Money & Payments in Wellington (2026)

Kiwis rarely carry cash and overwhelmingly prefer card payments, so card acceptance is excellent across most of Wellington's hospitality and retail sectors.
A ban on in-store card surcharges is set to take effect by May 2026, so current surcharge worries will soon disappear.
For contactless purchases over NZD 200, you'll need to enter your PIN.
Tipping is not customary in New Zealand because service workers earn fair wages and are not reliant on tips.
When paying with cash, totals are rounded to the nearest 10c; when paying by card, you pay the exact amount.

Bank ATM Fees: EFTPOS card holders can pay no fees when using any New Zealand bank branded ATM. Use of any non-New Zealand bank branded ATM may incur a service fee, though some customers can use Allpoint ATMs fee-free.
Withdrawal General: It is often cheaper to withdraw cash from an ATM at your destination, so for people travelling to New Zealand, it is generally suggested to wait until you arrive.
Pinless Card Note: Without a PIN, you will not be able to withdraw cash from an ATM.

Restaurants: A tip of between 5%–10% of your total bill would be an appropriate amount to leave in a restaurant, though this is entirely optional.
Bars And Cafes: Tipping at bars and cafes is uncommon, but if you receive exceptional service and wish to show appreciation, you can round your total up – for example, if your coffee costs NZD 4.50 you can leave NZD 5 in cash.
General Culture: Tipping is not expected or customary in New Zealand. Service workers generally earn a higher wage than in most other countries and are not reliant on tips.
Payment Terminals: You may notice tip jars on counters or tipping options on payment terminals, but tipping is entirely optional and never assumed.
Tour Guides Optional: Tour guides and private drivers in New Zealand should be tipped between NZD 20 and NZD 50 per day, while bus tour operators can be given around NZD 5 to NZD 10 for a day's work, though this is optional.

Debit And Eftpos: Most retailers in New Zealand have EFTPOS terminals. New Zealanders overwhelmingly prefer to pay for their goods and services by card.
Surcharge Changes: The government plans to ban surcharges on card payments in-store, with legislation expected to be introduced by the end of the year and the ban to kick into effect no later than May 2026.
Contactless Payment: Most stores offer contactless payment at no cost to you, though occasionally smaller stores may require you to insert your physical debit or EFTPOS card or charge a small fee for using PayWave.
Contactless And Credit: Credit cards are widely accepted in New Zealand, with Visa and Mastercard most commonly used, and American Express and Diners Club also accepted in some stores.

Ird Number Processing: IRD aims for 8-10 working days processing; by post can take up to 20 working days
Overview: New Zealand has a sophisticated banking system. Foreigners can open accounts but requirements vary by visa type.
Activation: Full account access requires in-person branch visit after arrival to verify identity and address
Account Setup Timeline: Can be set up before arrival (up to 180 days) or in-person after arrival

Westpac
Features
No monthly fees, free Mastercard first year, migrant banking support
Account Type
Everyday Account
Note
Requires evidence of employment
ANZ
Features
No monthly fees for visa debit card holders, multi-currency options, 800+ branches
BNZ (Bank of New Zealand)
Features
Migrant banking specialist support, manages up to 25 accounts with YouMoney
ASB
Features
Multi-currency accounts, minimum deposit NZD $500

Valid work or resident visa (not tourist visa)
Proof of address or employer letter (can be overseas address initially)
Passport or ID
Inland Revenue (IRD) number (not essential but recommended to avoid 33% tax rate on interest)

Name: Wise
Type: Non-bank digital multi-currency account
Advantages: Can open from overseas before arrival, supports 70+ countries, low transfer fees, no local residency proof required

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

More About Wellington

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.