New Zealand has been placed on Russia's "unfriendly country" list after the announcement of sanctions for the superpower's invasion of Ukraine.
Russian state-controlled media agency TASS reported that New Zealand along with 22 other countries and regions are on the list.
The list is for countries that "commit unfriendly actions against Russia, its companies, and citizens".
Countries on the "unfriendly country" list include the United States, Canada, the EU states, the UK, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Iceland, Switzerland, Ukraine, Taiwan and Norway.
"The countries and territories mentioned in the list imposed or joined the sanctions against Russia after the start of a special military operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine," TASS reported.
"The government noted that according to this decree, Russian citizens and companies, the state itself, its regions and municipalities that have foreign exchange obligations to foreign creditors from the list of unfriendly countries will be able to pay them in rubles.
"The new temporary procedure applies to payments exceeding 10 mln rubles per month (or a similar amount in foreign currency)."
It comes after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a Russia Sanctions Bill on Monday, which will pass under urgency in Parliament this week, to put further sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
"A Bill of this nature has never been brought before our Parliament, but with Russia vetoing UN sanctions we must act ourselves to support Ukraine and our partners in opposition to this invasion," Ardern said at her post-Cabinet press conference.
The new Bill will see sanctions imposed on people, services, companies, and assets related to anyone in Russia responsible or associated with the invasion or have economic or strategic relevance to Russia, including oligarchs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) on Monday published a public sanctions register of Russian officials and other individuals who are banned from travelling to New Zealand.
