Transferring Large Sums of Money Internationally From New Zealand in 2026

Services to consider for a large overseas payment

Planning a property payment with a personal forward

9.0

TorFx

general.fees

None

general.exchangeRateMarkup

0.4% - 1.5%

general.transferSpeed

Minutes - 24 hours

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"TorFX's 5-star service handles most currency needs, especially relating to overseas property, emigration & retirement. Friendly phone support, no-obligation conversations & no max transfer limit."

Round-the-clock help with a one-off transfer

8.5

OFX

general.fees

None

general.exchangeRateMarkup

0.4% - 1.5%

general.transferSpeed

Minutes - 24 hours

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"OFX have been helping individuals and businesses send money for over 25 years. Transfer in 50+ currencies to 170+ countries, with 24/7 phone access to currency experts."

Booking up to NZ$750,000 online

8.6

Xe

general.fees

$1.99 - $2.99

general.exchangeRateMarkup

0.3% - 2.1%

general.transferSpeed

Minutes - 24 hours

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"Xe has over 30 years of currency exchange experience, and is one of the most reputable names on the market. 200 countries, 100 currencies, & funds often received in seconds."

Moving savings from your own New Zealand account

9.2

Wise

general.fees

0.1% - 2.6%

general.exchangeRateMarkup

0%

general.transferSpeed

Minutes - 24 hours

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"Over 15 million customers use Wise, mostly for their excellent mobile app, transparent fee structure & use of mid-market rates. Now increasingly used for larger transfers."

Bank-account payments across its supported destinations

7.1

OrbitRemit

general.fees

None

general.exchangeRateMarkup

0.7% - 2%

general.transferSpeed

Minutes - 3 days

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A branch payment from your existing bank

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ANZ

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general.exchangeRateMarkup

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TorFX

Fix the rate for a committed overseas purchase

TorFX is a stronger fit than OFX if you need a personal forward, because that product is available to retail clients in New Zealand.

You can work with an account manager on the amount and payment date, while your online account tracks transfers and stores recipient details.

Online transfers are limited to NZ$50,000, so the larger payments in this guide need to be arranged with the manager.

A forward lets you agree the exchange rate before paying the balance, but you remain committed if the market later moves in your favour.

The advance payment is normally 10%, and further payments can be required before settlement if exchange rates move against the contract.

There is no separate TorFX transfer fee, with its conversion cost included in the rate you accept.

The NZ$50,000 and NZ$250,000 examples show pricing at two amounts, with the manager confirming your final quote before booking.

I like the combination of personal contact and online tracking, especially when a lawyer needs the money against a fixed completion statement.

OFX

Reach the team when your overseas recipient is awake

OFX has 24/7 support, which helps when an Australian or UK recipient raises a question outside your usual working hours.

You can book a spot transfer online and follow it in the app, with the team available to discuss the full payment.

There is no OFX transfer fee at NZ$10,000 or more, although the rate includes a margin and other banks can charge separately.

Ordinary retail clients in New Zealand cannot use OFX forward contracts, so a large personal transfer does not automatically unlock that feature.

I suggest OFX for moving available funds now, rather than planning around a future rate contract it cannot offer your retail account.

Use the two amounts below to check OFX’s pricing across several currencies, then match the larger quote to your recipient’s full bill.

The support is a reason to shortlist OFX, while the recipient amount decides whether its quote is worth accepting.

Xe

Arrange a substantial payment online before needing a larger-transfer team

Xe lets you transfer up to NZ$750,000 online per day on a personal account, with the team handling requests above that level.

That suits a savings move you can manage yourself, provided the destination and payment method accept the amount you enter.

Card funding is much smaller, with a NZ$10,000 daily allowance, so the larger payments here need an agreed bank-payment method.

Xe’s exchange rate includes its conversion cost, with any sending fee shown before you confirm and external bank charges considered separately.

You can track progress online or in the app, rather than relying on the money leaving your bank as proof of overseas receipt.

The NZ$50,000 results let you compare Xe with the other companies at that amount before requesting a larger quote.

Xe usually allows one to four working days for delivery after receiving your funds, so include bank funding when planning the payment date.

Wise

Transfer savings from an account in your own name

Wise accepts up to NZ$2.2 million per transfer funded from a New Zealand bank account, subject to your bank’s limit and the destination.

