Banknotes of New Zealand From History to Modern Era

New Zealand's banknotes have a rich history that spans over a century. The first banknotes were introduced in 1912 by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

The first issue featured a portrait of King George V on the obverse and a New Zealand landscape on the reverse. This design set the tone for future banknotes.

Over time, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand continued to issue new banknotes with updated designs and security features. These changes were made to keep up with advances in technology and to prevent counterfeiting.

The introduction of polymer banknotes in 1992 marked a significant milestone in New Zealand's banknote history.

New Zealand's history with banknotes is a fascinating tale of how the country transitioned from a patchwork of private banknotes to a unified national currency. The Reserve Bank was established in 1934 as the sole authority for issuing New Zealand's national banknotes.

Before 1934, New Zealand had a complex system where multiple trading banks issued their own banknotes, which were not always accepted by other banks. This led to a general desire for a single, uniform national currency by the 1920s.

New Zealand was the last Dominion to establish a national currency, with the Reserve Bank releasing its first issue of banknotes in 1934.

The Reserve Bank has released seven different issues of New Zealand banknotes since its establishment, with the first issue featuring denominations of 10 shillings, 1, 5, and 50 pounds.

Here's a breakdown of the Reserve Bank's issues:

The Reserve Bank's issues have played a crucial role in shaping New Zealand's currency, and it's interesting to note that the country was the last Dominion to establish a national currency.

The banknotes of New Zealand are designed with a range of security features to prevent counterfeiting.

New Zealand's banknotes have a distinctive plastic feel, thanks to their polymer material, which also makes them less likely to tear easily.

The Series 7 notes feature a large transparent window on the right-hand side that contains intricate details, including the denomination of the banknote and a detailed border showing ferns and koru patterns.

The transparent window also features a metallic feature showing a bird's silhouette, a map of New Zealand, silver ferns, and a 3D feature showing the denomination of the banknote.

The front and back of the banknote have raised ink that can be felt, making them tactilely interesting.

On the front of the banknote, the large number, the portrait, and the words "Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua" are raised, while on the back, the large number, the featured bird, and the words "New Zealand" and "Aotearoa" are raised.

Some of the security features on the Series 7 notes include:

The Series 6 notes also have a transparent window on the right-hand side, but it's oval-shaped and contains the embossed denomination of the currency.

The transparent window on the left-hand side is in the shape of a curved fern leaf, which is a distinctive feature of these notes.

The Series 6 notes also have a curved fern leaf directly above the transparent fern on both sides of the note, which should match perfectly when held up to a light source.

The Series 6 notes feature a watermark image of Elizabeth II in the area to the left of the transparent oval, which can be seen when the note is held up to a light source.

The Series 6 notes have raised ink on the front and back that can be felt, making them tactilely interesting.

The serial number of the note should be printed both horizontally and vertically on the note, and both numbers should be the same.

The current New Zealand banknotes are part of the seventh series, which was first released in October 2015 and May 2016.

The most recent issue includes denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Each note has its own unique design and features, such as Sir Edmund Hillary on the $5 note and Lord Rutherford of Nelson on the $100 note.

Here are the dimensions of each note:

In 1967, New Zealand introduced a new series of banknotes featuring denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 100 dollars.

The 1967 series was a significant change from the previous series, which had denominations in pounds. This change reflected the country's transition to a decimal currency system.

The 1967 series featured a range of security features, including watermarks and security threads.

The 1970s saw the introduction of new banknotes with updated security features.

By 1981, the New Zealand currency had evolved to include denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars.

Here's a summary of the New Zealand banknotes from 1967-1981:

The 1981 series marked a significant milestone in the evolution of New Zealand's currency, with the introduction of a new denomination and updated security features.

In the early 80s, the Reserve Bank switched to a new printer, Bradbury Wilkinson & Co, requiring new printing plates. Minor drawing changes and an updated portrait of Elizabeth II were made, with her now facing forward in photos.

The fifty-dollar note was introduced in 1983 to combat inflation and fill the gap between the twenty-dollar and one-hundred-dollar notes. This change was likely a response to rising costs and economic shifts.

Elizabeth II's portrait was based on a photograph by Peter Grugeon, featuring her wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir's tiara and Queen Victoria's golden jubilee necklace.

In 1991, New Zealand's banknotes were completely re-designed to introduce uniquely New Zealand designs.

