“Semble further Balkenises the already fragmented contactless payment systems in favour of banks and telcos rather than consumers and retailers."

"We see payment by Bitcoin as a natural service for our customers.”

As Bitcoin gains interest and popularity worldwide, many people in New Zealand are also embracing the potential of this new type of money as well as the technology behind it.

"Users, business owners, professionals, need to protect themselves from becoming a victim – and all it takes are some best practices and a security solution."

Bitcoin is the currency of the internet: a distributed, worldwide, decentralised digital money.

"We’re a web company, so it seems fitting to accept the world’s premier web currency..."

"Bitcoins are changing the way we live, transact and do business..."

For such organisations that understand their information assets need to be valued and managed as assets, using Bitcoin as the valuation method could h

Wellington hair salon Mane Salon is now accepting the new virtual currency Bitcoin as a means of payment, becoming New Zealand’s first hair salon to do so.

The first Bitcoin ATM machines available to New Zealanders were unveiled this week, at an event in Auckland's CBD.

Microsoft has added Bitcoin conversion to its Bing currency conversion tool, which now supports over 50 currencies.

Local telco 2Talk has bucked the trend and become the first telecommunications company in New Zealand to accept Bitcoin as a method of payment.

Time will tell if Bitcoins take hold, disappear or remain on the fringes forever...

"It is similar to gold in that its supply is constrained mathematically to up to 21 million units that will grow in a predictable manner."

An unconfirmed theft of a substantial amount of BitCoins reiterates the volatility of the internet currency's infant state.