The Council of Financial Regulators (CoFR) published its March quarterly statement outlining its 24 March meeting, where members assessed external factors that could affect New Zealand’s financial system and agreed to review the Council’s strategic focus and future work programme to support efficient, responsive regulation. Chaired by Financial Markets Authority Chief Executive Samantha Barrass, the meeting highlighted rapid developments in artificial intelligence and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, and reviewed developments in New Zealand’s payments system, including the importance of upcoming legislative changes such as passage of the Customer and Products Data Bill.