All change: Coming to a shop counter near you

Steve Roberts with $1000 worth of the new coins. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Shiny, lighter coins will be handed back in change across shop counters from Monday as the old, heavy coins start going out of circulation. The new coins don't include the 5c piece - its value reduced so much by inflation that it is virtually worthless.

Everything from parking meters to vending machines have had to be modified to take both new and old coins, but by November 1 only the new coins will be legal tender.

"We start giving out the new stuff and getting rid of the old stuff by Monday," said Westpac Bank branch manager Steve Roberts (above, with boxes of the new coins). The coins were lighter, smaller and there was less difference between the 20c and 50c piece. "People with poor eyesight might struggle a bit to begin with," Mr Roberts said.

Fifty container-loads of new coins were shipped to New Zealand from the Royal Canadian Mint where they were made, and over the past month 84 million new coins have been delivered to every bank branch. The old coins will be smelted and made into new ones.