LETS - Local Exchange Trading System

A mutual credit system

The only significant complementary currency movement currently active in New Zealand is LETS. Starting in 1989, there were at one time almost 60 exchanges active in the country. However, since 1995 LETS are in a steady decline.

Some noteworthy systems that are currently (Dec 2004) still operating:

• LETS Connect NZ - http://letsnewzealand.org.nz
• HANDS Golden Bay
• CCD, Christchurch http://communitydollars.org.nz
• Wairarapa, Masterton
• TATS Timaru
• IBES Invercargill - http://ibes.orcon.net.nz/index.htm
• WEST Kumara/West Coast
• WINGS Blenheim
• MOSS Motueka
• Taranaki LETS, New Plymouth
• CAPS Wellington
• REBS Wanganui
• Kohotu Toa
• Thames

(*) Those exchanges are member of the national LETS Connect NZ intertrading organisation.

Resources and additional information around running a LETS exchange

• Inflation in Green Dollar Groups, by Jim McCaughan?
• We need more than LETS, by Ted Trainer
• LETS in different forms, by Christoph Hensch
• A proposal for a more evolved version of LETS: a Transition Currency, by Christoph Hensch