POLi Payment Services - Participation Criteria

Merchant Terms and Conditions

Use of POLi Payment Services by merchants is subject to POLi’s Merchant Terms and Conditions – Payment services (Terms).

Under the Terms, unless POLi agrees otherwise, a merchant:

  • may only use POLi Payment Services to accept payment for its own goods or services;
  • must not use POLi to accept payments for third parties or to provide payment services to other businesses.

Prohibited businesses

POLi Payment Services are not available for the following types of businesses:

  • Unlicensed* gaming services (including online casinos, gaming and sports betting services)
  • Affiliate marketing schemes
  • Sale of synthetic drugs and pharmaceuticals
  • Adult services
  • Mobile or truck traders providing credit or deferred payment terms
  • Junket tour operators**
  • Sale of firearms or ammunition
  • Crypto-currency issuers
  • Gangs or businesses operated by gangs
  • Unregistered crypto currency exchanges*
  • Pyramid sales schemes

* New Zealand licensed/registered businesses are not prohibited
**Businesses that arrange foreign gamblers to travel to New Zealand for gaming at NZ casinos

Prohibited goods and services

POLi Payment Services may not be used for the sale of the following goods or services:

  • Recreational drug paraphernalia
  • Counterfeit goods

High risk goods and services

Minimum requirements for Merchants who provide goods and services listed in this category. POLi’s Merchant Terms and Conditions and/or  Merchant Services Schedule may contain additional requirements applicable to merchants in this category.

  • Financial services providers including CFD and Forex trading businesses*
  • Digital wallets, money transfer services*
  • Pharmacies – must have a current pharmacy licence
  • Online or digital marketplaces
  • Registered Crypto Currency Exchanges*
  • Business Specific Customer Accounts**
  • Alcohol sales  - must have a valid liquor licence. Merchant must take reasonable steps to verify that customers are 18 or over in accordance with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Regulations 2013.
  • Vape Stores - must be registered and approved as a Special Vape Retailer with the Health Advisory and Regulatory Platform (HARP)
  • Buy Now Pay Later Services*
  • Gift cards (physical or digital)***
  • Issuers of financial products (including share issues, debt issues or issue of fractional ownership of physical or digital assets)*

* must be registered as a Financial Service Provider. Issuers of financial products must show evidence of compliance with the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 or an applicable exemption under that Act. CFD and Forex trading businesses must also be registered as a Derivatives Issuer (unless customers are restricted to wholesale investors). 

** A Business- Specific Customer Account is an account with a Merchant which is used to receive funds from the Merchant’s customers and which can only be used to purchase goods and services from that Merchant

*** Rechargeable gift cards are not permitted. Gift cards which can only be used to purchase goods or services from a single, named, retailer/brand are permitted. Gift cards which can be used to purchase goods or services from more than one retailer/brand (including cash equivalent cards) are only permitted if the following rules are complied with:

  • For online purchases with online or other remote delivery, there must be a 24-hour delay between the payment transaction being completed and the card being released or delivered for use by the purchaser;
  • For in-store purchases or in-store pick up, the identify of the person collecting the card must be verified as matching the identity of the customer who paid for the card.