Last updated on 5 November 2026
One NZ sells its NZ Travel SIM for visitors to New Zealand from NZ$29 (about €14.63) for 30 days, with data, minutes and texts, and you buy it in a store, at the airport or as an eSIM online. The POVNOMAD New Zealand eSIM starts at €3.90 for 1 GB over 7 days, costs €8.90 for 5 GB over 30 days and runs on Spark. On the South Island’s back roads all three networks share one set of rural masts, built by the Rural Connectivity Group. As of 31 October 2026.
Which is cheaper per gigabyte we cannot say: One NZ shows the data allowance of its Travel SIM only in an interactive plan picker, not on the page we could read. The local SIM gives you a New Zealand number and calls; our eSIM is data only and costs less than the NZ$29 Travel SIM up to 10 GB (€13.90 against €14.63).
Local SIM, travel eSIM or roaming: what is the difference in New Zealand?
| Local SIM (One NZ Travel SIM) | Travel eSIM (POVNOMAD) | Roaming on your home contract | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | NZ$29 (€14.63) for 30 days, NZ$49 (€24.72) for 60 days; data allowance not shown on the page | €3.90 for 1 GB/7 days, €8.90 for 5 GB/30 days, €11.90 for 7 days Unlimited Smart | New Zealand is outside EU roaming, your provider sets its own rates |
| Where you get it | One NZ store, One NZ desks at airports, or as a Travel eSIM online | online before departure | no purchase needed |
| New Zealand number | yes, with minutes and texts | no, data only; WhatsApp and similar apps run over data | your home number |
| Network | One NZ | Spark 4G/5G, assignment variable (product page) | partner network of your provider |
| Hotspot | not checked | yes | depends on your contract |
As of 31 October 2026. One NZ prices from one.nz/travel-sim, POVNOMAD prices from the New Zealand product page. Converted at the ECB reference rate of 30 October 2026 (€1 = NZ$1.9823).
How much does a Travel SIM cost in New Zealand?
One NZ runs a separate prepaid line for visitors, the NZ Travel SIM, also sold as an eSIM. Its plans are priced by validity. Spark and 2degrees were not compared: Spark’s shop blocked our automated request, and 2degrees loads its plan details only in the browser.
| One NZ Travel SIM | Validity | Price | in euros |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel SIM $29 | 30 days | NZ$29 | €14.63 |
| Travel SIM $49 | 60 days | NZ$49 | €24.72 |
| Travel SIM $69 | 90 days | NZ$69 | €34.81 |
| Travel SIM $99 | 90 days | NZ$99 | €49.94 |
| Add-on: unlimited NZ data | 24 hours | NZ$5 | €2.52 |
| Add-on: 2 GB data | 60 days | NZ$20 | €10.09 |
Source: one.nz, Travel SIM, retrieved 31 October 2026. All plans include data, minutes and texts within New Zealand; the data volume per plan was not on the page we could read. The Travel eSIM is activated by calling 777 after you land. Euro amounts at €1 = NZ$1.9823 (ECB, 30 October 2026).
Compare that with travel eSIMs bought before departure, as of 31 October 2026:
| Plan | POVNOMAD | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | €3.90 (7 days) | €4.00 (3 days) |
| 5 GB, 30 days | €8.90 | €13.00 |
| 10 GB, 30 days | €13.90 | €22.50 |
| 20 GB, 30 days | €20.90 | €35.00 |
| Unlimited, 7 days | €11.90 (1 GB a day at full speed) | €25.00 |
| Unlimited, 15 days | €19.90 (1 GB a day at full speed) | €44.50 |
Read on 31 October 2026 on povnomad.com and airalo.com/de/new-zealand-esim (EUR view). Unlimited Smart: 1 GB at full speed per 24 hours, then up to 1 Mbit/s.
Do you need a passport to buy a SIM card in New Zealand?
One NZ names no ID requirement on its Travel SIM page, and we found no law in New Zealand that obliges operators to register prepaid customers. Whether a store asks for your passport anyway is unchecked. Take it with you; you need it at the airport in any case.
- Check that your phone has no network lock.
- If your phone takes only one physical SIM, the One NZ card replaces your German SIM, and bank codes by text stop reaching you. An eSIM runs next to your home SIM.
- With the One NZ Travel eSIM you still call 777 after landing to activate it.
Will you have signal on the South Island?
In towns and along many highways, yes. Away from them New Zealand has a feature that matters more than the choice of operator: the Rural Connectivity Group, a joint company of One NZ, Spark and 2degrees, has built more than 570 rural cell sites since 2017, and all three operators use the same equipment on each site. The programme added coverage along more than 1,000 km of rural state highways and at more than 100 tourist spots. Where such a mast stands, Spark customers get signal, and our eSIM uses Spark.
Remote valleys and alpine tracks can still be out of reach. Download offline maps before you leave the main roads. Unlimited prices of all three eSIM providers are in our New Zealand eSIM provider comparison. If you visit Australia on the same trip, our Australia and New Zealand eSIM covers both countries: 10 GB for 30 days cost €25.90.
Source: Rural Connectivity Group, thercg.co.nz, read on 31 October 2026.
When is the eSIM the better choice, and when is it not?
You install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi (instructions for iPhone and Android); validity starts on first contact with the New Zealand network. You land with data running and need no store or activation call.
The One NZ Travel SIM is the better choice in these cases:
- You need a New Zealand number, for example to call a campervan depot, a hut warden or a tour operator.
- You stay longer than a month: the Travel SIM runs up to 90 days, while most of our plans run 30 days; only our 50 GB plan lasts 180 days (€40.90).
- You want a single day of unlimited data now and then: One NZ sells that as an add-on for NZ$5, once you hold a Travel SIM.
This guide is also available in German.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a SIM card cost in New Zealand for tourists?
The One NZ Travel SIM costs NZ$29 (about €14.63) for 30 days and NZ$49 (about €24.72) for 60 days, with data, minutes and texts. As of 31 October 2026.
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM card in New Zealand?
One NZ names no ID requirement on its Travel SIM page, and we found no prepaid registration law. Whether a store asks for ID anyway is unchecked. As of 31 October 2026.
Where can I buy a One NZ Travel SIM?
In One NZ stores and at One NZ locations in airports near the duty free or arrival areas. The Travel eSIM is sold online and activated by calling 777 after landing. As of 31 October 2026.
Which network does the POVNOMAD New Zealand eSIM use?
Spark 4G/5G according to the product page; the network assignment can vary. Hotspot is included. As of 31 October 2026.
Does my eSIM work on the South Island?
In towns and on many highways, yes. The Rural Connectivity Group has built more than 570 shared rural sites since 2017, used by One NZ, Spark and 2degrees alike; remote valleys still have gaps. As of 31 October 2026.
Is a local SIM cheaper than an eSIM in New Zealand?
Up to 10 GB our eSIM costs less than the NZ$29 Travel SIM: €13.90 against €14.63. For larger amounts we cannot compare, because One NZ does not show the data allowance on its page. As of 31 October 2026.
How do I know if these prices are still current?
We read every price on 31 October 2026 on one.nz, povnomad.com and airalo.com. One NZ charges in New Zealand dollars, so the euro amount changes with the exchange rate. Check the operator’s page before you buy.
Last updated on 31 October 2026. Prices read on that day on one.nz, povnomad.com and airalo.com; ECB reference rate of 30 October 2026. Prices and rules may change at any time.