Christmas Gift Vouchers Under the New Three-Year Rule
This is the first Christmas under New Zealand’s new gift card rules. Since 16 March 2026, a gift card or voucher sold to a consumer must last at least three years from the date of sale, according to the Commerce Commission. The rules cover both physical and digital cards.
For a venue, this changes how you should think about the vouchers you sell in December. We think it is a change for the better.
What are the new gift voucher rules in NZ?
Since 16 March 2026, a gift card or voucher sold in New Zealand must last at least three years from the date of sale. If your terms give a shorter period, that term is void and the card lasts three years anyway. The expiry must also be shown clearly on every card or voucher.
The Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Act 2024 came into force on 16 March 2026. The Commerce Commission’s guidance sets out the detail. To show the expiry, you can give the expiry date, the month and year it expires, the sale date with how long the card lasts, or “no expiry date”. We answer the most common questions further down.
How does the three-year rule affect your venue?
More of the vouchers you sell will come back to be spent. Consumer NZ says one in five gift card holders in its research were left stuck with an expired card. With three years to use them, fewer will lapse, so expect more voucher holders through your door.
That is good news if you treat a voucher as what it really is: a future visit someone has already paid for. A 2026 US consumer study by TSG and Bank of America found that 55% of people would try a new business because of a gift card, and 44% typically spend more than the card’s value. It is US data, but the lesson travels. The person holding your voucher is often a new customer, and they rarely spend to the exact dollar.
The catch is cash flow. Voucher money lands in your account in December, but you have not earned it yet. Under the new rules it can sit on your books as a liability for three years. Do not spend it like profit, and make sure your accountant knows the balance.
What to do before Christmas
- If you sell vouchers with Appropo, the three-year expiry is already taken care of. You only need to check any paper vouchers you sell outside Appropo.
- Make sure the expiry shows clearly on every voucher, whether it is emailed or printed.
- Keep physical cards on offer. The same US study found 36% of buyers bought only physical gift cards in 2025, while 13% bought only digital.
- Set your amounts around a real meal, like brunch for two, so the voucher feels like an outing.
- Plan a reminder in the new year for customers whose vouchers are still unspent.
Common questions
How long does a gift voucher have to last in NZ?
At least three years from the date of sale, for any gift card or voucher sold from 16 March 2026. This applies to physical and digital cards. If your terms say a shorter period, that term is void and the expiry is taken to be three years from sale.
Are vouchers sold before 16 March 2026 covered?
No. The rules do not apply to gift cards bought before 16 March 2026. Those cards keep their original expiry.
What is exempt from the three-year rule?
The Commerce Commission lists these as exempt:
- Vouchers supplied as part of a customer loyalty programme
- Vouchers only for a time-limited event
- Vouchers sold mainly to raise funds for charity
- Vouchers given in place of returned goods
- Debit, credit and prepaid travel cards
- Cards only for telecommunications, public transport, electricity, gas or water
In the Commission’s view, a card given away free is not covered, but a promotional card offered alongside a purchase is.
What is the penalty for breaking the rules?
The Commerce Commission can issue an infringement notice of up to $1,000 per offence. If prosecuted, a company can be fined up to $30,000 per offence and an individual up to $10,000. If you are unsure how this applies to your vouchers, check with your lawyer.
How Appropo helps
With Appropo Gift Vouchers, there is nothing to check. The expiry in your voucher settings has had a 36-month minimum since March. You can set it longer, but not shorter, so every voucher you sell meets the rule. Customers buy digital vouchers from your website, and you can also sell physical gift cards for pickup or delivery.
The dashboard shows your liability, the value of vouchers sold but not yet redeemed, and which vouchers are still active. That tells you how much is still to come back through your door.
Our view is simple. A voucher that never gets spent is a missed visit, not a win. Build your Christmas voucher plan around getting people in the door, then get to know them so they want to come back.
Get in touch if you would like help setting up vouchers before the Christmas rush.