AML-CFT Archives - dia.govt.nz

A record of all archived news, updates, newsletters, Regulatory Findings reports and other information issued by the Department of Internal Affairs’ AML Group.

Archived News and Updates
Archived Newsletters
Archived Regulatory Findings Report

Archived News and Updates

2026:

Multiple formal warnings signal tougher stance on anti-money laundering non-compliance (17 June 2026)
Updated AML-CFT Programme Guidance (5 June 2026)
Updated guidance for Enhanced Customer Due Diligence (5 June 2026)
New Identity Verification Code of Practice (4 June 2026)
AML CFT Regulatory Strategy 2026-30 released (May 2026)
Law firm fined for anti-money laundering breaches (24 April 2026)
Iran sanctions (30 March 2026)
Guidance: Privileged Communications and Suspicious Activity Reporting (19 March 2026)
Scam alert: Emails impersonating the AML/CFT Group (3 March 2026)
Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (17 February 2026)

2025:

Statutes Amendment Bill – and changes to AML/CFT Act (02 December 2025)
Consultation for the Identity Verification Code of Practice is open until 19 January 2026 (21 November 2025)
“Serious compliance failures” - DIA enters into Enforceable Undertaking with Lexington Trust Services Limited
(31 October 2025)
Jurisdictions under increased monitoring (30 October 2025)
Christchurch Casinos Limited penalised $5.06 million for AML/CFT breaches (20 October 2025)
DIA enters into Enforceable Undertaking with Pagemark Limited (17 October 2025)
Updated Customer Due Diligence Guidance now available (30 September 2025)
Updated Designated Business Group Guidelines now available (29 September 2025)
Guidance for Accommodation Providers Offering Currency Exchange Services (4 September 2025)
DIA & Christchurch Casino reach settlement in Anti-Money Laundering proceedings (1 August 2025)
Free goAML training in Auckland and Christchurch this July 2025 (19 June 2025)
Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (19 June 2025)
Qian DuoDuo Limited fined $1.125 million for failing to report over $19 million worth of transactions (6 June 2025)
Formal warning issued to money remitter under anti-money laundering law (30 May 2025)
Guidance for implementing new Customer Risk Rating (29 May 2025)
New guidance for Online Marketplaces (23 May 2025)
Updated AML/CFT Audit Guideline now available (16 May 2025)
New guidance on Stored Value Instruments (SVIs) (13 May 2025)
DIA issues formal warning to NZForex Limited for Anti-Money Laundering non-compliance (18 March 2025)
National Risk Assessment 2024 now published (17 March 2025)
List of jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (26 February 2025)

2024:

Jurisdictions under increased monitoring (30 October 2024)
Guidance on the latest regulatory changes for money remitters is now available in Simplified Chinese (23 October 2024)
Updated AML/CFT programme guideline (14 October 2024)
Guidance on the latest wire transfer regulations (2 October 2024)
SkyCity penalised $4.16 million for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism breaches
(26 September 2024)
Terrorism financing Risk Summary (30 July 2024)
Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (26 July 2024)
Guidance: New AML/CFT regulations for Virtual Asset Service Providers (26 July 2024)
DIA issues formal warning to Mills Gibbon and Co Limited for Anti-Money Laundering non-compliance (11 June 2024)
Joint statement by AML/CFT Supervisors on our supervisory approach to the new regulations (PDF, 100KB)
(21 May 2024)
DIA & SkyCity reach settlement agreement for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terorrism breaches (21 May 2024)
New guidance note for Russia Sanctions Act duty holders (13 May 2024)
Formal warning issued to PSB for non-compliance with AML/CFT Act (8 May 2024)
New guidance for liquidators (8 May 2024)
New guidance for money remitters and money remitters that use agents (5 May 2024)
Enforceable undertaking issued to ABC Accounting Services Limited after continued non-compliance (18 April 2024)
FATF Strategic Priorities 2024-26 released (28 March 2024)
Juristictions under Increased Monitoring (28 March 2024)
Get your RealMe Identity verified early (28 March 2024)
DIA holds SkyCity accountable for AML/CFT compliance (16 February 2024)

2023:

