The New Zealand dollar continued its downward slide against the US currency as a deadline to avert the 'fiscal cliff' approaches.
The kiwi fell on Friday as US stocks tumbled on concern America is running out of time to avert $US600 billion of tax hikes and spending cuts starting on 1 January, that threaten to stall the world's biggest economy, AAP reports.
The New Zealand currency fell to US81.83 cents from US81.89 cents at 5pm on Thursday. The trade-weighted index fell to 73.46 from 73.53.
The US dollar rose and stocks on Wall Street fell, sending the Standard & Poor's 500 Index down 1.1%, after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said an agreement between Democrats and Republicans before the year-end deadline seems unlikely.
The kiwi traded at 70.32 yen, 78.91 Australian, 61.85 euro cents and 50.86 British pence.