Phone in NZ

Heaps of places sell cheap phones. Chain stores like Dick Smith, Noel Leeming, Harvey Norman, The Warehouse all have phones. And there could even be promotions of cheap phones which come already with a sim card.

Awesome! Thank you!

Two degrees is one of the cheapest carriers and their phones start at around $49 (not smart phones!). They have a kiosk at the airport. (Maybe more than one). I think you can also buy phones as well as SIM cards at the Whitcoulls shops at the Airport. Otherwise, as others have said - the Warehouse/ Warehouse Staionery or any big Mall.

A related question is regarding phone tariffs - can anybody recommend a tariff with a lot of mobile data please? When I was in Australia I was on Optus and got unlimited everything for $2 a day (now the limit on internet is 500mb per day I think).

I have a pay as you go sim with Vodafone and for a $20 top up, get 500mb a month. All tariffs etc can be found on all the telcos web sites.

Thanks. I'll have to Google who the providers are in NZ

I arrived yesterday and picked up a Vodafone SIM at the airport in Auckland. 500mb data, unlimited texts, 100 minutes all for $19 per month. Top up in any supermarket/grocery store etc. Walking around yesterday I saw plenty of stores advertising Vodafone top-up and when I asked, the lady in Vodafone store said they have 97% coverage across NZ. Am with Vodafone back home in Britain and have found them really great in the past - reliable, good coverage, great service. So was happy to go with them here too. Buying the SIM cost $5. Only minus point so far is that I've been unable to pick up the mobile data, even with full signal. Anyone got any ideas why that might be?

Hope that helps a bit
Bethen.

That data, texts, calls allowance lasts a month from top up but if you dont want the data, you can top up whenever.

Which mobile operator is supposed to have the widest mobile data coverage? I know there are 3 major operators- do some work better than others as far as mobile data is concerned? How is the data coverage outside of the cities? I'll be taking a road trip through both Islands.