New Zealand SIM Card

We did a self driving tour a few years ago. We asked our travel company for a recommendation and they included a SIM card from Vodaphone. It had both data and calling. We did not use a fraction of the data. It was handy to have a the ability to make calls. We travelled on both islands and our rental cars included GPS.

We have been on the South Isaland for 1 month now. We have TMobile with free data and text included in our US plan so we did not need a sim card. Coverage has been great and we have been all over the South Island .

The predominant network we see indicated on our phone has been Spark. I think we saw Vodafone once.Hope this helps. We go to the North Island Friday for about 10 days. I will update coverage details from there.

There are 2 main networks in NZ - Spark and Vodafone - they both issue SIM cards themselves plus Telecom has a "budget" brand called Skinny which uses Telecom's network. There is a smaller player called 2 Degrees which has a limited network but also uses Vodafone's network.

Of the 2 networks Spark's / Skinnies is much better. For example, I live within 20 min drive of downtown Wellington- in a suburb - and Vodafone has very little coverage here - Telecom is perfect. This is not an uncommon example. The hills make NZ pretty -but they make building a network HARD!

Spark/ Skinny coverage is pretty good now on the road network - all state highways have cover I believe - might not include data though. Notorious black spots for any type of coverage include East Cape, The Forgotten Highway (in Tarnacki - highly recommended) - most places around the Taranaki coast outside of towns. The west coast in general outside of towns.

You can buy SIMS pretty much anywhere - supermarkets, corner stores, on arrival in airports (probably don't know what has reopened in Auckland airport ) .

The rates you should be paying are here https://www.skinny.co.nz/pricing/plans - they do have a special "travel SIM" but it seems to have limited availability. As a tourist there are no restrictions in buying a normal SIM $2 from memory - putting it in your phone - added your credit card and buying a plan (or paying as you go - but that's a lot more $$$) If you don't want to add a card I think you can still buy pre-paid vouchers to top up - but I'm not sure how available they are as NZ is very much a card rather than cash economy.

If you are hiking in the SI you are unlikely to have any cell coverage - if you get any consider it a bonus- don't rely on it. The hiking group should have an EPERB or satellite phone to call in an emergency.

If you want a card in advance and you're not arriving for a few weeks - I'm happy to drop one in the mail for you - message me your address. If you have it with you - you can probably put it in your phone and activate between the flight landing and you being allowed off!

I am on the Spark network. I live in Auckland and have travelled the length and breadth of New Zealand it seems to be the best you're going to find. As already mentioned there are some black spots in rural areas and some anomalies where a specific smaller network works better than Spark in a specific small town, but for general coverage Spark is solid.

As you come through the arrivals hall at Auckland airport you'll see the Spark and Vodafone shops with travel sim deals. If you miss that you'll find several stores in downtown Auckland and most other towns.

Spark is the evolution of the old government owned Telecom after they had to split up the monopoly. Another advantage of Spark is the wifi hotspots wherever you see what looks like a phone box with Spark branding all over it (usually pink or green). Enjoy!

The phone box wifi hotspots look like this: https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/05/24/spark-plans-to-modernise-nzs-phone-booth-network/

Hi All,
Thank you for all the helpful info! Vodaphone works in my iPhone 11 (but not Spark). Vodafone has 2G pkgs that last for 3 months (we only need 30 days) https://www.vodafone.co.nz/travel-sim/
I'm a bit fuzzy on the details:
Can you clarify:

• Does this 2G plan (see link above) include calls (minutes?) + data: both are preferable for us.
• Website suggests that phone calls to USA are included with the 2G pkg. Am I reading this right? -I don't see any advance purchase option: so I can get the SIM early and insert when I land (which seems to work best for me) and activate in the airport. (Had a bad experience w/the Orange store in France, got ripped off for a SIM card I couldn't use-so I'm a bit wary).

Thank you for all your help!
Josie Josie

Who told you that your iPhone won't work on a Spark network? If the phone is unlocked it will work on any network in NZ (and the rest of the world). As above most of us are recommending Spark/Skinny not Vodafone because of coverage issues.

If you are worried about things not working - don't buy in advance - buy at the airport - they will install the sim for you and you will know it works before you walk away

Hi Lissie,
Thank you for info. Are the airport stores pretty reliable? As mentioned, I got ripped off at a store in Tours France-sold me a SIM, absolutely insisted it would work, but then it wouldn't activate in the store! Refused to refund me & worst of all were very insulting and rude.
Are the stores at AKL actual Vodafone/Spark stores (vs "Relay" convenience) ? I prefer to get it in advance, but for safety sake I can stand in line & wait...

Spark website noted their SIMs were not compatible with iPhone 11.
JP