Michael Ahie has served as an independent director on the Payments NZ board since June 2025.
Michael Ahie.
Payments NZ has today announced the appointment of Michael Ahie (Taranaki, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Ruanui) as chair of its board.
Ahie has served as an independent director on the Payments NZ board since June 2025 and brings continuity, deep institutional knowledge, and strong governance experience into the chair role.
The appointment reflects Payments NZ’s continued focus on governance oversight, system integrity, and confidence in Aotearoa New Zealand’s payments infrastructure, which underpins billions of dollars of economic activity each year.
The chair plays a critical role in providing accountability and assurance that national payments systems remain resilient, fair, and well positioned to evolve responsibly over time.
Ahie said: “Payments systems are essential national infrastructure. Having served on the Payments NZ board as an independent director, I look forward to continuing that work as chair – with a focus on governance oversight, accountability, and maintaining confidence in the system as it evolves.”
Payments NZ chief executive Steve Wiggins acknowledged the continuity provided by the appointment.
“Michael’s experience as an independent director means he brings deep understanding and continuity into the chair role. Strong governance is foundational to everything we deliver, while management remains focused on coordinating delivery and progress across payments modernisation.”
The appointment follows a structured board transition and supports continuity of leadership as Payments NZ continues to work with industry participants, regulators, and government to support reliable and trusted payment systems for Aotearoa.
This is supplied content and not commissioned or paid for by NBR.
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