Converting the New Zealand dollar was a nice, easy one for Lewis the Lion as it was simply double the pound. So, for instance, £1 = NZ$2.
Or if you prefer, half the New Zealand dollar was a pound, so, for example,
NZ$4 = £2.
Easy-peasy if you’re good at doubling and halving!
Why don’t you try to practise converting some amounts between the New Zealand dollar and the pound with a friend?
However, what did surprise Lewis the Lion about the New Zealand currency, or the lack of it, were single unit coins.
Because New Zealanders use the dollar, that means there are 100 cents in the dollar. However, the coins that they have in their currency are the following:
$2,
$1 (which has a cute kiwi on it!),
50 cents
20 cents and
10 cents.
There are no unit coins!
Lewis the Lion then wondered what happened to his change the first time he went to the supermarket and was told that ‘Swedish rounding’ takes place. ( Why do they call it ‘Swedish?’ he doesn’t know! Maybe you can find out?).
In other words, rounding takes place either up or down to the base unit of ten as you can see in these receipts.
Lewis the Lion wants you to imagine that you are in New Zealand and in the shops your bill comes to these following amounts.
Would you round up or round down?
How much would you pay in total?
1. $4.23
2. $2.97
3. $9.86
4. $6.52
5. $10.95