The money must come from an account in your name, and you cannot fund an NZD transfer through an international SWIFT payment.

Cards are limited to NZ$3,000 and POLi to NZ$5,000, so neither is the funding method for the examples on this page.

Wise converts at the mid-market rate and adds a separate fee, letting you see the conversion cost before accepting the payment.

I think it works well for a straightforward move between your own accounts, when you are comfortable supplying documents and following the transfer yourself.

Wise’s NZ$50,000 comparison gives you a matched price check without assuming it will retain the same position at NZ$1 million.

Receiving your bank payment can take up to two working days, with conversion adding time before the destination payment begins.

OrbitRemit

Use a New Zealand bank payment for a supported overseas account

OrbitRemit is worth including when its bank-account payment supports your destination, particularly if you already use it for payments from New Zealand.

Transfers of NZ$10,000 or more have no OrbitRemit transfer fee, but compare the exchange rate before treating that as the lowest total cost.

Bank funding is the method to check for a large payment, because POLi and debit-card allowances are far below the sums covered here.

Receiving limits vary by destination and account type, so confirm the overseas bank route before transferring a property deposit or inheritance.

I suggest using its app to follow progress, while keeping the recipient’s account limit separate from what your New Zealand bank will let you pay.

A wallet used for regular family support can have a much lower receiving limit than a bank account in the same country.

ANZ

Arrange the larger payment through your bank’s branch

ANZ gives you a direct payment from the bank holding your money, which avoids funding a separate transfer company first.

You can send NZ$100 to NZ$50,000 through goMoney or Internet Banking, while NZ$50,000 to NZ$100,000 needs a phone call or branch.

For more than NZ$100,000, visit a branch with the international-payment form and photo identification, allowing time to discuss the recipient instructions.

The ANZ sending fee is zero online or in the app and NZ$15 by phone or branch, with the exchange rate affecting the larger cost.

An OUR fee can cover ANZ’s correspondent charges, but other intermediary or recipient-bank charges can still reduce the amount received.

My suggestion is to include ANZ’s branch quote when comparing a large transfer, especially if keeping the funding and overseas payment together makes the deadline easier.

Choose around the payment you need to make

The best service for moving NZ$500,000 of savings may be different from the best service for settling a fixed Australian property price.

For your own savings, online control and the final exchange rate can be enough, provided both accounts accept the payment.

For a purchase, an account manager can help organise the payment date and currency contract before you send the money.

I have spoken with broker account managers and found them knowledgeable, which is why I like that contact when several people are involved.

A bank removes the separate funding step, while a specialist may offer a better delivered amount or more help with the currency purchase.

Compare the recipient’s final amount, rather than deciding from a zero sending fee or the convenience of an existing account.

Common reasons for a large transfer

Compare the total conversion cost

A 0.5% difference on NZ$500,000 represents NZ$2,500, so the exchange rate deserves more attention than a small fixed sending fee.

These comparisons match TorFX and OFX at the same NZD amounts for AUD payments to Australia and GBP payments to the UK.

Amount

AmountNZD 100,000NZD 500,000NZD 1,000,000Custom

Last updated at 16/10/2026

NZD AUD

Mid Market Rate $1 = $0.8139$1 = $0.8138$1 = $0.8139

Transfer Amount $100,000$500,000$1,000,000

1

TorFx

2

OFX

1

TorFx

2

OFX

1

TorFx

2

OFX

They get (after fees)

Transfer fees

FX Rate

Markup

$81,165.10

$0.00

0.8117

0.28%

Visit

$80,986.04

$0.00

0.8099

0.50%

Visit

$405,877.76

$0.00

0.8118

0.25%

Visit

$404,860.53

$0.00

0.8097

0.50%

Visit

$811,815.38

$0.00

0.8118

0.25%

Visit

$809,780.75

$0.00

0.8098

0.50%

Visit

NZD GBP

Mid Market Rate $1 = £0.4248$1 = £0.4247$1 = £0.4247

Transfer Amount $100,000$500,000$1,000,000

1

TorFx

2

OFX

1

TorFx

2

OFX

1

TorFx

2

OFX

They get (after fees)

Transfer fees

FX Rate

Markup

£42,362.45

$0.00

0.4236

0.28%

Visit

£42,268.99

$0.00

0.4227

0.50%

Visit

£211,842.07

$0.00

0.4237

0.25%

Visit

£211,311.14

$0.00

0.4226

0.50%

Visit

£423,676.15

$0.00

0.4237

0.25%

Visit

£422,614.31

$0.00

0.4226

0.50%

Visit

Confirm the rate and final recipient amount with your account manager before booking, including any price agreed for the full transfer.