This redesign was necessary due to copyright issues with the existing printer, Bradbury Wilkinson & Co, who claimed ownership of the plates.

The new series featured notable New Zealanders on the front, with the exception of the twenty-dollar note, which still featured Elizabeth II.

The reverse sides were redesigned to incorporate a natural New Zealand scene, with a native New Zealand bird in the foreground.

A notable feature of the new series was the inclusion of the portrait of Sir Edmund Hillary on the front of the five-dollar note.

He was the only living person to appear on a New Zealand banknote during his lifetime, other than monarchs.

After the redesign, Bradbury Wilkinson & Co retained printing rights, but the price per note was significantly less.

In 1999, New Zealand switched to polymer banknotes, increasing their lifespan and introducing new security features.

The overall design of the notes remained largely unchanged, except for slight modifications to accommodate the new security features.

Over three million special edition ten-dollar notes were issued in 1999 to celebrate the new millennium in New Zealand.

These notes are now highly sought after by collectors and can sell for as much as NZ$88 as of 2020.

The Reserve Bank began withdrawing the special edition notes from circulation in 2002.

The current state of New Zealand banknotes is quite interesting. The most recent issue is the seventh series, which was first released in October 2015 and May 2016.

The designs of the new banknotes are similar to the previous series, with only a few changes. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand introduced the new series to add more security features to the notes.

Here's a breakdown of the current banknotes in circulation:

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has stated that they will exhaust their existing stocks of twenty-dollar notes before introducing new ones featuring King Charles III.

The Reserve Bank Sixth Series features a unique design, and one notable aspect is the inclusion of Kate Sheppard on the $10 note, as designated by Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand accepts all old and damaged banknotes for payment at face value, unless they're no longer legal tender.

You can exchange demonetised or withdrawn currency, but money changers may not accept it.

One-dollar and two-dollar notes were withdrawn in 1991, so they're no longer legal tender.

Damaged notes can be replaced if they're still recognisable.

If a note is missing a piece, you may get paid less than face value, depending on how much of the note remains.

For example, if a banknote has over two-thirds of its original size, you'll get its full value.

If it's between one-third and two-thirds of its original size, you'll get half its value.

Notes with less than one-third remaining are considered valueless.

This means that if you have a banknote that's missing a significant portion, you may not get its full value.

The New Zealand banknotes feature various native bird species on their back designs.

The $5 note features the Yellow-eyed Penguin, also known as Hoiho.

Each denomination of banknote has a unique bird species.

The $10 note showcases the Blue Duck, or Whio.

Here's a breakdown of the birds featured on each New Zealand banknote:

The $50 note features the Blue Wattled Crow, also known as Kokako.

The people on New Zealand banknotes are pretty interesting, and knowing who they are can be a fun way to learn about the country's history. Most of the figures on the notes are now deceased.

One of the most notable figures on the banknotes is Captain James Cook, who is featured on the $10 note issued in 1990. This note commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, which is a significant event in New Zealand's history.

The $10 note issued in 1999 features a Māori carved face, which represents the country's rich cultural heritage. This note was part of a new series of banknotes that highlighted New Zealand's social and technological advancements.

You might notice that some of the banknotes feature birds on the back, which are an important part of New Zealand's unique wildlife. The birds featured on the back of the banknotes are the Yellow-eyed Penguin, Blue Duck, New Zealand Falcon, Blue Wattled Crow, and Yellowhead.

Here's a list of the birds featured on the back of the New Zealand banknotes:

The $10 note in New Zealand features a notable woman, Kate Sheppard. Fiona Barker provided the information for this image on Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

Kate Sheppard is known for her role in the women's suffrage movement in New Zealand.

Kate Sheppard is featured on the $10 note, a prominent figure in New Zealand's history.

She is known for her influential role in the women's suffrage movement in New Zealand, which led to the granting of women's right to vote in 1893.

You can find more information about Kate Sheppard on the Ministry for Culture and Heritage website, Manatū Taonga.

Fiona Barker, an expert on New Zealand identity, has written about Kate Sheppard's significance in the context of New Zealand politics.

Kate Sheppard's portrait on the $10 note serves as a reminder of her enduring impact on New Zealand's history and society.

The NZ$20 banknote features a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, who was the sovereign of New Zealand until her passing on September 8, 2022.

