I've got UK cards with HSBC (FirstDirect) and an iPhone6S so at the end of July was all set to try out Apple Pay.
On day 1 the phone took both the Visa Debit and Visa Credit cards that I have.
The debit card activating immediately.
The credit card remained in "awaiting approval", or the like, for a few weeks.

Looking around forums for stalled approval advice I deleted the credit card and attempted to add it again.
Now the phone refuses to accept that card and tells me to contact the issuer.

Was in the Warehouse and tried paying with Debit card using iPhone Apple Pay on their wireless pay terminal.
Even though the phone and terminal happily agreed with each other the payment attempts were declined.

My bank, FirstDirect, claims to have no knowledge of any attempts by me to use the card at any time since then.
My last attempt was on Friday checking out of Countdown.
Again it was quick and painless on the phone and all seemed good until the terminal spat out a payment declined receipt.

So Friday night I call the UK to talk to FD and find out what the problem was.
FD told me 2 things:
1) That it's Apple that blocks the adding of cards if the phone, using it's GPS, finds itself outside of the UK. 
You can only add your cards in the home country of the card issuer.
2) NZ payment terminal won't accept wireless transactions of more than £20 ($40). This I know is bollocks.

Anyone had any luck with using Apple Pay in NZ?

It's not that big a deal, but it would have been nice to have the fall back of my iPhone for payments if I've left my wallet at home.