2022-05-17
The Council of Financial Regulators issued a forward plan detailing regulatory initiatives for the financial sector from Q4 2020 through Q4 2021. The document outlines specific timelines for consultations, implementation, and legislative reviews across banks, insurers, managed investment schemes, and financial advisors. Key actions include the commencement of the new financial advice regime in March 2021, the restart of breach reporting for banks in January 2021, and ongoing reviews of prudential regimes and consumer data rights.
30 September 2020 Council of Financial Regulators Regulatory initiatives affecting the financial sector – forward plan Group Q4 2020 Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021 All firms Consultation closes: Consumer Data Right (5 Oct) (MBIE) Consultations start: Review of Financial Strength dashboard (possible scope extensions) (RBNZ) Standards for banknote-processing machines (RBNZ) Consultation starts: Executive accountability regime (MBIE + RBNZ, FMA) Consultation starts: Principles-based guidance on cyber-resilience (RBNZ) Banks Consultation closes: Review of the Reserve Bank Act – prudential regime for deposit takers and deposit insurance (23 Oct) (Treasury & RBNZ) Select committee process likely to commence on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill (Treasury) Consultations start: Capital requirements for banks - Exposure draft on the capital review (RBNZ) Standard terms for Residential Mortgage Obligations (RBNZ) Restructure of Banking Supervision handbook (RBNZ) Encumbrance policy (RBNZ) Revised process for approving banks’ internal capital adequacy models for credit risk (RBNZ) Regulations for the Conduct of Financial Institutions regime (MBIE) Implementation: Breach reporting and materiality (RBNZ): implementation work to be restarted in October 2020 – breach reporting to start from 1 January 2021 Preparation for potential Negative OCR (RBNZ) – to be completed by 1 December 2020 Consultations start: Review of the Dual Registration and branch policy (RBNZ) Standardised measurement approach to operational risk (RBNZ) Consultation starts: Large exposures policy review (RBNZ) Consultations start: Likely exposure draft of the legislation for deposit takers and deposit insurance (Treasury & RBNZ) Counter-cyclical capital buffer (RBNZ) Insurers Consultations start: Review of Earthquake Commission Act (Treasury) Review of the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2010 (RBNZ) – consultation on scope and treatment of overseas insurers Review of insurance solvency standards (RBNZ) Availability of information on risk and insurance for consumers (Treasury) Regulations for the Conduct of Financial Institutions regime (MBIE) Consultation starts: Exposure draft of legislation for Insurance Contract Law review (MBIE) Consultation continues: Review of Earthquake Commission Act (Treasury) Consultation starts: Exposure draft of interim solvency standards (RBNZ) Managed investment schemes / KiwiSaver providers Request for proposals: Review of KiwiSaver default providers (MBIE and the Treasury)
Page 2 Group Q4 2020 Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021 Managed investment schemes / KiwiSaver providers Return to normal: Restricted schemes member confirmation notice (FMA) - Usual requirements apply again from 1 November 2020 (after two month extension) Industry survey: Thematic review on liquidity management (FMA) – Two part industry survey. First released early August, second currently scheduled early November Financial advisors Results of consultation: Standard conditions/Application guide for full licensing (FMA) Commencement: New financial advice regime in force from 15 Mar 2021 (FMA) Credit providers Expiry of temporary measure: Addendum to Responsible Lending Code – expires 31 Mar 2021 (extended from 30 Nov 2020) Consultation starts: Further amendments to the Responsible Lending Code Commencement: Fit and proper certification: applications open – 1 June 2021 (ComCom) Commencement: New requirements under the CCLAA – 1 Oct 2021 New duties on directors and senior managers – 1 Oct 2021 Directors and senior managers to be certified by 1 Oct 2021 Auditors Return to normal: Audit Quality Reviews - BAU, had been deferred (FMA) Financial Market Infrastructures Consultation starts: Proposed Standards under the FMI Bill (RBNZ/FMA). Initiatives where timing to be confirmed Financial institutions Requirement to report annually on climate risks – due to come into force by 2023, subject to Parliamentary approval (FMA and External Reporting Board) Banks Liquidity policy (BS13) – thematic and policy reviews (RBNZ) Review of stress-testing framework and conducting bank stress-tests (RBNZ) Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (RMBS): development of high grade RMBS standard to address shortages of high quality liquid assets (RBNZ)