Westpac New Zealand has announced a small trial of host-card emulation-based payments, with plans to introduce the technology to customers early next year.

A chief product officer with the bank said in a statement that HCE offers more “flexibility” than working with mobile operators and using trusted service managers. Westpac New Zealand, through its co-ownership of New Zealand’s largest processor, Paymark, is part of the TSM NZ joint venture with the country’s major mobile operators, though that platform has been late to launch.