Warning - Beware of Scam impersonating AML/CFT Group (15 Novermber 2023)
MFAT: Russia sanctions update for DIA duty holders (5 September 2023)
AML-CFT ITK Meet the team Joyce and Alex (5 September 2023)
Free GoAML Training for Hamilton and Tauranga (4 September 2023)
ITK Annual AML/CFT reports are now overdue (4 September 2023)
Use of third-party bank accounts by money remitters (16 August 2023)
Only 1 month left to submit your Annual Report (8 August 2023)
List of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (25 July 2023)
Regulatory and Legislative Changes Anti-Money Laundering & Countering Financing of Terrorism (7 July 2023)
Free goAML training (7 July 2023)
Pacific Supervisors Forum May 2023 (7 July 2023)
Extension on interim solution for corporate trustee annual report obligations (6 June 2023)
DIA issues formal warning to Arizto Limited for Anti-Money Laundering non-compliance (2 June 2023)
Review – Section 59 Independent audits of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) (1 June 2023)
Update on changes to AML/CFT Act regulations (01 June 2023)
Getting RealMe Verified for the Reporting Season (20 April 2023)
High-value dealers – Prohibited cash transactions for specified high value goods (19 April 2023)
Suspicious Activity Reports – Thematic Review (19 April 2023)
List of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (15 March 2023)
Relief during Cyclone Gabrielle - Independent Audit (14 March 2023)
MFAT guidance for reporting under the Russia Sanctions Act (03 March 2023)
AML/CFT Act: Early regulations package draft for public consultation (02 March 2023)

2022:

Regulators in New Plymouth (13 December 2022)
Message from our AML/CFT Director (06 December 2022)
In the know burning questions (06 December 2022)
Foreign Exchange company’s positive inspection results (23 November 2022)
FATF has updated its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring - read all about it here (7 November 2022)
Formal warning to Openpay Pty Ltd for Anti-Money Laundering non-compliance (4 November 2022)
FATF Public Consultation - Revision of Recommendation 25 and its Interpretive Note (3 November 2022)
Updated Enhanced CDD guidelines (26 October 2022)
What good looks like (25 October 2022)
Common areas of non-compliance (20 October 2022)
We want to hear from you! (18 October 2022)
New trade bans and sanctions on oligarchs and Russian officials (14 October 2022)
We’re presenting at the FIU/ACAMS Conference (19 September 2022)
Regulators out in the regions (14 September 2022)
Tax Transfer Exemption Granted (8 September 2022)
Tax Transfer Class Exemption (21 July 2022)
Appeal dismissed in NZ’s first criminal prosecution under Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act (18 July 2022)
Publication of DIA’s AML/CFT Regulatory Approach and Compliance and Enforcement Strategy (4 July 2022)
Russia Sanctions Act (18 March 2022)

2021:

Outsourcing Customer Due Diligence (CDD) (13 December 2021)
DIA welcomes improved AML compliance from Property Brokers (3 November 2021)
AML/CFT Reminder – Pandora Papers (20 October 2021)
AML/CFT Statutory Review Consultation 2021 (6 October 2021)
AML/CFT - COVID-19 Update August 2021 (26 August 2021)
Expiring regulations: Update June 2021 (22 June 2021)
Extension on interim solution for corporate trustee annual report obligations (17 May 2021)
Targeted Compliance Assessments – Independent AML/CFT Audit (14 May 2021)
Financial Intelligence Unit, Monthly Report - March 2021 (11/05/2021)
New Zealand mutual evaluation report now published (11/05/2021)
Department takes enforcement action against Qian DuoDuo Limited (11/05/2021)
Regulatory Findings Report 2020 available (22/04/2021)
Targeted Compliance Assessments – Politically Exposed Persons (22/04/2021)
New Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) registration and reporting requirement (19/03/2021)
Formal warning to Kidd Legal for Anti-Money Laundering non-compliance (17/03/2021)
Internal Affairs issues first formal warning to real estate agent (1/03/2021)
DNFBPs - Help us improve our guidance (23/02/2021)

2020:

