How To Understand & Dial New Zealand Phone Numbers [Detailed Guide]
Are you visiting New Zealand or calling from abroad? Then you need to know how to dial the New Zealand number in the correct way. No worries, though; there is nothing complex about this process.
Phone number format in New Zealand is easy to understand – mobile numbers usually start with 02, and landlines start with a 2-digit area code (e.g., 09). You need to consider the formats for landlines and mobile phones, the regional codes, how to call from abroad, and how to call overseas.
In this article, we provide you with an ultimate guide on how to understand landline and mobile New Zealand phone numbers and how to dial them from abroad. Read on to learn more.
New Zealand phone numbers: formats and more
New Zealand has more than 350 cities, towns, and other territories. If you want to dial a phone number while in the country, keep track of the area codes.
The format of a New Zealand phone number and how to dial it isn’t tricky at all. Let’s break it down into three simple steps:
New Zealand phone numbers consist of the following three parts:
- The international country code for New Zealand: is +64
- The local area code, for example, Auckland: 09
- And lastly, the individual number: 567 4562
In this example, the phone number is 09 567 4562.
As you dial a phone number within New Zealand, you have to consider only the local area code.
In case you want to call abroad from New Zealand, you need to dial the code for international access. The international call prefix is 00.
In this example, the New Zealand phone number is written like this: 00 1 212 567 4562.
First, there’s the international access code (00) which is followed by the country code, United States (1), in this example, followed by the area code, New York (212), and finally, followed by the seven-digit phone number.
The New Zealand landline phone number format follows an open numbering plan. An ideal landline phone number has a total of eight digits without including the leading 0.
Here is a landline phone number example: 09 567 4562.
In this example, there is a two-digit area code followed by a seven-digit phone number. The area codes for New Zealand landline numbers are arranged by region.
The five regional codes are:
| Regional Codes | Regions |
|---|---|
| 03 | South Island and Chatham Islands (Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson, Westport, Invercargill, Timaru) |
| 04 | Wellington |
| 06 | Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay, Napier, Hastings, New Plymouth, Palmerston North |
| 07 | Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hamilton |
| 09 | Auckland, Northland, Whangarei |
If you are calling a landline phone number outside the local calling area, but that is based in the same region, the region code must be dialed. For example, one calling Christchurch from Westport must dial 03, even though both are in the same area but with different localities.
Here is an example of a New Zealand mobile phone number: 02 (digit code) 567 4562.
This is to say that the mobile numbers in New Zealand include a 2 to 3-digit code beginning with 02. The digit code refers to the original mobile network that issued this number.
How to make a call in New Zealand
Making a call within New Zealand is very straightforward. All you need to do is keep in mind the following three details:
- International country code: +64
- International call prefix: 00
- Trunk prefix: 0 – is for most countries
The phone numbers in New Zealand follow the same pattern: the international country code, the area code, and then the local number issued to you.
Calling within New Zealand only requires you to dial the national access code (0) followed by the regional code. For example, for Auckland, the area code is 9, which makes the phone number 09 567 4562.
If you are in the same region but with different localities, you need to dial the regional code. For example, calling from Auckland to Whangarei, you need to dial 09.
But if you are making a call to the same locality, then you can skip the regional code and just simply dial the seven-digit number. For instance, calling from Wellington to Wellington, you can dial 567-4562.
How to call a New Zealand number from abroad
Calling on a New Zealand number from abroad is quite easy. This is because when calling from abroad, you need to keep only two things in mind:
- The international country code for New Zealand: +64
- The international access code: 00
The number becomes 00 64 9 567 4562.
First, the international access code (00) needs to be dialed, followed by the country code for New Zealand and then, the regional code (Auckland: 09), which is then completed by the seven-digit telephone number.
Each country where you are calling from has a different international prefix or exit code which needs to be dialed when calling to New Zealand. For example, in Canada, it’s 011, so you need to dial 011 64 9 (for Auckland) followed by the local number.
How to dial a mobile number in New Zealand from Australia
If you are calling New Zealand from Australia, here is what to do.
If you are calling from a mobile, add the country code +64 before the number. So, if you have a number on hand, for example, 09 567 4562, you would need to get rid of 0 and add +64, so it becomes +64 9 567 4562.
However, if you are calling from a landline, you need to go through more steps, including:
- Enter the Australian exit code (0011)
- Add NZ code (64)
- Enter the NZ number which you got without 0. So, 09 567 4562 becomes 9 567 4562.
- At the end you should get: 0011 64 9 567 4562.
Calling 0800 from abroad
In some instances, you will need to call local New Zealand numbers like 0800 from abroad. 0800 numbers are non-geographic numbers, toll-free, and used mainly by businesses and charities. So, they are independent of physical location and contain no area codes.
Moreover, such non-geographic numbers are inbound numbers, meaning are intended only for outgoing calls. Therefore, many 0800 numbers could not accept incoming calls, and so it’s impossible to call one of these numbers from a non-New Zealand number.
How to get a New Zealand phone number
Are you visiting NZ and don’t have access to a phone number? Fortunately, getting a phone number in New Zealand is an easy process.
The best part is that anyone can buy a phone number in New Zealand. You don’t necessarily have to be a citizen or resident to purchase one.
There are two ways to get a phone number in New Zealand:
- Buy a SIM card
- Purchase a virtual number
When it comes to buying a SIM card, you have the option of purchasing online or in-store. If you want access to data and Wi-Fi at all times, go for the online option of using an eSIM or a prepaid SIM card.
But if you are willing to wait, you could purchase the SIM card directly from the mobile provider store in the airport or most cities in New Zealand. This way, you will have more options and guidance on how to buy a SIM card.
Buying a local number at the airport is the most common way to get a NZ number. But you may not find a shop in every airport. Also, the options are limited, and the costs are higher.
The other option is to purchase a virtual number. A virtual number is a phone number that isn’t associated with a physical phone line or a SIM card. This means you can make calls using Android, Skype, or iOS.
The benefit of a virtual number is that you can make global calls at the rate of local calls. Call recordings, voicemails, call forwarding, and monitoring — the fun is endless!
The two different types of numbers that you can get as virtual phone numbers are:
- City numbers
These phone numbers are connected with the regional and area codes.
- Toll-free numbers:
This is a number that is billed for all arriving calls. But, they are not charged for the caller to call as long as you’re in New Zealand. In New Zealand, toll–free numbers begin with 0800.
In this example, the phone number is written as +64 800 567 4562.
Enter the country code (+64) followed by the toll-free code (0800), and then the seven-digit number. Skip the first zero in the toll-free number as you would with the regional code.
Now that you know how to get a phone number in New Zealand, consider the places where you can get a phone number. The biggest mobile and network operator options in New Zealand are:
Spark has the best coverage on South Island, especially in the locations often visited by tourists, while Vodafone is pretty versatile anywhere in New Zealand. Also, Vodafone is the most expensive of all three – an unlimited plan costs $80 per month.
