An uncomplicated manual is furnished by Cable to assist international students in setting up broadband internet and phone amenities after reaching New Zealand.
Students from all around the world are drawn to New Zealand’s esteemed universities. Boasting stunning natural vistas and vibrant urban areas, this country presents an exceptional encounter for any traveler while simultaneously earning recognition as one of the top education destinations worldwide.
Regardless of your travel destination and educational institution, you’ll likely need to connect with loved ones back home online. In a country as remote and scattered as New Zealand, this task may appear daunting.
To facilitate an easy and uncomplicated setup process, learn everything necessary for establishing personal broadband and mobile connections while in New Zealand.
What are the steps to obtain a mobile plan, landline service, or broadband package?
International students and residents who register for telecom services in New Zealand must undergo credit checks. Visitors, on the other hand, do not need to build a fresh credit history as providers can retrieve their current credit score. Therefore, if you have a favorable credit rating in your home country, it will apply to your time as a student in New Zealand.
In New Zealand, numerous broadband, mobile, and phone providers can be found. Among the well-known ones are Vodafone, 2degrees, Skinny Mobile and Telecom NZ. Their products can easily be researched online or through local comparison websites like Telme.org.nz or Priceme.co.nz.
From whom can I avail broadband services in New Zealand?
In New Zealand, numerous internet service providers provide multiple options to access the web. Telecom New Zealand and Vodafone are dominating most residential broadband customers in the nation as they offer trustworthy connections with different download speeds and prices which makes them an excellent choice for international students.
For those arriving from Europe or America, Vodafone is recognizable while Telecom NZ (soon known as ‘Spark’) holds a similar standing to BT of the UK.
Typically, home broadband contracts span from 12 to 24 months. However, if you plan on staying for a shorter duration, select providers offer one-month agreements. For instance, students situated in the North Island can opt for Inspire’s one-month contract while Flip provides South Island students with no-contract broadband options.
The speed of broadband internet changes based on your location. For instance, densely populated regions like Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington have fiber optic broadband which is capable of providing the highest download speeds (up to 100Mbps via Telecom New Zealand).
However, rural areas can access pre-existing phone line connections or satellite services from service providers such as Farmside and Wireless Nation for their internet connectivity needs.
What would be the most efficient method for me to contact my homeland while in New Zealand?
Using your current mobile handset and SIM to call home from New Zealand can be costly. Roaming charges will apply for all calls made, which can accumulate rapidly with a pay-monthly SIM. Furthermore, neglecting to disable data roaming on your device might result in being charged for automatic updates received through the country’s large wireless networks – this only adds insult to injury!
Joining one of New Zealand’s mobile networks is a more cost-effective option than using your home SIM. There are numerous providers to select from, with the top three being New Zealand Telecom, Vodafone, and 2degrees. These suppliers offer diverse plans at different price points that allow you to pay monthly or choose Prepay (akin to Pay As You Go), as well as offering carryover options that let you ‘carry over’ any unused minutes or texts into the following month – exclusively offered by 2degrees.
In case you prefer not to make calls to your home using your cellphone, enrolling with a service provider that offers international calling via landlines can be considered. New Zealand Telecom and Slingshot are two providers that offer budget-friendly options for making international calls.
A cost-effective choice is utilizing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, such as Skype. Communicating with loved ones online becomes effortless if they also have the same VoIP program, and best of all – making calls won’t incur any charges for you.
As a consumer in New Zealand, what entitlements do I have?
Similar to the EU and USA, consumer rights in New Zealand mandate that goods and services (such as broadband, home phone, and mobile plans) meet standards of acceptability for their intended purpose.
The 1993 Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) outlines these requirements which include product quality assurance along with compliance to advertised specifications. Those who violate this law are legally obligated to provide compensation to retailers or providers concerned.
Should you encounter an issue with your mobile, broadband, or home phone provider that cannot be resolved via their typical complaints procedure, the Telecommunication Dispute Resolution (TDR) service is available to assist.
Designed specifically for resolving grievances and concerns regarding telecom suppliers in New Zealand, TDR services are free of charge when addressing conflicts.
Conclusion
In the Māori language, New Zealand is called Aotearoa meaning ‘the land of the long white cloud’. This name has become even more appropriate in recent years as ‘cloud’ now refers to wireless internet.
If you’re visiting any of New Zealand’s major cities, accessing Wi-Fi at one of their numerous hotspots scattered throughout provides easy access to this digital cloud. However, it may require signing up with a telecom provider that operates these services for use on laptops or mobile devices.
