All change as shoppers get used to new, lighter coins

Ray Martin says he will have to learn the new coins by touch. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Ray Martin sits alone at a table in the Avondale Returned and Services' Association carefully comparing the new 10c, 20c and 50c coins with the old, familiar ones.

"I'm concerned because of my limited eyesight," said the 77-year-old, who has cataracts.

"I know the old ones by feel, I can tell what they are by touch. I will have to practise touching the new ones to learn what they are."

Mr Martin said the new 10c piece was particularly hard to see because it was shiny. "It's hard to see especially when you have glasses and the light reflects in your eyes ... That's something they didn't think of."

While the new coins were a "bad idea", there were some positives.

"They are lighter, which is good when they are in the old pocket."

Elsewhere in Auckland some people were confused, some were happy, and some couldn't have cared less.

Reaction to yesterday's introduction of the new coins was mixed.

For the next three months, both the old and new coins will be legal tender. The buying power of the old coins will end on November 1, and the 5c coin will be withdrawn.

On Auckland's Queen St, Muffin Break manager Mahesh Kikla said many customers were "extremely confused" by the new coins.

"We had quite a few people trying to get rid of the old silver coins on Sunday because they thought they weren't going to be legal tender on Monday.

"We even had some people trying to get rid of their gold coins because they thought they were going too."

Mr Kikla said customers seemed to be particularly anxious about getting rid of their old 5c pieces.

"We usually have about five or six 5c pieces in the till, but this Sunday we had over 200, because people were trying to get rid of them."

Starbucks manager Dave Bell said getting used to the new sizes would take time. "Some customers had to look twice at their change."

Shopper Kirsten Mortensen from Milford said she liked the new coins.

"The smaller size could be a pain, though, when you are ferreting around in your bag ... but I like them."