How to choose a phone plan in New Zealand

Setting up an account and getting a New Zealand phone number is easy and only takes a few minutes. This article will talk you through the different options available, so that you can decide which phone plan will suit you best.

Having a local phone number will be useful for your working holiday. It will help you be reachable by locals when job searching or communicating with potential landlords/housemates.

The different options available

Like in many countries, you will have a range of different options to choose from in New Zealand. This includes prepaid SIM cards (where you recharge by “topping up” the SIM, without any long-term commitment) and contract plans (a set package that you commit to for several months, sometimes including a new handset).

Many working holiday makers come with their phone unlocked, meaning they are free to choose a prepaid SIM or plan from any network. If your phone is locked, it means you will need to consider a phone plan that includes a new handset, as your current phone will not work with a New Zealand SIM.

Prepaid SIMs are usually the preferred choice for backpackers because they allow flexibility and do not tie you to one carrier long-term.

The carriers available

The main phone companies in New Zealand are Spark, One NZ and 2Degrees.

Good to know: With Spark, customers can benefit from 1 GB of free data from Spark Wi-Fi terminals in cities around the country. However, they are slowly removing terminals, so this option is becoming less beneficial.

Prepaid SIM cards

The premise of this option is simple: you buy a SIM card when you arrive and top up your credit when you need it. The main carriers offer SIM cards valid for 12 months, which is perfect for working holiday makers. If you don’t use your credit often, you will have 12 months to use up your initial top-up.

It is possible to buy top-ups in supermarkets or directly from the carrier (either in store or on their website). You should always be able to add more minutes, SMS or data before you run out.

SIM cards usually cost a few dollars (between NZ$5 and NZ$10). Some carriers sometimes offer free SIM cards, so check if a particular company is running any deals before purchasing a SIM card.

Prepaid plans

You also have the option of a prepaid plan. You can purchase a “pack” that contains special offers for minutes, SMS and data. Some offers are temporary and some are permanent. You can choose a prepaid plan based on your phone usage/needs.

Some operators allow you to subscribe to a pack (e.g. monthly) and will automatically deduct the cost of the pack each time it renews. These renewable plans are a good compromise between prepaid SIMs and long-term contracts. You don’t need to remember to top your SIM up when it gets low on minutes, SMS or data, and you also don’t need to be tied to a certain carrier (you can cancel auto-renewal when you are ready to move on).

Here are some current offers available:

• Spark: Prepaid Mobile Plans & Sim Cards – Mobile Plans
• One NZ: MyFlex Prepay
• 2Degrees: Prepay Plans

Network coverage in New Zealand

It’s worth noting that network coverage isn’t great in New Zealand (although it’s improving). It’s quite common to find yourself without signal in various parts of the country. All of the main operators generally promise to cover the places where most of the population live. However, many remote areas are not covered.

If you are already thinking about moving to a particular region, you can find out in advance about the best mobile network coverage in your area. This is especially important if you plan to live somewhere remote.

Some carriers have better coverage than others. 2Degrees is a little weaker than One NZ or Spark in rural areas, for example. You can compare the networks (coverage changes on a regular basis) by visiting the dedicated pages of each carrier:

• Spark coverage
• One NZ coverage
• 2Degrees coverage