Banknotes of The New Zealand Dollar - Damaged Notes

Damaged Notes

The Reserve Bank accepts all New Zealand currency for payment at face value. This applies to all demonetised or withdrawn currency, however such currency need not be accepted by money changers as this is no longer legal tender. All decimal notes are legal tender except $1 and $2 notes as these have been withdrawn.

Damaged notes are still usable so long as they are recognisable. In particular, the legibility of the note's serial numbers is important. The Reserve Bank website notes that as a rule of thumb if there is more than half a bank note they will pay its full value. In practise banks may pay a quarter of the value for every visible denomination figure on the note, of which there are four. For instance, if a $5 note is ripped in half vertically, two "5" symbols will still be visible on each half, and the amount exchanged will $2.50 for each. To receive payment people can return in the note to any commercial bank or the Reserve Bank in Wellington.