The First (Reserve Bank) New Zealand Banknote

In the wake of the Great Depression amid other economic challenges, the 1933 RBNZ Act was passed, establishing the Reserve Bank of New Zealand as the sole issuer of legal tender coins and banknotes from 1 August 1934.

The First Ten Shillings of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, issued under Governor Lefeaux, bears the serial number "Z000001". 

Unusually, the "Z" prefix typically used in other countries for replacement issue banknotes or the final prefix of a series—was designated as the First Prefix for this historic New Zealand issue.

It was presented to Alexander Dallas Park, OBE CMG, Secretary to the Treasury. It first surfaced, reportedly at a regional auction in New Zealand during the 1970s. 

It appeared on the global market in 1994 when it was first sold by Spink and Son, and in 2025 by Aventine, New Zealand's leading firm for numismatic rarities and international auction representation.

The sale of the Number One New Zealand Note — the very first banknote issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand — marks more than a record-setting sale. It marks the long-awaited return of a national icon through Aventine's stewardship and success in elevating New Zealand's presence on the global numismatic stage. 

Sell with the firm that delivered the Number One rarity. 
client@aventine.co.nz