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History exhibitions

Learn about our history, including an overview of our first 75 years as an organisation and a chronology of our Governors.

Kei tēnei wāhanga

In this section

RBNZ, chief Accountant’s typing pool, 1950s.

Banking history timeline

Timeline

Explore New Zealand's banking history from the 1840s to the 2000s.

Prime quality - The Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Co advertisement

RBNZ and NZ's economic history

Article

Learn about the broad history of the NZ economy since the 1840s, and the role that RBNZ has played since the mid-1930s.

The first cheque issued by the Reserve Bank, the equivalent of about $2.3 billion in 2009 value.

History of RBNZ, 1934-2009

Exhibit

Read a history of the RBNZ, first published in 2009 to mark the 75th anniversary.

Our Governors

Timeline

Read about the past and present Governors of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

Our coat of arms

Exhibit

Learn about our coat of arms that represents our role as guardians of New Zealand’s financial system.

Pūkaki and the 20 cent coin

Explore the story of Pūkaki, how his image came to be on the current 20 cent coin, and Te Pūtea Matua’s special relationship with Ngāti Whakaue.

Read the story