Taking charge of our money

28 October 2016

Media Release

Taking charge of our money - Banknote gauges facilitate independence and confidence for blind and vision impaired people

The Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand (Blind Citizens NZ), congratulates the Reserve Bank of New Zealand for providing banknote gauges that will support people who are blind and vision impaired, to independently identify with confidence, the denomination of their bank notes.

Clive Lansink, National President of Blind Citizens NZ says “I regularly use the banknote gauge to sort out my money. I am totally blind, and when I purchase something over the counter, I want to know that the money I am handing over is correct – I don’t want to have to ask sighted people what I have in my hand…”

Blind Citizens NZ has worked alongside the Reserve Bank of New Zealand for many years, contributing to, and influencing, the design of New Zealand’s currency so that people who are blind or vision impaired, can more easily identify their money.

“More recently, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand worked with us and others in the blind community to design its new banknotes and the new banknote gauge. The new gauge has braille for those of us who are blind, and large black print letters on a white background for those who are vision impaired”, said Clive Lansink.

The banknote gauges can be used with both old and new banknotes. Blind Citizens NZ has an allocation of banknote gauges. These will be available from our national office and branches around the country.

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