Telephone
Most public telephones accept stored value cards, obtained from stationers and newsagents, with a minimum value of NZ$5. Some also honour credit cards, but very few accept coins. Calls to emergency services (dial 111) are free.
The country code for New Zealand is 64.
Within New Zealand, local telephone numbers have 7 digits.
Area codes (drop the 0 if calling from another country) are:
- Northland/Auckland - 09
- Waikato/Bay of Plenty - 07
- Central and southern North Island - 06
- Wellington/Kapiti- 04
- South Island and Stewart Island - 03
Calls to numbers starting with 0800 are toll free. If you want to make a call to another country, dial 00 before the country code.
Toll Bars
Telecom New Zealand is the main supplier of residential telephone lines. Several other companies provide toll services. Local calls are free. Some houses have a "toll bar" on the telephone because previous homestay students or visitors have made expensive calls and not paid for them. This means you either cannot make any non-local calls, or must enter a PIN number first.
Mobile Phone
Text messaging and mobile phone calls are very popular with students. You can use global roaming on a mobile phone from your country, or buy a prepay phone or set up an account with Vodafone or Telecom once you are in New Zealand.
Prepay Phone Cards
These are available at newsagents and stationers. They are economical and popular, because they allow you to call anywhere in New Zealand or the world, from any telephone, by dialling the number on the card. When you have used up the minutes you paid for, just buy another card.
Mail
Stamps are sold at supermarkets, stationers and local shops. Besides the New Zealand Post, there are one or two other mail companies, each with its own stamps and post-boxes.
New Zealand Post is open Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm. Post Shops may also be open on Saturdays and Sundays at some places. New Zealand Post shops sell a range of goods and services including stamps, stationery, and souvenirs as well as international courier and fax services. Do not worry if you cannot see a Post Office building - just look for a red and white sign like the back of an envelope on a shop that acts as an agent for New Zealand Post.
Mail is delivered to your street address, so if you move, you need to notify the Post Office. There is a free three-month re-direction service if you change address.
Email
Large institutions and some small ones have student computer labs for email, or use a cyber cafe for a few dollars for 15 minutes. Email and Internet are often available at public libraries.
To connect a laptop computer in New Zealand you will need a RJ45 type plug, and an adaptor with a flat two or three-point power plug to connect to the power supply.
Couriers
Courier companies are a good option for sending things within New Zealand or internationally because they track where the envelope or parcel is.
Fax
Your institution may be willing to receive and send faxes for you, or you can send them from New Zealand Post shops and some stationery and printing shops.