New Zealand Guide
Money
The Kiwi dollar, or "buck", is divided into 100 cents. There are $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5 notes made of a sturdy plastic material, and coins in denominations of $2 and $1, and 50¢, 20¢ and 10¢. Grocery prices are given to the nearest cent, but the final bill is rounded up or down to the nearest ten cents.
For purchases, visitors generally rely on credit cards, particularly Visa and Mastercard/Bankcard, which are widely accepted, though many hostels, campsites and homestays will only accept cash. American Express and Diners Club are far less useful. You'll also find credit cards handy for advance booking of accommodation and trips, and with the appropriate PIN you can obtain cash advances through 24-hour ATMs found almost everywhere. Such withdrawals usually accrue interest immediately or are subject to a two percent premium – check with your bank before you go too wild. Debit cards are also useful for purchases and ATM cash withdrawals, though a fee of around 2 percent will be charged.
The safest way to carry your money is still in the form of traveller's cheques – they can be exchanged efficiently at banks and bureaux de change all over New Zealand and replaced if lost or stolen. Recognized brands – American Express, Thomas Cook, Mastercard and Visa – are accepted in all major currencies but traveller's cheques (even in New Zealand dollars) aren't accepted as cash.