Banknotes and coins resources
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.







Life-cycle of banknotes and coins

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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: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: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.