Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Vanuatu introduces new plastic bank note to mark 30th anniversary

Posted at 22:12 on 29 July, 2010 UTC

Vanuatu’s Reserve Bank has launched the country’s first 10,000 vatu note to celebrate the country’s 30th anniversary of independence tomorrow.

Vanuatu’s Reserve Bank governor, Odo Tevi, says the new note carries the theme of telecommunication to reflect the recent liberalisation of Vanuatu’s telecoms market.

While the bank had always printed its notes and minted its coins in England, the latest note, which is plastic, was produced in Australia.

It was understood the appearance of counterfeit 5,000 vatu notes this year prompted the bank to turn to plastic notes.