This guide is for people currently in Australia who want to know how to call New Zealand. The process is simple, although it can be expensive depending on the phone plan you use. If your contact in New Zealand doesn't provide a local area code, you can guess by looking at the address.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Calling New Zealand from Australia
Step 1. If the number starts with 001164, dial the number exactly like that
If the number you are trying to call starts with "001164, " all the information you need to make a call from Australia is already included, and you can call exactly as it is written.
- 0011 is the exit code for Australia. To make an international phone call from Australia, you must start with that number.
- 64 is the Country code for New Zealand. Anyone calling from another country must dial this number after the exit code to connect to New Zealand.
Step 2. If the number is eight digits or more, try dialing 001164 followed by another full number
The phone number provided to you may include an area code, especially if the owner of the phone number knows that you are not a local resident in the area. If the number contains eight digits or more, the area code may have been included. Dial 001164 followed by another full number.
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The only exceptions are for some New Zealand cell phone numbers, which can contain up to nine digits and so "trick" you into thinking the area code is already included. If your call is not successful, hang up and try again with 001164 followed by a number
Step 2.. The number 2 is the area code for all phones in New Zealand.
Step 3. If the number is only seven digits, find the area code
If you're calling a cell phone, the area code is 2. If it's not a cell phone, find the city or general area of the person or organization you want to call and use the appropriate area code:
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Auckland:
Step 9.
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Wellington:
Step 4.
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Christchurch:
Step 3.
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Hastings, Manawatu, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wairarapa, Wanganui:
Step 6.
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Dunedin, Invercargill, Nelson, Queenstown, The South Island, Timaru:
Step 3.
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Bay of Plenty, Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga:
Step 7.
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Whangarei:
Step 9.
Step 4. Dial 001164, then the area code, then the number
Once you find the correct area code, dial the exit code (0011), the Country code for New Zealand (64), the area code for the specific area of New Zealand, then the phone number you wish to call.
Part 2 of 2: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Consider time zone differences
New Zealand's time zone is GMT+12, or two to four hours ahead of Australia. If you call at night, your contact may be asleep. To contact an organization in New Zealand before the end of business hours, you may have to call in the morning or early afternoon.
- New Zealand is two hours ahead of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (which are on AEST). Three hours ahead of Adelaide (ACST), and four hours ahead of Perth (AWST).
- New Zealand has daylight savings time (an hour added during summer), but some parts of Australia do not. If you are in Queensland, Northern Territory or Australian Capital Territory, and you call between October and April, add an extra hour to match New Zealand time.
Step 2. Check if the number is toll free or not
Because callers are usually still charged when calling toll-free numbers from other countries, some businesses block international calls to prevent their customers from paying unexpected fees. In New Zealand, toll-free numbers usually start with 0508 or 0800.
Try to find a regular, non-toll-free number for the organization by doing an internet search, or contact them by email
Step 3. Make sure your phone plan allows international calls
Some phone plans block international calls. Try calling a different international number. If it doesn't connect, contact your phone service provider and ask to change your phone plan.
Keep in mind that international calls are often significantly more expensive than local or domestic calls. If you call overseas regularly, ask about a phone plan that charges a lower fee
Tips
- Using a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service such as Skype can be cheaper when calling overseas.
- If you frequently call abroad using your mobile phone, there are special SIM cards available at low rates for calling numbers abroad.
Warning
- Check with your service provider to find out if there are additional charges when calling New Zealand.
- Make sure you hang up properly, to avoid the extra cost of having to pay for running talk time.