She played a formal or symbolic role in approving legislation within the New Zealand Government, although she had no direct involvement in the legislative process.

The Queen has visited New Zealand 10 times, meeting people from all over the country and celebrating the country's diversity.

New Zealand has a public holiday dedicated to the Queen's Birthday, although it's often seen more as a day off than a time for extensive celebrations.

New Zealand's first series of dollar notes featured Anthony Buckley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in 1967.

The first series of dollar notes were replaced by a second series featuring Peter Grugeon's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

The 2 dollars note from the first series was likely used for larger transactions given its value.

The second series of dollar notes featured native plants and animals on the notes.

The 1 dollar banknote from the second series measured 140 mm long and 70 mm wide.

New Zealand's Reserve Bank has a long history of incorporating national symbols and Māori designs into its banknotes. The 1940 £50 note featured Cook and his ship the Endeavour, symbolizing the British 'discovery' of New Zealand.

Māori designs and motifs have been used on various publications, trademarks, and stamps, especially in the 19th century. They became a common feature on the branding of many public agencies in the 20th century.

The current $50 banknote showcases a mix of Māori design elements, including koru elements, alongside a portrait of Apirana Ngata, a notable Māori politician.

The Māori community has a unique history with banking in New Zealand. In 1886, the Māori King Tāwhiao established a bank called Te Peeke o Aotearoa, which operated until around 1905.

This bank was set up to provide banking and monetary services specifically to Māori people and was also an expression of Māori autonomy.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is the sole issuer of banknotes in the country. It was established on August 1, 1934.

The first series of banknotes issued by the Reserve Bank were temporary and hastily designed, featuring the kiwi bird, the New Zealand emblem, and King Tawhiao on the obverse side. They were printed in New Zealand using the original plates from Thomas De La Rue.

The first series of banknotes had the same dimensions of 178 mm by 89 mm and included a bank name watermark. They were withdrawn in 1941.

The second series of banknotes, issued in 1940, replaced the portrait of King Tawhiao with Captain James Cook.

New Zealand has a unique approach to representing its national identity on banknotes, stamps, and other publications. Currency designers often incorporate symbols and icons that reflect the country's history, culture, and values.

The 1940 £50 note featured a portrait of Captain James Cook and his ship the Endeavour, symbolizing the British "discovery" of New Zealand. This highlights the importance of historical events in shaping the nation's identity.

Māori designs and motifs have been a common feature in 19th-century publications, particularly in tourist books. They also became a staple in trademarks and stamps, showcasing the country's rich cultural heritage.

Koru elements, a distinctive feature of Māori design, have become an integral part of New Zealand's branding, appearing in many public agencies' logos over the years. This widespread adoption reflects the significance of Māori culture in modern New Zealand.

The current $50 banknote features a portrait of Apirana Ngata, a nationally significant politician from the Ngāti Porou tribe, alongside various Māori design elements.

New Zealand's banknotes have a rich history and some interesting features. If you had a perfect 1940 £50 banknote, it could be worth over $100,000 today.

The latest printed banknotes in New Zealand are called Series 7 and they're more brightly coloured than previous ones. They also have advanced security features to stop counterfeiting or the making of illegal copies.

The Series 7 features additional Māori language, including Aotearoa - the Māori name for New Zealand and the names of native birds featured on the reverse of the banknotes.

New Zealand's current ten dollar banknote commemorates suffrage by featuring Kate Sheppard and a white camellia. Kate Sheppard was New Zealand's most famous suffragette.

New Zealand banknotes today are printed on a type of polypropylene plastic. This is a different material than the 50 pound note was printed on.

It is illegal to write on New Zealand banknotes.

In 1992, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand gave their banknotes a modern makeover.

The new design honored notable Kiwis like Sir Edmund Hillary and Kate Sheppard, and even featured New Zealand's diverse flora and fauna. The monarch's portrait was still present, but now shared the spotlight.

Queen Elizabeth II became the watermark for the notes, and the 20 dollar note still featured her portrait.

The 1999 series of polymer notes introduced a new material, which was more durable and secure. The 5 dollar polymer note, with its brown and orange design, showcased Sir Edmund Hillary, Mount Cook, and a Massey Ferguson tractor on one side.

The reverse side of the 5 dollar note features the yellow-eyed penguin, bull kelp, daisies, and the subantarctic lily, giving a glimpse into New Zealand's unique wildlife and landscape.