NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand is an island country made up of two main islands and numerous other islands. in 1840 , a treaty was signed between the indigenous Maori population and the British, making New Zealand part of the British empire. today it is a constitutional democracy with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.

Monetary Unit:

2 dollars = 1 Pound = 20 shillings = 240 pence ( up to 1967)
1 dollar = 100 cents (1967 - onwards)

The note above is a 1 dollar note from the 1981 - 92 issue with Queen Elizabeth II on the front and a pied fantail bird on the reverse. The watermark is captain Cook and it also has UV security designs on both sides.

The note above was privately issued to commemorate Chatham islands being the first to enter the new millennium in 2000.  It has a Black Robin on the right and a hologram with the Asia-pacific region and the word "1st" on the left . the reverse has a very colourful lobster.the notes are made from Tyvek. These are not legal tender, as reserve bank deputy governor, Murray Sherwin said:

"These so-called Chatham Island dollars are harmless as a promotional gimmick and as a bit of fun. Also, if people want to use them to undertake transactions, that's fine too, just as one can pay for a service with monopoly play money, sea shells, or bottles of beer, if the seller is happy to receive them."

I've always fancied living in a hobbit house but perhaps not these ones!!!

COOK ISLANDS

The Cook Island are a group of 14 islands which are a political dependency of New Zealand. their capital is Avarua . Named after Captain Cook, who was the first European to spot them, they became a British protectorate in 1888. by the new century, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand and in 1965 the local residence chose to self govern with free association with New Zealand.

You have to admit that the artwork on this note is superb and the legend depicted on the reverse of Ina and the Shark is brilliant.