Best Stockbrokers in New Zealand

Choosing the right brokerage firm is a critical first step for investors who want to participate in the New Zealand stock market. A capable broker provides access to trading, tools and support tailored to your investment goals and experience level. 

Whether you prioritize low-cost trading, a user-friendly interface or a platform tailored to beginners, this guide will offer insights to help you navigate your options. 

Quick Look at the Best Stockbrokers in New Zealand

• Interactive Brokers – Best for Global Market Access
• Tiger Brokers (NZ) – Best Low Fees
• Sharesies – Best for Fractional Investing 
• Hatch – Best for Simple U.S. Market Investing
• ASB Securities – Best for Integrated Banking

How We Chose the Best Stockbrokers in New Zealand

We chose platforms based on their cost for trading asset classes available in New Zealand, platform usability and account minimums. Key criteria were the quality and availability of customer service. We also considered the presence and quality of educational content and support for new and experienced investors in making decisions. 

5 Best Stockbrokers in New Zealand

Interactive Brokers – Best for Global Market Access

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is known for low fees and access to over 135 markets worldwide. While its professional-grade trading platform has a learning curve, casual investors can still benefit from its cost-effectiveness and reliable execution, especially for accessing international markets.    

Key Features: 

• Fees: IBKR offers $0 commissions on U.S. stocks for many account plans and competitive fees for other global markets. Its forex conversion fee of 0.002% or a minimum of $2 is significantly lower than many local platforms, making funding USD accounts more economical.

• Investment Access: Provides access to a variety of asset classes, including stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, futures, forex, bonds and funds on over 135 markets globally. 

• Platform Experience: Offers both a professional-grade platform, Trader Workstation, for advanced users and a simplified web and mobile application that’s easy to navigate. IBKR is known for its speed and reliability. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: IBKR provides educational resources, including webinars, how-to guides and simulation accounts. The platform has a range of research tools and the IBKR campus for investor education. 

• Drawbacks: The Trader Workstation platform can be complex for beginners. IBKR’s 24/7 customer support is accessed through international offices in Australia or Asia, which may feel less direct than local support. 

Who It’s Best For: Cost-conscious investors in New Zealand who want access to a range of international markets, low fees and are comfortable with a more complex platform or are willing to learn. 

Tiger Brokers (NZ) – Best Low Fees

Tiger Brokers is a popular choice for New Zealand investors because of its low commission structure, including zero-commission trades on local and Australian exchanges and its user-friendly, feature-rich trading platform that provides access to many international markets. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: Offers 0% commission on New Zealand’s Stock Exchange (NZX) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) for a limited number of trades, with low fees thereafter. It offers the first four U.S. trades each month commission-free. Its forex conversion fee of about 0.35% undercuts many competitors in the New Zealand market.

• Investment Access: Provides access to U.S., Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and China, with more than 7,000 stocks available. It also offers U.S. options, futures and Hong Kong warrants.

• Platform Experience: Tiger’s mobile app and desktop platform are user-friendly and cater to both beginners and experienced traders. The platform includes free real-time data, including free Level 2 for U.S. stocks and a customizable interface. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: The Tiger platform includes tutorials for its features and a community forum for users. It also provides market news and basic research. Tiger Brokers received Canstar’s 2024 award for Most Satisfied Customers for online share trading.

• Drawbacks: Tiger’s investor education resources may not be as extensive as those offered by larger, more established firms. The zero-commission offer on local and Australian shares is for a limited number of trades. 

Who It’s Best For: Cost-conscious New Zealand investors seeking a user-friendly platform with low fees and access to a range of international markets, including the U.S., Australia and Hong Kong. 

Sharesies – Best for Fractional Investing 

Sharesies is a New Zealand-born platform that has gained popularity for its user-friendly approach to investing. It pioneered fractional investing in New Zealand, allowing small investors to buy portions of shares in both local and international companies and funds. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: Offers 0% commission on trades up to NZ$50 with a monthly subscription. For NZ stocks over $50, it charges a 1.9% fee capped at $25 per order. U.S. share trades incur a 1.9% fee capped at US$5 plus a 0.5% forex conversion fee.

• Investment Access: Provides access to NZX stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), a variety of U.S. stocks and ETFs and a limited number of Australian stocks. It also integrates access to managed funds and ETFs, offering a range of investment options on one platform. 

• Platform Experience: The web and mobile interfaces are user-friendly and intuitive for beginners. The platform simplifies the investment process with an easy-to-navigate dashboard and the core feature of fractional share investing. Funding is straightforward via NZD bank deposits with automatic forex conversion for U.S. investments. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: Sharesies offers investor education through its blog and webinar series that explains the fundamentals of investing. The platform includes helpful snippets like glossaries and FAQs to build confidence in new investors.   

• Drawbacks: The fee structure caters to small investors and can become higher for larger trades compared to some flat-fee brokers. Customer support is primarily through email and in-app, lacking direct phone assistance. The range of Australian stocks is somewhat limited. 

Who It’s Best For: New Zealanders who are new to investing and want a user-friendly platform that allows them to start with small amounts through fractional investing in local and U.S. markets.