For a fixed bill, request the NZD amount needed to deliver that exact foreign-currency sum after any expected bank deductions.

A TorFX forward fixes an agreed future rate, with advance payments and cancellation obligations that differ from a transfer made now.

OFX’s New Zealand forward restriction still applies to a personal retail client sending NZ$1 million, because amount alone does not establish wholesale eligibility.

Allow time for funding and overseas receipt

New Zealand electronic bank payments run every day, including weekends, but that does not guarantee immediate funding or an immediate international payout.

Amount

AmountNZD 100,000NZD 500,000NZD 1,000,000Custom

Last updated at 16/10/2026

NZD AUD

Mid Market Rate $1 = $0.8139$1 = $0.8138$1 = $0.8139

Transfer Amount $100,000$500,000$1,000,000

1

TorFx

2

OFX

1

TorFx

2

OFX

1

TorFx

2

OFX

Delivery time

They get (after fees)

6-12 Hours

$81,165.10

Visit

6-12 Hours

$80,986.04

Visit

6-12 Hours

$405,877.76

Visit

6-12 Hours

$404,860.53

Visit

6-12 Hours

$811,815.38

Visit

6-12 Hours

$809,780.75

Visit

NZD GBP

Mid Market Rate $1 = £0.4248$1 = £0.4247$1 = £0.4247

Transfer Amount $100,000$500,000$1,000,000

1

TorFx

2

OFX

1

TorFx

2

OFX

1

TorFx

2

OFX

Delivery time

They get (after fees)

6-12 Hours

£42,362.45

Visit

6-12 Hours

£42,268.99

Visit

6-12 Hours

£211,842.07

Visit

6-12 Hours

£211,311.14

Visit

6-12 Hours

£423,676.15

Visit

6-12 Hours

£422,614.31

Visit

Read the delivery estimate for each result, because the comparison sorts by cost and does not rank the fastest service first.

Domestic processing, the company matching your payment and the overseas bank crediting the recipient are separate stages of the same transfer.

For a fixed completion, ask when cleared NZD funds must arrive and allow for holidays in the receiving country.

Open the account and resolve source-document questions before the payment week, rather than relying on a quick estimate for an already verified transfer.

How much can you send overseas from New Zealand?

There is no general numeric foreign-exchange ceiling for an ordinary lawful outward payment, but the company, bank channel and recipient can limit your transfer.

International wire transfers of NZ$1,000 or more are reportable by the relevant institution, which is a reporting threshold rather than your sending allowance.

You do not apply to the Police for permission simply because the payment exceeds that threshold, although the bank or company still checks its purpose.

Sanctions can prohibit a payment independently of its amount, so recipient ownership and destination restrictions still need to be satisfied.

Agree any funding instalments before booking, and avoid splitting payments to evade reporting or checks because that can delay the whole arrangement.

Prepare the documents and receiving account

Keep records connecting the money’s origin with the account you will use to pay, rather than submitting a balance screenshot alone.

You may also need to explain how your wider wealth accumulated, especially when the payment is unusual for the account.

For Australia, verify the recipient name, BSB and account number, while UK payments need the bank details appropriate to the GBP receiving route.

Use a trusted phone number to confirm changed solicitor instructions, since a familiar email thread does not establish that new bank details are correct.

Send the money and confirm arrival

Protection, complaints and tax records

Check the actual contracting company and its New Zealand permissions, because FSPR registration by itself is not government approval or a repayment guarantee.

TorFX’s derivatives licence covers its regulated forward service, while OrbitRemit’s DIA supervision concerns its anti-money-laundering duties rather than deposit protection.

Use the company’s complaints process first, then its applicable dispute-resolution scheme, or the Banking Ombudsman for an eligible unresolved bank complaint.

Keep the quote, contract, source records and payment references, since moving money does not settle the tax treatment of the underlying income or sale.

Contact the company immediately if the payment must change after booking, because a fixed-rate contract or sent payment can carry cancellation or recall costs.

Compare quotes for the full amount before choosing a company, then confirm that its funding arrangements fit your payment deadline.

Editorial notes (do not include in content):