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Banknotes in circulation

$20 banknote

The $20 banknote features Queen Elizabeth II on the front and the New Zealand falcon (kārearea) on the back.

Published:

Series 7

Front of $20 note
Front of Series 7 $20 banknote
Back of $20 note
Back of Series 7 $20 banknote

Series 6

Front of $20 note
Front of Series 6 $20 banknote
Back of Series 6 $20 banknote
Back of Series 6 $20 banknote

What's on the $20 banknote

Dimensions: 145 mm (length), 70 mm (height)

Front

  • The front of the $20 note has a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen has featured on our currency since 1967, and four different portraits of the Queen appeared on our banknotes during her reign.
  • Next to the Queen are images of the two main buildings of the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington.

Back

  • The New Zealand falcon (kārearea) is on the back of the $20 note. The falcon can fly at speeds over 100 km/h and is capable of catching prey much larger than itself.
  • Other design features include the tukutuku poutama, Mount Tapuaenuku and the Marlborough rock daisy (pachystegia insignis).

Use our interactive banknote

Learn more about the design features on Series 7 banknotes using our interactive banknote. 

Current banknotes

Front of $5 banknote

$5 banknote

The $5 banknote features Sir Edmund Hillary on the front and the yellow eyed-penguin (hoiho) on the back.
Front of $10 banknote

$10 banknote

The $10 banknote features Kate Sheppard on the front and the blue duck (whio) on the back.
Front of $50 banknote

$50 banknote

The $50 banknote features Sir Apirana Ngata on the front and the kōkako (blue wattled crow) on the back.
Front of $100 banknote

$100 banknote

The $100 banknote features Lord Rutherford of Nelson on the front and the yellowhead (mōhua) on the back.