On March 29, 2025, New Zealand implemented the Consumer Data Right (CDR) law, requiring major banks to have production-ready Open Banking APIs by December of that year, which aims to enhance consumer empowerment and fintech innovation. The launch of Payment Initiation API v2.3 by major banks introduced enduring payment consent and decoupled authentication, highlighting the impact on consumer interactions with money. The article emphasizes the importance of developer experience in Open Banking, as developers are crucial in translating standards into practical applications, affecting the speed and efficiency of product integration and innovation. APIMatic, a Kiwi company, provides a platform to improve developer experience by offering tools like SDKs, API Recipes, and interactive API references, which aim to reduce integration challenges and accelerate time-to-market for fintech products. The text also highlights the evolving role of AI in API integration, with features like MCP servers and API Copilot facilitating AI-driven API consumption, emphasizing the need for modernized API experiences in New Zealand's Open Banking ecosystem.