Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand
04 August 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua (RBNZ) is again surveying New Zealanders to understand how people are using and thinking about cash and payments.
The RBNZ Cash Use in New Zealand survey is open from now until 10 October 2025 and is being undertaken by an independent research company, Rangahau Aotearoa Research New Zealand, through a postal survey.
Director of Money and Cash, Ian Woolford says that cash is important to New Zealanders.
“As the steward of money and cash for New Zealand, we need to ensure that New Zealanders can access, use, and bank cash. This survey enables the RBNZ to effectively monitor the cash system,” Mr Woolford says.
The survey asks: How people prefer to pay for things, how often people use cash and why, how often they withdraw cash, how easy or difficult it is to withdraw or deposit cash and if they keep or store cash and why.
Things are changing in the cash system, so we are also asking new questions this year, such as whether people may be experiencing any challenges in using cash.
The survey is based on a representative sample of New Zealanders randomly selected from the Electoral Rolls. People will be able to voluntarily respond by post (postage-paid return envelope) or online.
If people receive a letter to voluntarily participate in this survey, they can check it is legitimate by visiting our website, emailing us cashusesurvey@rbnz.govt.nz, or phoning the RBNZ main phone number on +64 4 472 2029.
The RBNZ has undertaken this survey every second year since 2017 and use the results to make sure New Zealand has a reliable and efficient cash system that supports inclusion.
“We are redesigning the cash system and need more up to date information about how people are using and accessing cash so from 2025 we will survey annually,” Mr Woolford says.
The results from the Cash Use in New Zealand survey will inform our work to redesign the cash system and ensure we continue to meet New Zealanders needs for banknotes and coins.
The RBNZ expects results from the survey to be available to the public in the first quarter of 2026.
More information
Future of money news and resources – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=a134a91812&e=f3c68946f8
Our data collections – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=fd80923ac4&e=f3c68946f8
