Banknotes and coins resources
The Reserve Bank has developed many useful resources to explain New Zealand currency. These include fact sheets, posters, videos and photos.
Proactive Releases
- Cabinet Paper: Prohibition on the importation of certain coin or banknotes
- Cabinet Minute: Prohibition on the importation of certain coin or banknotes
The ongoing vigilance of the retail and banking industry plays a key role in helping to protect New Zealand's currency. To help maintain our strong track record against counterfeiting, the banknotes are being upgraded to introduce the latest security features. While sophisticated to produce, the new features are designed to be extremely easy to use.
Image resources
Legislation and guidelines on using images of currency
Banknote images are available on Flickr
Series 7 banknotes
This information provides detail for you and your organisation on the new security features of Series 7 banknotes.
Download the PDFs:
- New banknotes handling guide (PDF 8.5MB)
- New banknotes security features (PDF 8MB)
- Explore the details of the new banknotes (PDF 2MB)
- Take a closer look: Feel - look - tilt (PDF 3.5MB)
- Check Series 7 banknotes (PDF 3.5MB)
- Banknote designs - information on the images included in the Series 7 banknotes (PDF 2.6MB)
- Dealing with a suspicious banknote (PDF 320KB)
Series 6 banknotes
This information provides detail for you and your organisation on the security features of Series 6 banknotes.
Download the PDFs:
Information on the Brighter Money banknote upgrade
- 2010 Currency Survey
- Industry engagement
- Brighter Money background
- Bulletin article: Designing New Zealand's new banknote series (PDF 3.18MB)
- Special thanks
Returning old or damaged currency forms
You can return old New Zealand currency or damaged New Zealand banknotes to the Reserve Bank.
Timeline of New Zealand banknotes
Anzac circulating commemorative coin
- Information and specifications on the Anzac circulating commemorative coin (PDF 256KB)
- The making of the Anzac circulating commemorative coin (Video 1m:21s)
- Read the Anzec circulating commemorative coin page for more information
How we use cash
The Bank is reviewing New Zealanders’ cash needs to ensure that how cash is managed in New Zealand will be suitable for the future. Understanding what cash is used for, and how it is used, is central to this review.
Banknotes and coins fact sheets and guides
The Series 7 banknotes have security features that can be easily checked, and which are the same for all denominations. This factsheet provides an overview of the main features.
A brochure detailing the security features of New Zealand’s Series 6 banknotes.
New Zealand has low levels of counterfeiting by international standards, but that doesn’t mean we can forget about checking our banknotes.
Information on what you should do if you're given a banknote you think is fake.
Polymer banknotes are tough, but they still require some care when handling. This information sheet contains tips for handling banknotes with confidence.
A fact sheet describing the role of James Berry in decimal coin design.
Kiwis eager to check out New Zealand's decimal coins got a rude shock when the first two cent pieces spilled into their hands on 10 July 1967
Life-cycle of banknotes and coins
A video about the life-cycle of a banknote
The life of a banknote
2m:23s
Find out what happens to New Zealand banknotes, from how they are made, sorted and circulated, to what happens when they are no longer fit for circulation.
2m:23s
Find out what happens to New Zealand banknotes, from how they are made, sorted and circulated, to what happens when they are no longer fit for circulation.
Learn how to identify a genuine banknote by the ‘look, feel and tilt’ approach
Banknote security features
0m:59s
Explore the banknote’s sophisticated security features and learn how to identify a genuine banknote by the ‘look, feel and tilt’ sensory approach used by other central banks.
0m:59s
Explore the banknote’s sophisticated security features and learn how to identify a genuine banknote by the ‘look, feel and tilt’ sensory approach used by other central banks.
A video about the banknote gauges
Banknote gauge for people with low vision
1m:04s
Banknote gauges to help people with sight loss better identify New Zealand’s currency have been released by the Reserve Bank in collaboration with organisations representing the blindness community.
1m:04s
Banknote gauges to help people with sight loss better identify New Zealand’s currency have been released by the Reserve Bank in collaboration with organisations representing the blindness community.
The introduction of decimal currency to New Zealand
Mr Dollar
0m:33s
Decimal currency was introduced to New Zealand on 10 July 1967. A great deal of work was required to make the change from Imperial currency, including a huge publicity campaign. A series of advertisements on television introduced the concepts to viewers in New Zealand.
0m:33s
Decimal currency was introduced to New Zealand on 10 July 1967. A great deal of work was required to make the change from Imperial currency, including a huge publicity campaign. A series of advertisements on television introduced the concepts to viewers in New Zealand.
Now it can be told
4m:16s
This footage tells the story of the distribution of currency for decimalisation on 10 July 1967. $120m of currency, weighing 730 tonnes was sent to nearly 600 bank branches around the country by plane, ferry, truck and train between April and June 1967 as part of “Operation Overlander”. Everything went without a hitch and not one cent was lost!
4m:16s
This footage tells the story of the distribution of currency for decimalisation on 10 July 1967. $120m of currency, weighing 730 tonnes was sent to nearly 600 bank branches around the country by plane, ferry, truck and train between April and June 1967 as part of “Operation Overlander”. Everything went without a hitch and not one cent was lost!
'Brighter Money' Banknote upgrade
Brighter Money launch ($20, $50 and $100)
19m:46s
On 11 April 2016, Governor-General Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae along with the Reserve Bank launched the final three denominations in a series of new banknotes that include new security features.
19m:46s
On 11 April 2016, Governor-General Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae along with the Reserve Bank launched the final three denominations in a series of new banknotes that include new security features.
Brighter Money - Banknote Upgrade
54m:10s
Watch the videos of the Brighter Money launch, from the first announcement in November 2014 to the launch of the $20, $50 and $100 banknotes in April 2016.
54m:10s
Watch the videos of the Brighter Money launch, from the first announcement in November 2014 to the launch of the $20, $50 and $100 banknotes in April 2016.
Brighter Money – Hauraki’s Matt and Jeremy take the $20 for a spin
0m:53s
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's new Brighter Money notes are now in circulation. Take a look at what Hauraki's Matt and Jeremy have been up to with the brand new $20 note.
0m:53s
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's new Brighter Money notes are now in circulation. Take a look at what Hauraki's Matt and Jeremy have been up to with the brand new $20 note.
Brighter Money – The Hits’ Flynny takes the $50 for a spin
0m:50s
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's new Brighter Money notes are now in circulation! The Hits' Flynny was lucky enough to check out the $50 note.
0m:50s
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's new Brighter Money notes are now in circulation! The Hits' Flynny was lucky enough to check out the $50 note.
Brighter Money – ZM’s Georgia and Guy check out the $100 note
0m:41s
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's new Brighter Money notes are now in circulation. ZM's Guy and Georgia were lucky enough to check out the $100 note.
0m:41s
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's new Brighter Money notes are now in circulation. ZM's Guy and Georgia were lucky enough to check out the $100 note.
