New Zealand — Currency & Money

The New Zealand dollar (NZD) is used throughout. Contactless card and mobile payments (PayWave, Apple Pay, Google Pay) are near-universal — many venues, taxis and even food trucks are effectively cashless. Merchant surcharges of 1.5–2.5% on credit and Amex are common and legal since 2022. ATMs from ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac and Kiwibank charge NZD 0 for their own cards; foreign-card withdrawal fees run NZD 3–5 plus your home bank's charge.

Tipping is not expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels; rounding up or 10% for exceptional service is the ceiling.