New Zealand ten-dollar note facts for kids
| (New Zealand) | |
|---|---|
| Value | 10 NZD |
| Width | 140 mm |
| Height | 68 mm |
| Paper type | Polymer (1999–present) |
| Years of printing | 1967–present |
| Obverse | |
 |
|
| Design | Kate Sheppard |
| Design date | 1992 (original design) October 2015 (current design) |
| Reverse | |
| Design | Whio, River Scene |
| Design date | 1992 (original design) October 2015 (current design) |
The New Zealand ten-dollar note is a special piece of money from New Zealand. It's made by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. Since 1999, these notes have been made from plastic, which makes them last longer.
The first ten-dollar notes came out on 10 July 1967. This was when New Zealand changed its money system. They switched from the New Zealand pound to the New Zealand dollar. The first ten-dollar notes showed Queen Elizabeth II on the front. But since 1993, the note has featured Kate Sheppard. She was a very important person who helped women get the right to vote in New Zealand.
Contents
Exploring the Design of the Ten-Dollar Note
New Zealand has had seven different designs for its banknotes. The ten-dollar note was first created as part of the third design series.
Early Designs: 1967–1993
The very first ten-dollar notes were released in 1967. They came out at the same time as the new one-dollar, two-dollar, five-dollar, twenty-dollar, and one-hundred-dollar notes. These early notes were made from special cotton-based paper. A group of six designers chose the look of these notes in 1964.
All the notes from this time had Queen Elizabeth II on the front. They also had a hidden image, called a watermark, of Captain James Cook. On the back, each note showed a New Zealand bird and a plant linked to that bird. The ten-dollar note had a blue background. It featured a kea, which is a type of New Zealand parrot. The kea was shown sitting on a mountain lily, a flower with large, waxy petals.
In late 1981, the Reserve Bank started using a different company to print the money. This meant new printing plates were needed. The only changes to the notes were small drawing updates and a newer picture of Queen Elizabeth II.
New Look: Kate Sheppard and the Whio (1993–1999)
In the 1990s, New Zealand's banknotes got a completely new look. The goal was to show off unique New Zealand designs. The ten-dollar note now featured Kate Sheppard on the front. She was the most famous person who fought for women's voting rights in New Zealand. Next to her was a white camellia flower. This flower was a symbol for everyone having the right to vote.
On the back of the note, you could see a whio. This is a special type of New Zealand duck that is in danger of disappearing. A map of New Zealand was placed between Kate Sheppard's picture and the camellia. The note had a light blue background with fern patterns. Another cool detail was the tukutuku pattern on the front. This pattern came from the Te Hau ki Tūranga meeting house at Te Papa Museum.
The ten-dollar note with Kate Sheppard was released in 1993. This celebrated 100 years since women in New Zealand first got the right to vote in 1893.
Plastic Money: Polymer Notes (1999–Present)
In 1999, New Zealand switched from paper banknotes to plastic banknotes. This change made the notes last much longer. It also allowed for new and better security features to stop people from making fake money. The overall design of the notes stayed mostly the same, with only small changes for the new security features.
A brand new ten-dollar note was released in October 2015. It was part of the "Brighter Money" series. The new series was made to add even more security features. People liked the old design, so not many changes were made. The new note is brighter in color. It also has the Māori translation for Reserve Bank, which is "Te Putea Matua." On the back, it says "New Zealand, Aotearoa."
The new plastic notes came out slowly. This is because new notes were only given out when old ones were returned. Plastic banknotes last four times longer than cotton ones. So, many of the older plastic notes are still being used today.
Keeping Your Money Safe: Security Features
New Zealand banknotes have many special features to stop people from making fake money. The newer plastic notes feel like plastic and are hard to tear.
Here are some security features on the latest ten-dollar note:
- Clear Window: There's a big clear window with tiny details. You can see the number 10 and a detailed border with ferns.
- Puzzle Pieces: If you hold the note up to the light, small puzzle pieces on the front and back join together. They form a complete number 10.
- Raised Ink: You can feel the raised ink on the front and back. On the front, the big number 10, Kate Sheppard's picture, and the words "Reserve Bank of New Zealand Te Pūtea Matua" are raised. On the back, the big number 10, the bird, and the words "New Zealand" and "Aotearoa" are raised.
Older plastic notes also have security features:
- Watermark: When held to the light, you can see a shadow image of Queen Elizabeth II.
- Special Printing: The note has intaglio printing. This makes parts of it feel bumpy.
- UV Light Feature: If you shine a UV light on the note, a glowing patch appears. It shows the number "10."
- See-Through Windows: There's a clear window shaped like a fern and another oval-shaped window.
- Matching Image: An image of a fern is above the clear window. Both sides of this fern should line up perfectly when held to the light.
Special Editions of the Ten-Dollar Note
Sometimes, the Reserve Bank makes special versions of the ten-dollar note. These are usually to celebrate important events.
1990 Commemorative Note
In 1990, a special ten-dollar note was made. It celebrated 150 years since the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. The front of this note looked much like the regular one. But to the right of Kate Sheppard's picture, there was a red circle. Inside the circle was a kōtuku (white heron) and the year "1990." This was the symbol for the 1990 celebrations.
The back of the note showed the Treaty being signed. On the right, it said, "New Zealand 1990 commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi 1840." This note was made of cotton and used dark and light blue colors.
Millennium Polymer Note (1999–2000)
Another special note was released in 1999 to celebrate the new millennium. This note was different because it didn't have a person's picture on it. Instead, it showed a Māori waka (canoe) on the front. It also had the words, "The dawn of a new era lights the way for New Zealand's perpetual voyage of innovation and discovery."
The back of the note showed pictures of surfers, sky-divers, canoes, and a mountain skier. It said, "Celebrating New Zealand's free spirit & quest for adventure in the new millennium." This note was blue and purple with some yellow. If you folded the note and looked through the clear window, you could see "Y2K." Over three million of these notes were used by people. The Reserve Bank started taking them out of use in 2002. Now, they are special items for collectors and can be worth a lot of money.
