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Money and cash

Future of money

Te moni anamata

Our 5 workstreams help to make sure that New Zealanders enjoy reliable and efficient money and payments systems that support innovation and inclusion.

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Read our explainers

New Zealand Banknotes

What is money?

Learn about the difference between central bank money and private money.

Why are we looking at the future of money?

We want everyone to have access to reliable and efficient money and payments systems.

How do payments work?

Learn about how money gets from your card or mobile wallet to the payee or merchant.

Learn about our workstreams

Cash system redesign | He whakahou i te pūnaha moni

We’re finding ways to make sure that the cash system is efficient, resilient and supports inclusion.

Payments | Ngā utu

We’re looking for improvements in our payment systems to better support the use of money and its pivotal roles.

Private innovation | Te Auahatanga

We’re developing our approach to the opportunities and challenges from new forms of private money.

Stewardship | Kaitiakitanga

We have a stewardship mandate for money and cash and the broader currency system.

Digital cash | Moni-matihiko

We're looking at the possibility of issuing digital cash. It would be an electronic version of cash, issued by us, but it would not replace cash.

News and resources

See our latest news releases, reports and information releases relating to the future of money, cash and payments.
View our resources
Rural towns invited to apply for cash service trials as challenges for cash users grow

Rural towns are showing keen interest in trying new ways to meet their residents cash banking needs, which are increasingly going unmet due to commercial banks’ shrinking physical networks and cash services.
Consultation opens on a digital currency for New Zealand

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua is continuing its exploration of a central bank digital currency.
Reserve Bank community cash service trials to start in 2024

Rural New Zealand communities lacking commercial bank over-the-counter or ATM cash services will be invited to take part in service trials starting next year of new ways to help individuals and retailers withdraw and deposit cash.
RBNZ ramps up monitoring of stablecoins and cryptoassets

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua is ramping up its monitoring of stablecoins and cryptoassets. This action follows public input to help confirm the issues these new forms of private money might raise for the financial system and monetary sovereignty.
The Future of Money in New Zealand

In conversation with Ian Woolford of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua.
Cash use (H3)

This data provides information about New Zealanders' cash use.
The Future of Money — Private Innovation

We want feedback on our proposed approach to the opportunities and challenges from new forms of private money such as cryptoassets, including stablecoins.
Payments industry challenged to step up the innovation

Stakeholders in the New Zealand payments industry have been challenged to step up to ensure the country does not fall further behind in advancing our money and payments landscape at the risk of international innovation challenging New Zealand’s interests.