Using mobile phone in NZ

[Grandad Gaz]

What’s the best way of using an iPhone in NZ?
We are going for about 8 weeks.

I have been googling it and it seems to me that I would be better off buying a new SIM card at Auckland airport?
I have checked my phone in settings and it comes up as “no SIM restrictions “. Does this mean I can fit another card in without problems?

I have the ordnance survey maps on my phone here, which is very handy when we are out walking. Hopefully, they do something similar down there. Also, would I lose all my contact details if fitting a new SIM card?

Sorry if these are daft questions but, I am a bit of a tech dinosaur when it comes to phones and computers!
Thanks

[CAH706]

We recently went to the US and just added an esim to each of our iPhones - holafly and airarlo were the companies we used

Both companies sims worked equally well and all contracts remained on the phone

Set was done before we left home and was really easy.

[HotJambalaya]

first thing is, what network are you and what plan are you on?

My ee plan covers roaming in europe, usa, canada oz and nz. It may well be that you're on something similar or could change to one for just a couple of £ a month more.

[WyrleyD]

We were there for 7 months (got caught in the lockdown!!) and bought a Spark visitor SIM at the airport, just extended it month-to-month on the phone app. Had an iphone XR dual-sim and also had an EE esim but only used that for essential call purposes where the UK number was needed.

[peter tdci]

The last time I was there (in 2018), I got a PAYG Vodafone SIM from a shopping centre (not the airport). IIRC it cost around £23 for the first month (I was there for four weeks) and included more than enough data for lots of satnav use, plus plenty of minutes and texts. Coverage was good, even in remote bits of the South Island.

My phone is on Android, so all my contacts etc are linked to my google account and were there when I logged in. I can't think it will be very different for iPhones?

[Grandad Gaz]

HotJambalaya said:

first thing is, what network are you and what plan are you on?

My ee plan covers roaming in europe, usa, canada oz and nz. It may well be that you're on something similar or could change to one for just a couple of £ a month more.

I am also on EE and yet, when I messaged the service, it said nz was not included.

Guess I had better pop in an EE shop and find out for sure and how much extra it will cost if necessary.

Thanks for all the replies. It’s very helpful

[sjg]

Just been trying Airalo esim as I ran out of data this month - very slick. Will probably do that for data when I’m in NZ in Jan. Before I’ve had contracts that included NZ roaming but that seems like a really expensive option these days.

[HotJambalaya]

Grandad Gaz said:

I am also on EE and yet, when I messaged the service, it said nz was not included.

Guess I had better pop in an EE shop and find out for sure and how much extra it will cost if necessary.

Thanks for all the replies. It’s very helpful

In that case check EE for the `'Roam Abroad Pass" I think its £10 a month

https://ee.co.uk/help/help-new/offers-and-services...

[Grandad Gaz]

HotJambalaya said:

Grandad Gaz said:

I am also on EE and yet, when I messaged the service, it said nz was not included.

Guess I had better pop in an EE shop and find out for sure and how much extra it will cost if necessary.

Thanks for all the replies. It’s very helpful

In that case check EE for the `'Roam Abroad Pass" I think its £10 a month

https://ee.co.uk/help/help-new/offers-and-services...

Thanks, that’s very useful

It will same me messing about with new SIM cards!