Summary
POLi is an online payment system that lets you pay directly from your New Zealand bank account — no credit card, no e-wallet and no registration required — you select POLi at checkout, choose your bank, log in using your existing internet banking credentials and approve the payment; the merchant receives confirmation instantly
POLi has been operating in New Zealand since 2007 and is owned by Australia Post — it is used by major NZ organisations including Air New Zealand, Spark, 2degrees, PB Tech, Mighty Ape, Intercity and numerous government agencies; the New Zealand Transport Agency was the first merchant to offer POLi
OrbitRemit supports POLi for NZ customers paying for international money transfers — select POLi when funding your OrbitRemit transfer; payments under NZD $10,000 are supported; funds are confirmed instantly and your transfer begins processing immediately
If you have bought a flight with Air New Zealand, paid a power bill or shopped at PB Tech online, you may have seen POLi at the checkout. It is one of New Zealand’s most widely used online payment methods — a simple, secure way to pay directly from your bank account without needing a credit card, debit card or digital wallet.
For migrants in New Zealand who are setting up finances for the first time, POLi is particularly useful — you do not need a New Zealand credit card to use it, and you do not need to register or create an account.
What is POLi? Understanding what is POLi New Zealand
POLi is an online payment gateway that connects you directly to your bank’s internet banking system. When you choose POLi at checkout, you are redirected to your bank’s familiar online banking interface, where you log in and approve the payment. Your bank transfers the money to the merchant, and POLi notifies the merchant that the payment is confirmed.
The key things to understand:
- POLi is not a bank, a wallet or a card — it is a payment bridge between you and your bank
- You log in using your normal internet banking username and password — the same credentials you use every day
- POLi does not store your banking credentials — your login information is never seen or saved by POLi
- No registration is required — you do not create a POLi account
- Payments are confirmed instantly — the merchant knows immediately that the payment has been made
Who owns POLi? POLi Payments Pty Ltd is owned by Australia Post (via its subsidiary SecurePay Holdings), which acquired POLi in December 2014. POLi has been operating in New Zealand since 2007 — the New Zealand Transport Agency was the very first merchant to offer POLi payments to its customers.
How POLi works — step by step
- Select POLi at checkout At a participating merchant’s website, choose POLi as your payment method. You will be redirected to POLi’s secure interface.
- Choose your bank Select your New Zealand bank from the list of supported banks. POLi works with: ANZ, BNZ, ASB, Kiwibank, TSB, The Cooperative Bank and Westpac.
- Log in with your internet banking You are taken directly to your bank’s internet banking login page — the same page you use every time you bank online. Enter your usual username and password.
- Review and confirm the payment POLi pre-fills the payment details — the merchant’s bank account, the amount and a reference. Review the details and confirm the payment within your internet banking.
- Instant confirmation Once confirmed, POLi notifies the merchant in real time that the payment has been made — even before settlement. You are redirected back to the merchant’s website. Your funds typically settle within the same business day.
Which banks support POLi in New Zealand?
POLi works with all of New Zealand’s major banks:
| Bank | POLi support |
|---|---|
| ANZ | ✅ Supported |
| BNZ | ✅ Supported |
| ASB | ✅ Supported |
| Kiwibank | ✅ Supported |
| TSB | ✅ Supported |
| The Cooperative Bank | ✅ Supported |
| Westpac | ✅ Supported |
Where can you use POLi in New Zealand?
POLi is accepted by a wide range of New Zealand businesses and organisations:
Travel and airlines: Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Intercity
Technology and retail: PB Tech, Mighty Ape
Telecommunications: Spark, 2degrees
Government agencies: Multiple NZ government departments and the New Zealand Transport Agency (the original POLi merchant)
Financial services: Including money transfer providers like OrbitRemit
Other businesses: 1,500+ businesses across New Zealand use POLi via the Shopify integration alone
POLi and security
POLi’s security model is built around one key principle: your banking credentials are never stored or seen by POLi.
When you log in to your bank’s internet banking within the POLi flow, you are logging in directly to your bank’s own systems — POLi facilitates the redirect but cannot read or record your username or password.
What POLi does not do:
- Store your banking username or password
- Access your account beyond the specific payment being made
- Retain any sensitive financial information
Important warning: POLi will never send you an email or text message asking you to “upgrade” your POLi account or send money. Any such message is a scam. POLi is managed by your bank — contact your bank if you receive suspicious messages.
