Basics
New Zealand has three mobile operators:
- Vodafone
- Spark NZ (Telecom NZ)
- 2degrees
Some MVNOs resell the services of the MNOs, but focus mostly on triple-play, not prepaid. Only Skinny mobile has a prepaid product and is listed below.
Vodafone has the best network and is market leader. Followed by Spark, who has a 3G and 4G network only and still good coverage. 2degrees is the newcomer with a lower coverage, but with free national roaming on Vodafone for voice and some data offers. The three operators cover 98% of the population by 2G, 3G or 4G in 2015.
| Network | Vodafone | Spark NZ (Skinny) | 2degrees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2G EDGE | 900, 1800 MHz | not available | 900, 1800 MHz |
| 3G DC-HSPA |
900, 2100 MHz |
850, 2100 MHz | 900, 2100 MHz |
| 4G LTE |
700, 1800, 2600 MHz |
700, 1800, 2600 MHz | 700, 1800 MHz |
4G/LTE is available in about 70 locations mostly in cities on Vodafone and Spark and about 20 on 2degrees in 2015.
SIM cards in New Zealand are nor registered.
Vodafone
Vodafone is market leader in New Zealand. It has the best network and gives the best coverage nationwide in 2G, 3G and 4G at the highest prices. 3G covers 97.5% of the population in 2015: coverage checker. It offers 4G/LTE for prepaid with a surchage.
Availability
Vodafone Prepay SIMs can be purchased at most NZ shopping malls and service stations throughout the country. store-locations. You have to choose between three monthly prepaid plans as they have discontinued all prepaid SIMs without a monthly plan:
- $9: including 30 domestic minutes and 1000 domestic texts, on 2G and 3G only
- $19: including 500 MB data, 100 dom. minutes, unlimited texts, on 4G/LTE too
- $29: including 1 GB data, 200 dom. minutes, unlimited texts, on 4G/LTE too
You can top up with most international credit cards on your Vodafone account or buy vouchers.
There is no default data available on the Prepay plans. To keep using data once your plan’s data has exhausted you will need to purchase a data pack or wait until your plan renews.
Data feature packages
Vodafone offers these three data packs, it calls boosts:
- $3: 300 MB, one day, valid day of purchase, expires at 11:59pm
- $6: 300 MB, one week, valid for up to 1 week from date of purchase
- $12: 500 MB, one month, alid for up to 30 days from date of purchase
To activate, call 312, use the Vodafone app or go online to your account. If you’re on a prepay plan that is enabled for 4G, any other data boosts you purchase will also work at 4G speeds.
NZ Travel SIM
For tourists and visitors Vodafone offers this travel SIM card:
- For $49 you get 2 GB of data, 120 min voice domestically and to certain international destinations and 200 texts domestic and international, all valid for 60 days.
Data usage when you have used all your included data) will be charged at 50c per MB. You can 1 GB extra for $20 by texting "BUY EXTRADATA" to 756 or by calling 777.
This SIM is distributed worldwide for a surchage by simcorner.
Data-only SIM
Their data-only SIM is aimed at tablets and routers and called Prepay Mobile Broadband. It is on 4G/LTE where available. Starter price is $30 without credit. You can add one of these packages:
- Data 20 Add-on with 500 MB for a 30 day period - costs $20
- Data 30 Add-on with 1 GB for a 30 day period - costs $30
- Data 50 Add-on with 3 GB for a 3 month period - costs $50
- Data 80 Add-on with 5 GB for a 6 month period - costs $80
Each Top up of $20 or more gets a 500 MB data bonus.
SIM sizes
Mini SIMs (standard), micro-SIMs and nano-SIMs are all available.
Tethering
Available with no restrictions or extra charges.
More info
- APN: vodafone
- Homepage: http://www.vodafone.co.nz/
- Help and FAQ Vodafone NZ: http://cellularhowto.com/new-zealand/vodafone-nz
Spark New Zealand
Spark NZ, previously known as Telecom New Zealand, is the public provider in the country. It is the biggest competitor of Vodafone. Its network has often been called XT Mobile. It has a nationwide coverage of 97% on 3G, but no fall back to 2G. So use their network only, if you have a 3G capable device on 850 MHz (see above), which is not so usual in other parts of the world as their 2100 MHz is only used in towns as back-up. 4G/LTE has started in many city centres and is available for prepaid without a surcharge: coverage
Availability
You can get their prepaid SIM card in their shops: storefinder and lots of other places. Top ups can be bought there or made online by credit card.
They sell starter packs in three monthly prepaid plans or a casual rate:
- $9: including 30 domestic minutes, 1000 domestic texts
- $19: including: 500 MB data, 100 domestic minutes, unlimited domestic texts and 1 GB/day WI-FI
- $29: including: 750 MB data, 150 dom. minutes, unlimited dom. texts, 1 GB/day WI-Fi, Spotify Premium
Starter pack for the casual rate is $5 without any credit. Data is charged at $1/day for 10 MB. Additional data is then charged at $0.30/MB.
Data feature packs
They offer these monthly data add-ons for prepaid:
All packages auto-renew. To stop text code to 258 and replace "BUY" by "END". They don't offer a special data-only SIM.
SIM sizes
All SIM sizes are available including Mini SIMs and Micro SIMs are available.