Update to expiring regulations timeframe and impact on independent audit obligations (3/12/2020)
Help us reach you – Updating your details (2/12/2020)
Enhanced Customer Due Diligence Webinar published (21/10/2020)
Election financing laws (5/10/2020)
Real Estate Sector Regulatory Findings (31/08/2020)
Independent ML/TF risk country rankings (17/08/2020)
Civil proceedings result in a total penalty of $7.585m against two money remitters (21/07/2020)
Legal Sector Regulatory Findings (21/07/2020)
Account monitoring for Bookkeepers July 2020 (15/07/2020)
Risks arising from COVID-19 (10/07/2020)
Outbound calling to unconfirmed reporting entities (9/07/2020)
FATF high risk and other monitored jurisdictions (6/07/2020)
Independent audit obligation (22/06/2020)
Expiring regulations update (17/6/2020)
Extension on interim solution for corporate trustee annual report obligations (5/6/2020)
Accountancy Sector Regulatory Findings (3/6/2020)
Judgment in civil proceeding against individuals (26/5/2020)
Relief during COVID-19 Alert Levels - Independent Audit (24/4/2020)
COVID-19 impact on AML/CFT Act obligations (7/4/2020)
Impact of COVID-19 Level 4 activation for identity verification (26/3/2020)
Designated Business Group – Formation and Change (13/3/2020)
New Zealand money remitter convicted for anti-money laundering failures (2/3/2020)
Keeping New Zealand in Business for Good videos (26/2/2020)
Regulatory Framework (26/2/2020)
Updated FATF high risk and other monitored jurisdiction list (25/2/2020)
Regulatory Findings Report (21/2/2020)
Guidance Updates: Sector Risk Assessments (13/2/2020)

2019:

Guidance Updates: Territorial Scope and Supervisory Framework (22/11/2019)
Reserve Bank looking closely at AUSTRAC’s AML/CFT findings (20/11/2019) (Reserve Bank website)
AML Guidance on Tax Evasion and Tax Fraud (Inland Revenue website)
High risk jurisdictions list update (24/10/2019)
$4 million penalty for repeated AML non-compliance (17/10/2019)
Shared learnings from High Value Dealers getting on board with AML/CFT Act (27/09/2019)
DIA takes civil action against two money remitters (19/9/2019)
Millions in assets seized as NZ Police continues focus on money laundering (28/8/2019)
NZ’s largest supplier of safe deposit boxes warned under anti-money laundering laws (29/7/2019)
Corporate Trustee Annual Reporting Requirements 2019 (25/7/2019)
Leading NZ workplace provider issued with formal warning (16/7/2019)
Reminder for reporting entities relating to higher risk jurisdictions (10/7/2019)
Updated statement on the Kiwi Access card - 5 July 2019 (PDF, 469KB)
High Value Dealers are making it harder to cash in on crime (4/7/2019)
Money remitters need to improve AML/CFT compliance (2/7/2019)
DIA exercises regulatory authority with The Ink Patch Money Transfer Limited (5/6/2019)
High Value Dealers Guidance now available (10/5/2019)
Virtual Asset Service Providers (April 2019)
NZ Police update following the Christchurch Terrorist attacks (11/4/2019)

2015 - 2018:

Auckland money remitter warned (16/10/2018)
Trust and company service provider warned (19/12/2017)
Internal Affairs takes action against a money remitter (03/12/2017)
Formal warning to Equity Trust International Ltd (05/09/2017)
Internal Affairs takes action against two money remitters (08/09/2016)
Formal public warning to Jin Yuan Finance Ltd (02/09/2015)

View current News and Updates

Archived Newsletters

In the know is released monthly by the Department’s AML Group and contains news, updates and information for all interested stakeholders in anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism. Archived issues of previous newsletters can be found below:

2026:

2025:

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2012

AML/CFT News - August 2012 (PDF, 279KB)*
AML/CFT News - August 2012 (HTML)
AML/CFT News - March 2012 (PDF, 290KB)*
AML/CFT News - March 2012 (HTML)

2011

AML/CFT News - October 2011 (PDF, 422KB)*
AML/CFT News - October 2011 (HTML)
AML/CFT News – July 2011 (PDF, 669KB)*
AML/CFT News – July 2011 (HTML)

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Archived Regulatory Findings Reports

Our Regulatory Findings Report summarises our regulatory findings for compliance assessments undertaken throughout our financial year.

Regulatory Findings Report 2018/2019

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