New Zealand Currency Conversion
The New Zealand currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD; NZ$). It is the legal tender of New Zealand as well as the Cook Islands, Tokelau, Niue, the Ross Dependency, and also the Pitcairn Islands.
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| The NZ$ was introduced in 1967 replacing the New Zealand Pound |
The NZD is divided into 100 cents.
The dollar was introduced in 1967, decimalising the currency and replacing the New Zealand Pound. Australia had already decimalised its currency the year before.
The New Zealand dollar, like the pound before it, is issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, which issues the nation's banknotes and coins and sets its monetary policy.
Pre-Decimal Currency in New Zealand
For the curious, pre-decimal New Zealand currency, or sterling, was based on 12s and 20s, rather than 10s. It no doubt made sense to those using it at the time, but seems random and unintuitive in hindsight.
The monetary unit back then that corresponded to today's cent was the penny (plural: "pence"). Twelve pence made up one shilling, and 20 shillings (i.e., 240 pence) made up one pound.
However, the penny itself was divided into two half-penny ("ha'penny," pronounced like "hape-knee") coins.
Pennies were also consolidated into a three pence coin, a six pence coin, and a shilling (i.e., 20 penny) coin.
Shillings were consolidated into a two shilling coin, also known as a "florin," and a two-and-a-half shilling coin, also known as "two shillings six pence" or a "half-crown."
Pound notes (bills) were in the following denominations: £1, £5, £10, £50.
The New Zealand dollar
The New Zealand Dollar has been in use since 1967, and is sometimes referred to the 'kiwi".
Notes are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. Coins are in denominations of 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents and $1 and $2.
What's on New Zealand's banknotes?
New Zealand's banknotes celebrate five people. Edmund Hillary (1919–2008), the first person to scale Mt. Everest, appears on the $5 bill. Kate Sheppard (1848–1934), New Zealand's most prominent activist for women's suffrage, features on the $10 bill. Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand (b.1926) appears on the $20 bill along with a picture of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings. Sir Āpirana Ngata (1874–1950), New Zealand's most famous Maori leader and politician, is on the $50 bill. Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937), a scientist known as the "father of nuclear physics," is on the $100 bill.
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| Kate Sheppard on New Zealand 10 Dollar banknote |
What's on New Zealand's coins?
New Zealand's coins all have Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand on the obverse side. The reverse side bears the following: for the 10 cent coin, a Maori carved head, or koruru; 20 cent coin, a Maori carving of the chief, Pukaki; 50 cent coin, the ship Captain Cook came to New Zealand on, the Endeavour; the dollar coin, a kiwi and the silver fern; the two dollar coin, a bird called the kotuku, (AKA, eastern great egret, or white heron).
New Zealand dollar exchange rates
View a selection of real time world currency exchange rates as compared to New Zealand's currency - the New Zealand Dollar (NZD).
Hotels in New Zealand
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