Due to the lack of 1¢ coins, (phased out a few years ago), odd-amount cash transactions are rounded to 5¢ increments (usually rounded down, but sometimes up.) Thus, if the total comes to $5.24, it will be usually be rounded down to $5.20. Credit card and debit card (EFTPOS) transactions are not rounded.

Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted at stores and ATMs. American Express and Diner's Club are somewhat less popular, but still useful. Discover is not accepted anywhere by any NZ merchants or ATMs.

Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) for cards to be used in ATMs and at EFTPOS terminals are limited to four digits only. If your PIN is longer than that, bring your card into the issuing bank before you visit, and obtain a four-digit PIN number.

New Zealand paper money comes in different colours (green for $20, blue for $10, orange for $5, etc.), and slightly different physical dimensions to help distinguish the various denominations. Coins under a dollar are silver-coloured and sized according to value, while $1 and $2 coins are gold-coloured, with the $2 being larger.