Tapara is available today. Merchants can sign up, set up their business, and start accepting payments. Consumers can download the app and pay at any Tapara merchant with no fees.
This is the product we set out to build: a single platform that handles payments, loyalty, and customer identity for independent businesses. Not three separate tools stitched together — one system where everything works as part of the same transaction.
If you’re a customer, think of your local coffee shop letting you build status. Starting as a “Coffee Newcomer”, moving up to “Coffee Lover”, making it all the way to “Coffee Maniac” — each tier unlocking new benefits. Your punch card for that cafe, the sandwich shop next door, and the barber down the street all live in one app. They progress automatically with every purchase and redeem at the counter without you doing anything. No more paper cards lost in your wallet. No more forgetting to ask for a stamp.
If you’re a merchant, your business now has a powerful new tool to bring in more customers, reward the ones who keep coming back, and turn a first-time visitor into a regular. You design the program — your tier names, your rules, your rewards. Tapara handles the rest.
What’s included at launch
Everything ships on day one. No feature tiers, no gated access.
Near-zero-fee payments via open banking. Funds move directly from the consumer’s bank account to the merchant’s. No card networks, no interchange, no terminal rental. Merchants keep what they earn.
Custom loyalty programs. Every merchant designs their own program — tier names, progression rules, benefits, the lot. A cafe might run three tiers based on visit count. A barber might reward monthly regulars with priority booking. A bakery might give top-tier members early access to weekend specials. Every visit and every purchase moves the customer forward automatically.
Punch cards. The digital version of the stamp card, but better. Merchants create punch cards for any item — “Buy 9 coffees, get the 10th free.” Customers see their progress in the app. When the card is full, it converts into a voucher that automatically redeems at the counter on your next purchase. No scanning, no asking, no forgetting. Customers can collect all their punch cards in one place.
Prepaid bundles. Merchants can offer discounted item packs that consumers buy upfront and redeem over time — 5 flat whites, 3 smoothies, any mix they choose. The more they buy, the more they save. For merchants, it means bigger tickets upfront and committed regulars.
NFC check-in. Consumers tap their phone on a passive NFC pad at the counter. The merchant instantly sees who walked in — their name, loyalty tier, visit count, and usual order. No QR scanning, no “what’s your phone number.” The customer is recognised before they speak.
QR payments. An alternative payment flow for merchants who want it. Generate a QR code, the customer scans it, reviews the amount, and pays directly from their bank. No app required on the customer’s side. Works well for markets, pop-ups, and off-counter sales.
Campaigns and customer intelligence. Sarah hasn’t visited in three weeks — send her a voucher. A first-time visitor just checked in — welcome them with a discount. A regular just hit a new tier — congratulate them automatically. Win-back lapsed customers, reward repeat visits, and track retention — all built in.
How to get started
Download Tapara from the App Store, create a profile, and you’re ready to pay at any merchant on the network.
If you’re a merchant, set up your business in the app — add your menu, design your loyalty program, and activate your NFC pad. Your first payment can happen the same day. If you want to manage your counter from a PC, you can also use our web PoS portal. Same PoS experience you know, but better.
Where we’re starting
Nelson. We’re onboarding our first merchants now.
What’s next
Even cheaper processing costs for contactless debit. Credit card payments and buy-now-pay-later. Everything a merchant needs to replace their PoS stack. This is just the beginning.
If you run a business in New Zealand and want in, get in touch.