NFC Times Exclusive Insight – New Zealand joint venture Semble has launched its SIM-based NFC mobile wallet, after delays and the decision by of two of the country’s big four banks to launch mobile payments from their own apps using host-card emulation.

Semble, formerly known as TSM NZ, is made up of the country’s three major telcos—2degrees, Spark and Vodafone—along with New Zealand’s largest payment processor, the bank-owned Paymark. The JV’s platform enables consumers to pay with an eligible credit or debit card, branded Visa or MasterCard, issued by ASB Bank or Bank of New Zealand, with other applications forthcoming, said Semble. 

Both banks are co-owners of Paymark, but missing from the launch are two other major Kiwi banks, which also co-own Paymark, Westpac New Zealand and ANZ New Zealand. Both had been expected to participate in Semble, when the venture was announced in 2012.