Money, cards and ATMs in New Zealand

Money and paying for things

The local currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD). Indicative rate in late August 2026: 1 NZD ≈ 0.60 USD, which has held all year, and 1 EUR ≈ 1.95 NZD - the euro figure has moved about seven per cent since March, so take it from the converter above rather than from here.

• ATM withdrawals: The dominant banks with their own ATM networks are ANZ, BNZ, Westpac and ASB. Local ATM operators charge foreign cards their own usage fee (an "ATM owner fee"). At ANZ this is exactly NZD 3 per transaction, and it is added on top of whatever your own issuing bank charges.
• The DCC trap (dynamic currency conversion): At an ATM or a shop terminal, the system will often offer to settle in your card's home currency. Always decline and choose to be charged in NZD. DCC carries a hidden exchange markup of 4–8%.
• Card payments: New Zealand is overwhelmingly cashless. payWave contactless is accepted almost everywhere. Some smaller merchants do add a 1–2% surcharge for contactless card payment, which must be clearly displayed on the terminal. You can avoid it by inserting the card and selecting the "Credit" or "Savings" account.
• Tipping: Not required, not expected, and never added automatically to the bill.
• Recommended card: To keep fees down, a Wise multi-currency card is worth having - it gives the mid-market rate and free ATM withdrawals up to NZD 350 a month.