New Zealand- Money!

New Zealand's unit of currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$). Coins have values of 10, 20 and 50 cents and $1 and $2. Bills have values of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. If you plan on carrying more than NZ$10,000 in cash in or out of New Zealand you will be required to complete a Border Cash Report.

To save valuable travel time it is recommended that you purchase foreign currencies before you leave. But do not worry! U.S dollars can easily be exchanged at Banks, New Zealand Post shops and some Hotels.

Banks should be able to tell you what the current exchange rate is with the New Zealand dollar. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand provides a monthly online summary of the New Zealand Dollar's average value against the US Dollar, the Pound, the Australian Dollar, the Yen and the Euro.

Find out the latest New Zealand and foreign exchange rates with detailed graphs on the New Zealand economy!

So ….How Much Will it Cost?
Here is a general list of what you can expect to pay in New Zealand for a few common items:

• A hotel breakfast NZ$10 - $25
• Dinner NZ$20 - $50
• Lunch snack/sandwich NZ$5 - $10
• Cafe lunch NZ$10 - $15.00
• A postcard stamp to anywhere abroad NZ$1.50
• Big Mac Hamburger NZ$4.45
• Cappuccino NZ$2.50 - $3
• Kodak Film NZ$7.95

FYI: Most New Zealand items are more expensive than in the US, but the trade off is in the excellent customer service you will receive (sans tipping)!