Story: Coins and banknotes

Māori Mr Dollar (2nd of 3)

Māori Mr Dollar

The change to decimal currency was well publicised, with the mascot ‘Mr Dollar’ created to symbolise the change. He was very similar to the figure ‘Dollar Bill’, used in Australia to publicise decimalisation there. In New Zealand a Māori ‘Mr Dollar’ was also designed, to target older Māori whose first language was Māori. Over 25,000 copies of this booklet were distributed through the district offices of the Department of Maori Affairs. Translated into English, the cover reads, 'Dollars and cents / New money for New Zealand / It will come into force on 10 July 1967'.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Evening Post Collection (PAColl-0614)
Reference: EP/10 May 1967

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Coins and banknotes - Decimal currency, 1960s to 2000s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/36399/maori-mr-dollar (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 20 Jun 2012