Telephone numbers in New Zealand

New Zealand (and Pitcairn Islands, UK) telephone numbers
Location
Country New Zealand (and Pitcairn Islands, UK)
Continent Oceania
Type semi-open
NSN length 8 (landline)
9 (most mobile)
Typical format (0x) xxx xxxx
(0xx) xxx xxxx
(0xxx) xxx xxx
Access codes
Country calling code +64
International call prefix 00
Trunk prefix 0

Country calling code: +64
International call prefix: 00
Trunk prefix: 0

The New Zealand telephone numbering plan describes the allocation of telephone numbers in New Zealand. The Pitcairn Islands also use the plan.

History

Until the 1970s, New Zealand's telephone network consisted primarily of step-by-step telephone exchanges, or a mixture of rotary and step-by-step exchanges in the main centres. A few rural areas were still served by manual exchanges. Crossbar exchanges were installed from the 1970s, and electronic exchanges from 1982. Local telephone number lengths varied from 3 to 6 digits depending on the size of exchange and population of the local calling area.

Numerous complex dialling instructions appeared in the front of telephone books explaining the number sequences needed to dial subscribers in local "free calling" areas, and in a few cases for short distance toll calls (usually to the local city or town), which were recorded on manually read meters in some step-by-step local exchanges. Local calls were "free", and still are for residential customers. Long distance or toll calls required the manual intervention of an operator, who had access to toll circuits, either via an operator's cord board or a toll exchange (switch). Access to the toll operator was by dialling 0.

Local directory service could be accessed via 100, telephone faults via 120, and emergency services via 111.

Subscriber toll dialling (the historic codes)

Subscriber toll dialling (STD) was introduced into New Zealand telephone network in the mid 1970s, a result of the introduction of NEC crossbar based toll exchanges and their ability to perform number translation. One still needed to dial 0 to make a toll call, but instead of calling the operator, one could then dial the STD number directly. Access to the operator was via 010, while other service numbers remained unchanged.

The original STD codes were numbered roughly south to north, with a few exceptions. Some of the STD codes were:

Town/City Historic STD Code
Whangarei 089
Auckland 09
Tauranga 075
Napier and Hastings 070
Hamilton 071
New Plymouth 067
Palmerston North 063
Wanganui 064
Masterton 059
Wellington 04
Nelson 054
Blenheim 057
Kaikoura 0513
Christchurch 03
Dunedin 024
Gore 020
Invercargill 021

STD codes were assigned with larger areas having short STD codes (e.g. Auckland - 09), while smaller areas had longer STD codes and shorter local numbers (e.g. Shannon - 06927). The total number length, that is STD code and local number excluding the first 0, usually totalled seven digits, but could vary up to nine, often as exchanges increased the length of local numbers to accommodate new lines.

Reorganisation

With the introduction of NEC Stored Program Control exchanges in to the New Zealand telephone network during the 1980s, and the rapid growth in demand, the breakup of the New Zealand Post Office and the creation of Telecom, the opportunity arose to standardise local telephone numbers at 7 digits long. In many parts of the country, the old area code was incorporated into the new number, however in some areas the numbers changed completely.

Town/City Old number New number
Whangarei (089) xx-xxx (09) 43x-xxxx
New Plymouth (067) xx-xxx (06) 75x-xxxx
Upper Hutt
Porirua
Lower Hutt
Wellington north
Wellington south
(04) 2xx-xxx
(04) 3xx-xxx
(04) 6xx-xxx
(04) 7xx-xxx
(04) 8xx-xxx
(04) 52x-xxxx
(04) 23x-xxxx
(04) 56x-xxxx
(04) 47x-xxxx
(04) 38x-xxxx
Nelson (054) xx-xxx (03) 54x-xxxx
Kaikoura (0513) xxxx (03) 319-xxxx
Dunedin (024) xxx-xxx (03) 4xx-xxxx
Invercargill (021) xx-xxx (03) 21x-xxxx

At the same time, the opportunity was taken to move directory service from 100 to 018 and charge for directory service calls. The justification for doing so was the introduction of a directory service computer system that gave access to current New Zealand telephone number listings, not just those printed in the telephone book, and the need for a separate user pays revenue stream for Telecom Directory Services, which was separate to the 5 regional (local) telephone companies, TNI and Telecom Mobile that Telecom had split itself into, as part of the sale of Telecom and deregulation of New Zealand telecommunications services.

Since 1993, land-line telephone numbers in New Zealand consist of a single-digit area code and seven-digit local numbers, the first three of which generally specify the exchange and the final four a line at that exchange.

International number lengths

The long distance trunk prefix, 0, that is prepended to national numbers is not part of the international number.

Minimum number length after International prefix : 3 digits (Most numbers, other than service numbers, are at least 8 digits.)

Maximum number length after International prefix : 9 digits (Except numbers starting 210 - 10 digits)

Present numbering plan

New Zealand follows open dialing plan.
Country code: 64

Long distance prefix: 0

International prefix: 00

Landlines

New Zealand landline phone numbers total eight digits excluding the leading 0: a one-digit area code, and a seven-digit phone number (e.g. 09 700 1234), beginning with a digit between 2 and 9 (but excluding 900, 911, and 999 due to misdial guards). There are five regional area codes: 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9. These must be dialled, along with the domestic trunk prefix, when calling a recipient outside the local calling area of which the caller is located. For example, one calling Dunedin from Christchurch must dial 03, even though Christchurch is 03 as well.

The combined domestic trunk prefix[1] and area codes are:

The first few digits of the local number can specify the general area of the telephone numbers. Note the names below are of the local calling areas.

