The Hub – modernisation and resilience: a strategic view
6 May 2026
Yesterday we welcomed members, participants and key stakeholders in payments to hear from global payments and data thought leader David Birch, at our Hub breakfast event in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
The session explored how payment systems can remain resilient as pressures from regulation, geopolitics, cyber threats and artificial intelligence increasingly stack rather than emerge one by one. The message was clear: resilience can no longer be bolted on. It must be deliberately designed into systems through adaptability, diversity and trust.
Chief Executive Steve Wiggins opened with a strategic view on why modernisation and resilience must progress together for Aotearoa New Zealand, supported by shared decision‑making and shared accountability across the payments ecosystem.
Dave Birch highlighted international case studies and practical lessons, including the importance of multiple payment rails, digital identity as core infrastructure, and offline capability in sustaining economic activity during disruption. As AI‑enabled systems increasingly act on behalf of users, clarity around identity, authority and accountability is becoming critical to maintaining trust.
He also pointed to practical levers for strengthening resilience over time, including domestic schemes, instant payments, regulated stablecoins and offline‑capable digital currency models.
The takeaway: payments resilience depends on diversity, preparedness and collective assurance, not any single technology.
Watch the full event recording below.