New Zealand Dollar Symbol (NZ$)
The New Zealand Dollar (NZ$ or NZD) is the official currency of New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the British Overseas Territory of the Pitcairn Islands. Colloquially known as the 'Kiwi dollar' because the one-dollar coin depicts the native flightless kiwi bird, it is one of the top ten most traded currencies worldwide.
Dollar Family Disambiguation Guide
Like over 30 currencies worldwide, New Zealand Dollar shares the universal DOLLAR SIGN (U+0024) glyph. While domestic retail stores write plain $, international financial contracts and software APIs require prefix disambiguation to prevent monetary ambiguity.
| Currency | ISO 4217 | Domestic Notation | International Prefix | Example Formatting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Dollar | USD | $ | US$ | $100.00 / US$100.00 |
| Canadian Dollar | CAD | $ | C$ or CAD | C$100.00 (EN) / 100,00 $ (FR) |
| Australian Dollar | AUD | $ | A$ or AUD | A$100.00 / AU$100.00 |
| New Zealand Dollar | NZD | $ | NZ$ or NZD | NZ$100.00 |
| Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | $ | HK$ or HKD | HK$100.00 / 港元100 |
| Singapore Dollar | SGD | $ | S$ or SGD | S$100.00 |
| Mexican Peso | MXN | $ | Mex$ or MX$ | $100.00 / Mex$ 100.00 |
Typographic & Developer Encoding Codes
Quickly copy HTML entities, CSS content escape sequences, and Unicode code points for New Zealand Dollar.
| Format | Value / Code | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Symbol | NZ$ | Standard plain text character or abbreviation | |
| Encoding Classification | Plain Latin Letters | Written as standard text without a single dedicated Unicode point | |
| Base Character / Block | U+0024 (Prefix NZ) | DOLLAR SIGN (PREFIX NZ) | |
| HTML Representation | NZ$ | Standard text in HTML documents (No dedicated entity) | |
| CSS Content String | "NZ$ " | CSS content string for pseudo-elements |
How to Type New Zealand Dollar Symbol (NZ$) on Any Device
Windows PC
Type NZ$ directly as standard letters on your physical keyboard.
Mac / macOS
Type NZ$ directly as plain letters on your keyboard.
iPhone & iPad (iOS)
Type NZ$
Android (Gboard)
Type NZ$
Formatting Rules & Real-World Examples
Symbol Placement: Before Amount
In standard financial notation, the New Zealand Dollar symbol is positioned immediately before the numerical amount.
Typography & International Usage Guidelines
Domestically in New Zealand, '$' is placed before the amount ($50.00). In international contexts, 'NZ$' or 'NZD' is prefixed. New Zealand uses standard decimal points for fractions and commas for thousands separators.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Inventing fake Unicode character names like 'LATIN CAPITAL NZ' (there is no special Unicode character; it is plain text 'NZ$').
- Assuming cash rounds to 5 cents (New Zealand eliminated the 5-cent coin in 2006; cash rounds to 10 cents).
- Failing to disambiguate NZ$ from AUD and USD in international financial statements.
Historical Background & Monetary Evolution
The New Zealand dollar was introduced on July 10, 1967, replacing the pre-decimal New Zealand pound at a rate of two dollars to one pound. Prior to decimalization, proposed names for the currency included 'kiwi' and 'zeal', but public preference settled on 'dollar'. New Zealand discontinued 1-cent and 2-cent coins in 1990, and eliminated the 5-cent coin in 2006, rounding cash transactions to the nearest 10 cents.
Countries & Jurisdictions Using NZ$
Related Tools & Guides for New Zealand Dollar
ISO 4217 Lookup
Search standard three-letter currency codes and ISO country pairings.
ToolCurrency Formatter
Calculate before/after position styles and international decimal notations.
GuideMac Option Key Shortcuts
How to configure and type international financial marks quickly on macOS.
GuideGoogle Docs & Sheets Guide
Insert special characters and configure currency formats in spreadsheets.
GuideiPhone & iPad Shortcuts
Quick long-press keyboard shortcuts on iOS to type monetary symbols.
SpecsUnicode Technical Standards
Master technical index for U+20A0–U+20CF blocks, HTML entities & CSS codes.
Similar & Related Currency Symbols
View all Dollar Sign Currencies ($) →Standards Verification & Official Registry Specifications
This specification has been verified against official international standards registries (ISO 4217 Maintenance Agency, Unicode Consortium 16.0, and Unicode CLDR).
Frequently Asked Questions about New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Common questions and direct answers regarding currency symbols, typing shortcuts, and international formatting.
Why is the New Zealand Dollar called the 'Kiwi'?
The nickname comes from the one-dollar coin, which depicts New Zealand's national bird, the flightless kiwi, on its reverse face.
Which Pacific territories use the New Zealand Dollar?
The Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands all use the New Zealand Dollar as their official legal tender (though the Cook Islands also issues local commemorative coins).
How does cash rounding work in New Zealand?
Since the withdrawal of the 5-cent coin in October 2006, New Zealand retailers round cash totals to the nearest 10 cents under the 'Swedish rounding' system (amounts ending in 1–4 cents round down, 5–9 cents round up).