POLi limitations
Deposits only: POLi can only be used to send payments — you cannot receive money via POLi. It is a payment method, not a wallet.
NZ only: POLi is available in Australia and New Zealand. It is not available internationally.
Not all accounts: Some NZ bank accounts (particularly business accounts or accounts with specific security settings) may not support POLi. If POLi does not work for your account, contact your bank.
Transaction limits: Individual merchants may set their own POLi payment limits. OrbitRemit supports POLi payments up to NZD $10,000 per transfer.
POLi vs PayID — what is the difference?
POLi and PayID are both bank-based payment systems, but they work differently:
| POLi | PayID | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Pay a merchant online | Send money between individuals and businesses |
| How it works | Redirect to internet banking | Link a phone/email to your bank account |
| Registration | None required | Register your PayID with your bank |
| Used in | New Zealand (and Australia) | Australia only (NPP payments) |
| Receipt confirmation | Instant to merchant | Instant (real-time NPP) |
| Direction | You pay a business | You send to anyone with a PayID |
In short: POLi is for paying businesses online (Air New Zealand, OrbitRemit, Mighty Ape). PayID is Australia’s real-time person-to-person payment system.
How to use POLi with OrbitRemit
OrbitRemit supports POLi as a payment method for New Zealand customers funding international transfers. It is one of the fastest ways to pay for your OrbitRemit transfer.
How to pay for your OrbitRemit transfer with POLi:
- Set up your international transfer in the OrbitRemit app or at orbitremit.com
- On the Fund Transfer screen, select Fund your transfer instantly by using POLi
- Click Start POLi Payment
- Choose your NZ bank from the list
- Log in using your internet banking credentials
- Review the payment details — confirm the amount matches your transfer amount
- Confirm the payment
Once confirmed, your transfer status changes to Processing funds and OrbitRemit begins processing your international transfer immediately.
POLi limit with OrbitRemit: NZD $10,000 per transfer. For larger transfers, use an internet banking payment directly to OrbitRemit’s bank account.
FAQs (frequently asked questions)
What is POLi?
POLi is an online payment system that lets you pay directly from your NZ bank account — without a credit card or e-wallet. Select POLi at checkout, choose your bank, log in using your internet banking and confirm. No registration required.
Is POLi safe?
Yes. POLi does not store your banking credentials — you log in directly to your bank’s own internet banking system. Your username and password are never seen or stored by POLi. Always verify you are on your bank’s genuine website before entering credentials.
Which banks work with POLi in New Zealand?
ANZ, BNZ, ASB, Kiwibank, TSB, The Cooperative Bank and Westpac.
Can I use POLi to pay OrbitRemit?
Yes. Select POLi when funding your OrbitRemit transfer. The limit is NZD $10,000 per transfer. Your payment is confirmed instantly and your transfer begins processing immediately.
Is POLi available in Australia?
Yes — POLi also operates in Australia, though it is less widely used there. In New Zealand, POLi is more established with broader merchant support.
Who owns POLi?
POLi Payments Pty Ltd is owned by Australia Post (via SecurePay Holdings), which acquired the company in December 2014. POLi has operated in New Zealand since 2007.
What is the difference between POLi and a bank transfer?
A standard bank transfer requires you to manually enter the merchant’s bank account number and reference. POLi pre-fills all of those details for you within your internet banking session — reducing the chance of errors. POLi also notifies the merchant instantly, whereas a standard bank transfer may take hours to be confirmed.
Related guides
- What is PayID? How to send money in Australia →
- What is a SWIFT transfer? International bank transfers explained →
- How to get an IRD number in New Zealand →
What it means for your transfers
POLi makes paying for your OrbitRemit transfer fast and simple — select it when funding your transfer, confirm through your internet banking in seconds and your international transfer begins processing immediately. No credit card required.
NZD to INR, PHP, NPR, WST and 50+ other destinations — all accessible through OrbitRemit with POLi funding.
This guide is for general information only. POLi limits and supported banks are subject to change — verify at polipay.co.nz and support.orbitremit.com. Last updated August 2026.
Sources: POLi official — What is POLi (polipay.co.nz) | POLi official — How POLi Works (polipay.co.nz) | OrbitRemit Support — Paying with POLi — New Zealand only (support.orbitremit.com) | Wikipedia — POLi Payments | emerchantpay.com — APMs in focus: POLi New Zealand (April 2025) | WorldRemit — What is POLi payment?
