
• Compensation and deposit protection: unlike some other jurisdictions, New Zealand does not offer a government-backed investor compensation scheme in the event of broker insolvency. For this reason, it’s important to choose brokers that are financially sound and, where possible, offer additional protections through their overseas regulatory status (e.g. FCA or ASIC).
• Negative balance protection: this is not mandated by New Zealand regulation but is offered voluntarily by many trusted brokers. It ensures that traders cannot lose more than the capital they have invested, even in extreme market conditions, providing important protection for retail investors using leverage.
• Transparency of information: brokers regulated by the FMA must provide clear and detailed information about their trading conditions, including spreads, fees, leverage, and associated risks. This transparency helps traders make informed decisions and understand the full cost and risk of their investments.
• Data protection and technological security: in addition to financial safeguards, brokers must also use advanced security measures to protect clients’ personal and financial data. These include SSL encryption, two-factor authentication (2FA), and strong internal cybersecurity protocols to prevent unauthorized access.
• FMA warning list: to protect New Zealand investors from scams and unauthorized brokers, the FMA maintains a warning list of suspicious or unlicensed trading platforms. Before opening an account, traders should check whether the broker is registered on the FSPR and not listed on the FMA’s blacklist.

What are the fees charged by brokers for trading?

Here is a table summarizing the different types of fees charged by online brokers, with average rates or amounts as well as an example for each type of fee. This table is designed to give you an idea of the costs you may encounter when using a trading broker.

• Spreads: Spreads are fees automatically charged by brokers on each position taken by the trader. It represents a slight difference between the buying price and the selling price of a financial product. Depending on the broker and the asset chosen, the spread can be fixed or variable. In the case of a variable spread, the cost of this spread will vary depending on market volatility. Spreads represent the broker's main remuneration.
• Swap fees: The swap is a fee charged on a position between two market sessions. They mainly concern traders practicing swing trading. Thus, every time you keep a position open from one day to the next, fees are charged to your account as a charge. The amount of these fees varies according to the broker's internal policy as well as according to volatility.
• Withdrawal fees: Although not applied by all brokers and for all types of withdrawals, these fees may be charged when the trader withdraws money from their trading account. However, depending on the withdrawal method chosen, it is possible to obtain free withdrawals from most brokers.
• Conversion fees: As the name suggests, these fees are applied to currency exchanges. A conversion may be applied by a broker if you invest in an asset denominated in US dollars with New Zealand dollar. 
• Account maintenance fees: While these fees have become increasingly rare over time, some brokers still charge them, and they are general fees. They can be billed monthly, quarterly, or annually.
• Inactivity fees: Some brokers also charge inactivity fees, which are applied when the trader does not use their trading account for a certain period. Most often, these fees are only charged after 12 months or 24 months of inactivity. But some brokers apply them after 6 months. The amount of inactivity fees will also vary according to the broker's policy, and we advise you to check them before registering.
• Specific stock fees: Stock trading will also involve certain specific fees at some brokers. These may include subscription fees or additional commissions to the spread. Most often, these are fees charged in order to have access to foreign market data in real-time.
• Guaranteed stop-loss order fees: Finally, some brokers also charge for the use of guaranteed stop-loss orders, although this practice is also becoming increasingly rare.

Which broker is best for trading with a demo account?

One of the most effective ways to learn online trading is to use a demo account to a free demo account. These accounts are offered by many brokers and allow you to test the platform and practice using different strategies before risking your own money. 

The demo account is funded with virtual capital that can be unlimited or limited. This is virtual money that you will use to make your investments under real market conditions. Similarly, the length of time you can use a demo account will vary from broker to broker.

The trading demo account allows you to take advantage of various benefits, including: 

• The opportunity to learn without taking risks: a demo account will allow you to speculate in real market conditions without the risk of wagering your own capital and therefore losing it.
• The opportunity to learn how to use the platform: also from a demo account, you will also be able to test most of the features offered by your broker's trading platform. This will allow you to practice using its features and tools safely.
• The opportunity to test trading strategies: finally, the demo account also has the advantage of allowing you to test different trading strategies in parallel in order to detect the best solution and the best method.

How Much Can You Earn Through a Trading Broker?

It is, of course, difficult to say with precision how much you can earn from trading, as your earnings depend primarily on your experience, your level of knowledge, and your initial investment.

If you take the time to train and practice using a demo account, your potential earnings will also depend on the type of strategy you implement.

• Avec une href="https://hellosafe.fr/investissement/trading/swing-trading">stratégie de Swing trading, vous pourrez compter sur un rendement optimal aux alentours de 10% mensuels.
• Avec une href="https://hellosafe.fr/investissement/trading/day-trading">stratégie de Day trading, vous pourrez compter sur un rendement approximatif de 30% ou plus par mois en passant 5 à 6 heures par jour à trader.

Of course, the amount you can earn as a retail trader will also depend on the amount you invest on the trading platform. Indeed, a 10% return on an account with a deposit of NZ$1,000 represents only NZ$100, whereas if you deposit NZ$10,000, you could earn up to NZ$1,000 per month with an effective strategy.

Are Trading Profits Taxable in New Zealand?

Unlike many countries, New Zealand does not have a comprehensive capital gains tax. However, trading profits can be taxable depending on your intentions and trading activity. If you're considered a "trader" by Inland Revenue (IRD), your profits from trading activities may be subject to income tax.

Taxation of Trading Profits: In New Zealand, profits from trading activities are generally not taxed unless you are classified as a trader. If you buy and sell assets like shares or cryptocurrencies with the intention of making a profit, IRD may consider you a trader, and your profits would then be taxable as income. This applies to both domestic and foreign investments.

Determining Trader Status: IRD assesses several factors to determine if you're a trader:

• The frequency and pattern of your transactions.
• The level of organization and planning in your trading activities.
• The amount of time you dedicate to trading.
• Whether you rely on trading as a significant source of income.

If these factors indicate that you're operating a trading business, your profits will be taxed accordingly. 

Calculating Taxable Income: If you're deemed a trader, you'll need to calculate your taxable income by subtracting your allowable expenses from your gross trading profits. Allowable expenses can include costs directly related to your trading activities, such as brokerage fees and internet expenses. The resulting net income is then subject to income tax at your marginal tax rate.

Offsetting Losses: Trading losses can be used to offset other income, reducing your overall tax liability. However, these losses must be genuine and incurred in the course of your trading activities. IRD requires proper documentation to substantiate any claimed losses.

Tax Rates: New Zealand's income tax rates are progressive:

• 10.5% on income up to NZD 14,000
• 17.5% on income between NZD 14,001 and NZD 48,000
• 30% on income between NZD 48,001 and NZD 70,000
• 33% on income between NZD 70,001 and NZD 180,000
• 39% on income over NZD 180,000

All our guides on trading in New Zealand

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.