Hatch – Best for Simple U.S. Market Investing

Hatch is a New Zealand-focused platform designed for Kiwi investors who want to access the U.S. stock market. It offers a straightforward, flat-fee commission structure and a user-friendly platform, making it an excellent choice for New Zealanders interested in buy-and-hold investing in U.S. stocks and ETFs.

Key Features: 

• Fees: Charges a flat US$3 per trade for up to 300 shares, then $0.01 per share for larger orders. A 0.5% currency conversion fee applies when transferring NZD to USD. There are no monthly or inactivity fees.

• Investment Access: Provides access to more than 3,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs, including all companies listed on the S&P 500. It is only focused on the U.S. market and does not offer direct access to NZX or other international stocks. 

• Platform Experience: The web platform and mobile app are clean, simple and easy to navigate, making them suitable for beginner investors. The design emphasizes a buy-and-hold strategy with an intuitive interface for purchasing U.S. assets.

• Tools/Education Highlights: Hatch offers a library of educational resources, including the Hatch blog and Hatch Learn guides. The educational materials cover investing fundamentals, portfolio management strategies and regular updates on the U.S. market tailored to New Zealand investors. Hatch also has a supportive user community and is known for prompt email support and active social media engagement.   

• Drawbacks: Hatch only provides access to the U.S. market. It does not offer retirement accounts. 

Who It’s Best For: New Zealand investors interested in investing in the U.S. stock market through an easy-to-use, flat-fee platform with strong educational resources and community support. 

ASB Securities – Best for Integrated Banking

ASB Securities, a division of ASB Bank, offers a straightforward and reliable platform for New Zealand investors interested in trading NZX and ASX shares. Its strength is the integration with ASB banking services and its established reputation.

Key Features: 

• Fees: Fees for New Zealand stocks range from $15 per trade (up to NZ$1,000 trade value) to 0.3% for larger trades. ASX trades have a minimum fee of AU$30 or 0.3%. There are no monthly account fees. It does not offer discounts for frequent traders. 

• Investment Access: Provides access to stocks and ETFs listed on the NZX and shares listed on the ASX. It does not offer access to U.S. or other international markets. Fixed-income (bonds) trading is available over the phone. 

• Platform Experience: The web-based trading platform available through ASB’s website is basic and reliable, but its interface is somewhat dated. It offers live NZX market data for active users. Mobile access for trading is limited through the ASB banking app rather than a dedicated trading application. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: Offers basic educational resources, including “How to Invest” guides and monthly market reports delivered via email. As a bank-owned entity, it emphasizes trust and reliability rather than the educational tools found on specialized trading platforms.

• Drawbacks: The commission structure is more expensive than discount brokers, especially for larger or more frequent trades. The trading platform interface is dated and mobile trading capabilities are limited. Access is restricted to the New Zealand and Australian markets. 

Who It’s Best For: Existing ASB Bank customers who prefer the convenience of integrated banking and a trusted institution for trading in the New Zealand and Australian stock markets and prioritize reliability over low trading costs or advanced platform features.

Choosing the Right Stockbroker in New Zealand

Choosing the right broker is a decision that can significantly impact your investment success. 

Interactive Brokers stands out for its global market access and low fees. Tiger Brokers also offers low fees and a user-friendly platform with access to key international markets. Sharesies provides a beginner-friendly experience with fractional investing, making the market accessible to newcomers. Hatch simplifies U.S. market investing with a clear fee structure and educational resources focused on American equities. ASB Securities offers the convenience of integrated banking for investors interested in local and Australian shares. 

The best broker choice depends on your investment objectives. Consider whether your priority is international diversification, speculating on global markets or investing in New Zealand equities. By aligning your investing goals with the strengths of each broker, you can choose the partner best suited to help you achieve your financial goals.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Stockbroker in New Zealand

Trading Fees and Cost Transparency: Fee structures vary significantly across platforms. Interactive Brokers and Tiger Brokers offer competitive global fees, while Sharesies and Hatch provide flat-fee or capped pricing that favors small investors. ASB Securities, by contrast, follows a more traditional commission model. Always check for hidden costs such as inactivity fees, FX conversion rates or tiered commission brackets.

Market Access and Product Diversity: Some brokers specialize in international access (IBKR, Tiger Brokers), while others like ASB Securities and Sharesies focus more on New Zealand and Australia. Hatch is ideal for U.S.-only investors. If you plan to diversify across global markets, make sure the platform supports your desired asset classes – whether that’s U.S. equities, bonds, ETFs or options.

Platform Usability and Experience: Beginners may prefer the simplicity of Hatch and Sharesies, while advanced investors might be better served by Interactive Brokers’ Trader Workstation or Tiger’s customizable desktop interface. Consider what level of functionality and design sophistication suits your investing style.

Fractional Shares and Minimum Investments: Sharesies leads in fractional investing, allowing you to start with just a few dollars. Hatch and Tiger Brokers also cater to smaller-scale investors. If you're dollar-cost averaging or just starting out, fractional share capability is a major plus.

Educational Tools and Investor Support: For new investors, platforms like Hatch and Sharesies offer strong educational resources including blogs, explainers and webinars. Interactive Brokers and Tiger Brokers provide technical learning for more advanced strategies. Meanwhile, ASB’s resources are more basic, focused on traditional guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions