Banknotes of the New Zealand dollar

This article concerns the banknotes of the New Zealand dollar

Banknotes of the New Zealand dollar have all been issued by the Reserve Bank which also had two pre-dollar issues. Consequently, the first dollar issue is the third Issue of banknotes by the Reserve Bank.

Prior to 10 July 1967, the New Zealand pound, using the £sd system, was the main currency of New Zealand. Since 1934, banknotes of the New Zealand pound were issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and came in denominations of 10s, £1, £5, £10, and £50. The first issue notes are rare collectibles today.

Decimalisation of the New Zealand currency occurred on 10 July 1967, when the New Zealand pound was replaced by the New Zealand dollar at a rate of one pound to two dollars (10 shillings to a dollar). On the same day, new decimal banknotes were introduced to replace the existing pound banknotes, in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, and $100.

These first decimal banknotes all featured a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of New Zealand, on the obverse. The reverse featured a native New Zealand bird and a native New Zealand plant. The colour scheme on all but the $5 note (which was an entirely new denomination, worth £2 10s) remained the same on equivalent pound and dollar notes to ease the transition (e.g. £10 and $20 were both green).

The second issue of New Zealand dollar banknotes occurred around 1978 - 1980, but officially done at 1981, when the Reserve Bank changed the printer from De La Rue to Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. The new notes had a different design from the first decimal currency issue. The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was updated, and she now faced forward, rather than to the left. It was based upon a photograph by Peter Grugeon, with the Queen wearing Grand Duchess Vladimir's tiara and Queen Victoria's golden jubilee necklace.

The $50 note was introduced in 1988 to fill the long gap between the $20 and the $100 notes. $1 and $2 notes were discontinued in 1991 and replaced by gold-coloured coins. Requests for a donation (koha) e.g. for admission often now say gold coin please.

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