Local Tip
Since 12 April 2026 you can tap a Visa or Mastercard on Metlink buses and trains for the adult Snapper fare plus a 1.5% fee. The Airport Express is the exception: NZ$12 by card or cash, NZ$9.23 with Snapper.
Where to change money in Wellington
Do not count on a Wellington bank branch for foreign notes. Between November 2019 and July 2021 Kiwibank, ANZ, BNZ and ASB all stopped buying and selling foreign banknotes over the counter, and Westpac, the last of the big five, ended the service on 30 January 2026. That leaves a bureau on Lambton Quay and Prosegur Change at the airport.
- Travelex, 120 Lambton Quay Travelex's store page lists 09:00 to 17:30 on weekdays; the shop is shut at weekends. It sells foreign currency, converts leftover notes back into New Zealand dollars and will hold an online order for collection.
- Prosegur Change, Wellington Airport Its 0% commission and sharper rates are for orders placed online in advance. You can also exchange at the counter, but no walk-up rate is published, so ask for the total before you agree.
Changing money at the airport
Prosegur Change took over the currency contract at Wellington Airport (WLG) in 2024 and opened its kiosks on 1 March that year. The airport lists three counters: arrivals on the ground floor (Level 0), open 09:00 to 01:30 every day; the main domestic store on Level 1, open 06:00 to 20:00 daily; and an international departures counter that opens whenever international flights are leaving. Prosegur stocks more than 40 currencies. The terminal's cash machines are ANZ Bank ATMs, according to the airport's accessibility page; a 2024 trade report also said Prosegur's deal included multi-currency ATMs.
ATMs and cards in Wellington
The airport publishes no fees for its cash machines, so check what your bank charges per overseas withdrawal. If a terminal or ATM shows your total in pounds, pick New Zealand dollars instead. Metlink readers accept Visa and Mastercard, as a card or in a phone or watch wallet, but each traveller must tap their own.
Paying for transport in Wellington
From Sunday 12 April 2026 Metlink buses and trains have accepted contactless Visa and Mastercard cards and phone or watch wallets for full adult fares, through the existing Snapper readers. You pay the adult Snapper fare plus a 1.5% fee per trip and must tag on and off every time; free transfers, passes, child fares and concessions still need a Snapper card. Cash is still taken on board for now, but Metlink is withdrawing it gradually and expects it to be gone by March 2027. The Airport Express runs every 10 to 20 minutes between the terminal and Wellington Station via Lambton Quay and Courtenay Place, taking 25 to 35 minutes. On Metlink's page published 1 October 2026 an adult pays NZ$12.00 in cash or by card, or NZ$9.23 with Snapper. The Snapper kiosk by Door E on the ground floor, near international arrivals, sells cards for NZ$10. Harbour ferries already took bank cards before April 2026.
Good to know
- The Cable Car dropped Snapper on 1 October 2023. Buy a ticket online or at the ticket box at the end of Cable Car Lane, 280 Lambton Quay: NZ$7 one way or NZ$13 return for an adult. Board at an intermediate stop and the driver takes cash only.
- Paying a Metlink fare by bank card, you will not see the amount on the reader as you tag off; the charge normally shows on your account the next day.
Key Areas in Wellington
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Wellington travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Wellington?
Travelex at 120 Lambton Quay, open 09:00 to 17:30 Monday to Friday, is the central choice; it is closed at weekends. At the airport, Prosegur Change's arrivals counter keeps the longest hours, 09:00 to 01:30 daily. Bank branches no longer exchange foreign notes.
Do Wellington buses and trains take contactless UK bank cards?
Yes, if it is a Visa or Mastercard. Since 12 April 2026 Metlink charges the adult Snapper fare plus 1.5% per trip; tag on and off every time. On the Airport Express a card pays the higher NZ$12 fare, against NZ$9.23 with Snapper.
Where can I change money at Wellington Airport?
Prosegur Change runs all three counters: ground-floor arrivals (09:00 to 01:30), the Level 1 main store (06:00 to 20:00) and an international departures counter. Its 0% commission applies to orders placed online first.
Checked October 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: NZ Herald · ANZ New Zealand · Westpac New Zealand · Travelex New Zealand · Wellington Airport · Prosegur Change NZ
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