FIJI has unveiled a fully redesigned series of banknotes, introducing stronger security features and a full transition to polymer materials to protect the local currency.
Reserve Bank Governor Ariff Ali said the upgrade is crucial as cash remains the most widely used form of payment in Fiji, and public confidence in the currency must be safeguarded even as digital payments grow.
“Cash strengthens the trust in our monetary system, and these new polymer notes will ensure durability, security, and continued public confidence in our currency,” he said.
Ali said each new note carried the state’s pledge of value but now included enhanced security to combat evolving counterfeiting risks.
The polymer material will extend the life of the notes, reduce replacement costs, and withstand daily wear far better than previous paper-based versions.
The updated designs highlight Fiji’s culture, heritage, and environment.
The $5 features the endangered Vonu Dina (green sea turtle).
The $10 shows children planting mangroves, symbolising climate resilience.
The $20 displays the Reserve Bank of Fiji building.
The $50 honours Indo Fijian history with an image of a girmit woman and the Leonidas ship.
The $100 showcases an iTaukei man holding a bilo (cup) of kava.
The redesign was produced in partnership with Crane Currency, a global banknote manufacturer with more than 200 years of expertise.
He also highlighted the RBF’s environmental commitments, confirming that carbon emissions from the production of the new notes have been offset through local community projects, including a solar electrification initiative in Nakida Village.
President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, who officiated the launch, said: “This new banknote series is a tangible symbol of our sovereignty and economic resilience, reflecting our nation’s strength, heritage, and progress.”
The new banknotes will be issued from January 2.