Tethering
Available with no restrictions or extra charges.
More info
- APN: internet
- Website: http://www.spark.co.nz
2degrees (2°)
2degrees (often written 2°) is the smallest network in New Zealand and latest arrival on the scene. It only has a limited coverage in populated areas but outside it roams on Vodafone on 2G and 3G for free. So it still covers "97% of the places where kiwis live and work". For 4G it doesn't roam, but it has started an own network in major cities. It's own 4G is open for prepaid customers without a surcharge: coverage.
Availability
2degrees prepaid SIMs are available at most supermarkets in bigger cities and their stores :storelocator for a $5 startup price and are called "Prepay Plus".
Alternatively, you may grab a "Visitor SIM" at one of these places for free pdf list. But micro SIMs for visitors you will only get at JR Duty Free shops.
Default rate on all prepaid SIMs for data is $0.50 per MB.
Data feature packs
To all prepaid SIM cards the following data packages can be added:
- 100MB: $6
- 300MB: $10
- 1GB: $20
- 3GB: $50
To subscribe, text "buy <pack size>" like "buy 300MB". to 233. All data packs are valid for 1 month and auto renew at end of validity period (or when nearly out if you have enough credit). If you run out of data and your NZ Data Pack doesn't auto-renew, you will be charged the following rates per MB for the remainder of the validity period of that data pack - 50c/MB (100MB and 300MB packs) or 20c/MB (1GB and 3GB packs).
If you want to unsubscribe from your data pack's auto renewal simply text STOP 100MB (or another size) to 233, or do it online at Your 2degrees. You can continue to use any remaining data until your pack expires.
SIM sizes
Mini & micro SIMs available (push out cards offering both sizes).
Tethering
Works fine with no restrictions on data packs
More info
- APN: internet
- Website: http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz
Skinny mobile
Skinny is a MVNO owned by Spark NZ. Unlike most other MVNOs in the country it sells prepaid SIM cards and data at very low prices. It uses the network of Spark in 3G and 4G/LTE (see above for frequencies): coverage. Remember, you should have a device capable of 850 MHz on 3G.
Availability
Their prepaid SIM card is available online to be sent to an NZ postal address or at their stores like The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Dick Smith, Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming, JB HiFi, Paper Plus, New World, Pack'n'Save, and Countdown. You will be charged $2 without any credit included.
Top ups are available at over 6000 retail outlets nationwide or by pre-registered credit debit card online.
Data rates
Default data outside of package is 0.20 / MB.
Their price model is quite complicated: You first have to book a combo on this SIM. There are weekly or monthly combos.
- weekly combos
- Love Bytz: $4 - 200 MB data
- Busy Fingers: $4 - 60 MB data, 15 NZ minutes, 750 NZ texts
- Loose Lips: $4 - 60 MB data, 100 NZ minutes, 60 NZ texts
- monthly combos:
- Text Unlimited: $8 - unlimited NZ text
- Starter: $9 - 100 MB data, unltd. NZ text, 30 NZ minutes
- Big Value: $16 - 500 MB data, unltd. Skinny minutes and texts, 100 NZ/AU minutes
- Big Data: $26 - 1 GB data, unltd. Skinny minutes and texts, 300 NZ/AU minutes
- Ultimate: $46 - 2.5 GB data, unltd. NZ/AU minutes and texts
Combos renew every 7 or 30 days unless cancelled online.
To these combos, the following data add-ons can be added:
- for 7 days:
- 40 MB for $1
- 200 MB for $4
- 600 MB for $8
- for 30 days:
- 300 MB for $10
- 1 GB for $20
You can even mix and match 30 and 7 day combos and add-ons. All 30 day and 7 day add-ons will auto-renew every 30 days or 7 days from purchase if your combo has auto renewed, is still active and you have enough credit to buy the add-on. If your combo failed to renew due to not enough credit but you reactivated it before your add-on renewal date the add-on will remain active and renew.
If you choose to change combo and move to a different monthly or weekly combo, your add-on will remain active and will still renew on its planned renewal date provided the combo is active and you have enough credit for the add-on.
If you want to purchase the same add-on more than once during your combos cycle, you'll need to cancel the existing add-on first and then purchase a new one using the Skinny Mobile Menu or our website. Youll keep any quota remaining from the original add-on until its expiry date. Your add-on renewal date will change to 30 days or 7 days from the time you purchase the new add-on.
If you have understood this combo and add-on thing, you may have the lowest rates at a still good coverage in NZ. If you don't, you should better choose a data-only SIM card.
Data-only SIM
Their data-only SIM is intended for tablets and modems and doesn't come with voice nor text. But it has a pretty simple scheme for a change. You buy a special SIM with a preloaded data volume:
- 2 GB, 60 days, $30
- 5 GB, 180 days, $60
- 10 GB, 180 days, $120
Data Packs auto-renew at the end of each validity period, if your account has enough credit. Otherwise you can use your credit or debit card or purchase a top-up voucher from any store displaying a Skinny sign or online.
SIM sizes
Standard, Micro and Nano SIMs are all available.
Tethering
Available with no restrictions or extra charges.
More info
- APN: wapaccess.co.nz
- Website: http://www.skinny.co.nz