NZ dollar history:
highs and lows since 1999.
In European Central Bank reference rates since 4 Jan 1999, the NZ dollar's lowest against the US dollar was US$0.3920 on 19 Oct 2000, and its highest was US$0.8818 on 11 Jul 2014. On 11 Nov 2026 it was US$0.5584, below its long-run average of US$0.6565.
What are the NZ dollar's record highs and lows?
The NZ dollar's ECB record low against the US dollar and the pound came on the same day, 19 Oct 2000. Its records against the Australian dollar and the euro came years apart. These are the extremes of the ECB's daily reference rates from 4 Jan 1999 to 11 Nov 2026:
| Pair | Record low | Record high | Average | 11 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZD/USD | 0.392019 Oct 2000 | 0.881811 Jul 2014 | 0.6565 | 0.5584 |
| NZD/AUD | 0.72717 Mar 2011 | 0.995521 Apr 2015 | 0.8757 | 0.8140 |
| NZD/GBP | 0.271619 Oct 2000 | 0.59168 Nov 2016 | 0.4388 | 0.4196 |
| NZD/EUR | 0.39162 Feb 2009 | 0.720321 Apr 2015 | 0.5550 | 0.5018 |
ECB euro reference rates converted to NZ dollar crosses. One rate per working day, so intraday market extremes can differ slightly.
How has the NZ dollar moved since 1999?
By yearly average, the NZ dollar's four strongest full years against the US dollar were 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, and its three weakest were 2000, 2001 and 2002. NZD/AUD moved in a narrower band, from 0.7271 to 0.9955. The chart shows monthly averages of the ECB reference rates:
How does today's NZ dollar compare with its history?
The NZ dollar is below its long-run average against all four currencies but well above its record lows. On 11 Nov 2026:
- NZD/USD at 0.5584 was 14.9% below its average since 1999. The monthly average was lower than today's rate in 17% of months.
- NZD/AUD at 0.8140 was 7.0% below its average since 1999. The monthly average was lower than today's rate in 24% of months.
- NZD/GBP at 0.4196 was 4.4% below its average since 1999. The monthly average was lower than today's rate in 39% of months.
- NZD/EUR at 0.5018 was 9.6% below its average since 1999. The monthly average was lower than today's rate in 21% of months.
NZD/USD's lowest point of 2026, 0.5543 on 6 Nov 2026, was the lowest yearly low since 2009. For the reasons behind the weakness, see why is the NZ dollar weak?; for what the banks expect next, the bank forecast tracker.
What was the NZ dollar each year?
The table gives each calendar year's NZD/USD average, low and high, with the NZD/AUD average alongside:
| Year | NZD/USD average | Low | High | NZD/AUD average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | 0.5822 | 0.5543 | 0.6079 | 0.8283 |
| 2025 | 0.5818 | 0.5555 | 0.6112 | 0.9024 |
| 2024 | 0.6055 | 0.5606 | 0.6356 | 0.9171 |
| 2023 | 0.6139 | 0.5798 | 0.6519 | 0.9243 |
| 2022 | 0.6355 | 0.5583 | 0.7006 | 0.9147 |
| 2021 | 0.7072 | 0.6719 | 0.7450 | 0.9418 |
| 2020 | 0.6510 | 0.5694 | 0.7225 | 0.9424 |
| 2019 | 0.6589 | 0.6218 | 0.6924 | 0.9478 |
| 2018 | 0.6924 | 0.6430 | 0.7414 | 0.9259 |
| 2017 | 0.7109 | 0.6790 | 0.7519 | 0.9274 |
| 2016 | 0.6977 | 0.6366 | 0.7465 | 0.9375 |
| 2015 | 0.6992 | 0.6261 | 0.7867 | 0.9292 |
| 2014 | 0.8307 | 0.7644 | 0.8818 | 0.9202 |
| 2013 | 0.8201 | 0.7712 | 0.8665 | 0.8494 |
| 2012 | 0.8099 | 0.7503 | 0.8454 | 0.7820 |
| 2011 | 0.7917 | 0.7222 | 0.8818 | 0.7668 |
| 2010 | 0.7218 | 0.6616 | 0.7962 | 0.7849 |
| 2009 | 0.6363 | 0.4938 | 0.7558 | 0.8016 |
| 2008 | 0.7141 | 0.5274 | 0.8192 | 0.8390 |
| 2007 | 0.7363 | 0.6755 | 0.8088 | 0.8781 |
| 2006 | 0.6492 | 0.5940 | 0.7033 | 0.8619 |
| 2005 | 0.7044 | 0.6716 | 0.7428 | 0.9243 |
| 2004 | 0.6645 | 0.5992 | 0.7235 | 0.9027 |
| 2003 | 0.5823 | 0.5238 | 0.6563 | 0.8940 |
| 2002 | 0.4646 | 0.4148 | 0.5250 | 0.8534 |
| 2001 | 0.4206 | 0.3986 | 0.4515 | 0.8130 |
| 2000 | 0.4565 | 0.3920 | 0.5231 | 0.7839 |
| 1999 | 0.5292 | 0.4928 | 0.5641 | 0.8201 |
Our arithmetic on ECB reference rates, 4 Jan 1999 to 11 Nov 2026. 2026 runs to 11 Nov 2026.
These are past ECB reference rates, not rates you can deal at, and past moves don't predict future ones. How we source rates is on the methodology page. More guides: NZ dollar guides.
FAQ
What else do people ask about NZ dollar history?
Straight answers, with the source and date for every figure.
What is the lowest the NZ dollar has ever been against the US dollar?
In European Central Bank reference rates, which start on 4 Jan 1999, the lowest was US$0.3920 on 19 Oct 2000. The ECB sets one reference rate each working day, so a market low during a trading day may have been slightly lower. On 11 Nov 2026 the rate was US$0.5584.
What was the NZ dollar at its highest against the US dollar?
US$0.8818 on 11 Jul 2014, the highest ECB reference rate since 4 Jan 1999. Against the Australian dollar the high was A$0.9955 on 21 Apr 2015.
What is the average NZ dollar to US dollar rate?
US$0.6565, averaging every ECB reference rate from 4 Jan 1999 to 11 Nov 2026 (7,134 working days). The 11 Nov 2026 rate of US$0.5584 was 14.9% below that average.
Is the NZ dollar at a record low against the Australian dollar?
No. The record low in ECB data is A$0.7271 on 7 Mar 2011. The 2026 low so far, A$0.7982 on 28 Oct 2026, is the lowest yearly low since 2013. On 11 Nov 2026 the rate was A$0.8140.