1967: Decimalisation
July 10, 2022
By AHNZ
When New Zealand changes to ‘Aotearoa’ or pounds become dollars we are not just rearranging the deck chairs of the nation. It’s a change in our very social superstructure. That’s what happened today in history, 10 July, 1967.
We left behind what McLauchlan called a “barren brown beer and baked beans world”. We moved into a decimal future. This was either fine or advantageous to younger Kiwis at the time but alienating and devastating to an older generation. It was a way of pushing out older generations from the light in a process that is always on-going.
“Rob wasn’t the only one having a wake-up, everyone in New Zealand was having a really big watershed wake-up call change. We left behind what McLauchlan called a “barren brown beer and baked beans world”. Into the decimal future.” – 1966: Decimal Coins, AHNZ
“As the day drew closer Operation Overlander was executed – the physical roll out of the new currency. 27 million bank notes and 165 million coins, valued at $120 million were distributed to bank branches across the country under heavy police supervision. All banks were closed three days prior to prepare for the changeover. All bank balances had to be converted into decimal currency and every bank deposit slip, cheque, and withdrawal form had to be expressed in dollars and cents.” – BNZ, Facebook (2022)
One day the Americans will change to the metric system but when they do it will be part of a major transformation from a younger generation to put out to pasture and older one against its will.
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