Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
In a move that strengthens the digital safety net for millions of New Zealanders, Trade Me has officially signed on to the New Zealand Online Scams Code (NZOSC) — a decision that doesn’t just tick a compliance box, but meaningfully boosts protection for everyday buyers, sellers, families and small businesses across New Zealand.
The Code, launched in March 2026 by Tech New Zealand, already includes founding signatories Google, Meta and TikTok. Trade Me’s arrival adds something crucial: the country’s largest online marketplace stepping into a united front against scammers who prey on trust, speed and convenience.
And that’s exactly who benefits — the people who rely on Trade Me to buy a car, sell a couch, find a job, rehome a pet, or run a small business. When scams hit, it’s not abstract harm. It’s a family losing savings, a business losing stock, a jobseeker losing hope. Trade Me’s decision directly strengthens the shield around those communities.
Tech New Zealand CEO Graeme Muller says scammers are now “sophisticated, well‑resourced and operating at scale,” and the industry must meet that challenge head‑on. The Code requires 38 concrete actions across blocking, reporting, takedowns, advertising, messaging, law‑enforcement cooperation, intelligence sharing and future‑proofing — not vague promises, but measurable steps.
Trade Me’s Head of Marketplace and Jobs Nicole Williams says the platform has always invested heavily in safety, but no single company can win this fight alone. By joining forces with other digital giants, Trade Me strengthens the collective defence — closing gaps scammers exploit and ensuring threats spotted on one platform can be neutralised across others.
This matters because scammers don’t care which site you’re on. They move fast, adapt quickly and target whoever looks vulnerable. A united industry response means they lose ground, lose reach and lose opportunities to harm New Zealanders.
The Code’s launch at Parliament earlier this year brought together government, policy makers and tech leaders under one belief: protecting New Zealanders online is a shared responsibility.
Trade Me’s decision proves that belief is becoming action — and that Aotearoa’s digital neighbourhood just got safer.