  • 03 20 Gore, Edendale
  • 03 21 Invercargill (includes Stewart Island / Rakiura)
  • 03 22 Otautau
  • 03 23 Riverton, Winton
  • 03 24 Tokanui, Lumsden, Te Anau
  • 03 30 Ashburton, Akaroa, Chatham Islands
  • 03 31 Rangiora, Amberley, Culverden, Darfield, Cheviot, Kaikoura
  • 03 32 Christchurch (satellite towns)
  • 03 33 Christchurch (southern suburbs)
  • 03 34 Christchurch (western suburbs and Rolleston)
  • 03 35 Christchurch (northern suburbs)
  • 03 36 Christchurch (central city)
  • 03 37 Christchurch (central city)
  • 03 38 Christchurch (eastern suburbs)
  • 03 409 Queenstown
  • 03 41 Balclutha, Milton
  • 03 43 Oamaru, Mount Cook, Twizel, Kurow
  • 03 44 Queenstown, Cromwell, Alexandra, Wanaka, Ranfurly, Roxburgh
  • 03 45 Dunedin (southeastern suburbs), Queenstown
  • 03 46 Dunedin (western suburbs), Palmerston
  • 03 47 Dunedin (central and northern suburbs)
  • 03 48 Dunedin (southwestern suburbs and Mosgiel), Lawrence
  • 03 52 Murchison, Takaka, Motueka
  • 03 54 Nelson
  • 03 57 Blenheim
  • 03 61 Timaru
  • 03 68 Timaru, Waimate, Fairlie
  • 03 69 Geraldine
  • 03 73 Greymouth
  • 03 75 Hokitika, Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier, Haast
  • 03 76 Greymouth
  • 03 78 Westport
  • 03 90 Ashburton
  • 03 94 Christchurch, Invercargill
  • 03 95 Dunedin, Timaru
  • 03 96 Christchurch
  • 03 97 Christchurch
  • 03 98 Christchurch, Blenheim, Nelson

  • 04 23 Wellington (Porirua and Tawa)
  • 04 29 Paraparaumu
  • 04 3 Wellington (southern and eastern suburbs)
  • 04 4 Wellington (central, western and northern suburbs)
  • 04 5 Wellington (Hutt Valley)
  • 04 80 Wellington
  • 04 90 Paraparaumu
  • 04 9 Wellington (except 04 90)

  • 06 27 Hawera
  • 06 30 Featherston
  • 06 32 Palmerston North (satellite towns), Marton
  • 06 34 Wanganui
  • 06 35 Palmerston North (city)
  • 06 36 Levin
  • 06 37 Masterton, Dannevirke, Pahiatua
  • 06 38 Taihape, Ohakune, Waiouru
  • 06 75 New Plymouth, Mokau
  • 06 76 New Plymouth, Opunake, Stratford
  • 06 83 Napier (northern satellite towns), Wairoa
  • 06 84 Napier (Napier city)
  • 06 85 Waipukurau
  • 06 86 Gisborne, Ruatoria
  • 06 87 Napier (Hastings city and southern satellite towns)
  • 06 94 Masterton, Levin
  • 06 95 Palmerston North, New Plymouth
  • 06 96 Wanganui, New Plymouth
  • 06 97 Napier
  • 06 98 Gisborne

  • 07 30 Whakatane
  • 07 31 Whakatane, Opotiki
  • 07 32 Whakatane
  • 07 33 Rotorua, Taupo
  • 07 34 Rotorua
  • 07 35 Rotorua
  • 07 36 Rotorua
  • 07 37 Taupo
  • 07 38 Taupo
  • 07 54 Tauranga
  • 07 57 Tauranga
  • 07 82 Hamilton, Huntly
  • 07 83 Hamilton
  • 07 84 Hamilton (western suburbs)
  • 07 85 Hamilton (eastern suburbs)
  • 07 86 Paeroa, Waihi, Thames, Whangamata
  • 07 87 Te Awamutu, Otorohanga, Te Kuiti
  • 07 88 Matamata, Putaruru, Morrinsville
  • 07 89 Taumarunui
  • 07 90 Taupo
  • 07 92 Rotorua, Whakatane, Tauranga
  • 07 93 Tauranga
  • 07 95 Hamilton
  • 07 96 Hamilton

  • 09 23 Pukekohe
  • 09 2 Auckland (southern and eastern suburbs)
  • 09 3 Auckland (inner city and Waiheke Island)
  • 09 40 Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Kawakawa
  • 09 41 Auckland (northern suburbs)
  • 09 42 Helensville, Warkworth, Hibiscus Coast, Great Barrier Island
  • 09 43 Whangarei, Maungaturoto
  • 09 44 Auckland (northern suburbs)
  • 09 47 Auckland (northern suburbs)
  • 09 48 Auckland (northern suburbs)
  • 09 5 Auckland (central-eastern and eastern suburbs)
  • 09 6 Auckland (central-western suburbs)
  • 09 8 Auckland (western suburbs)
  • 09 90 Warkworth
  • 09 98 Whangarei
  • 09 9 Auckland (excluding 09 90 and 09 98)

Mobile phones

Mobile phone numbers begin 02, followed by seven to nine digits (usually eight). The first few digits after the 02 indicate the original mobile network that issued the number.

Telephone numbers must always be dialled in full for mobile phones. In the late 1990s however, Telecom mobile phones could dial other Telecom mobile phones without the (then) 025 prefix, making 025 act like a landline area code.

Prefix Network Number length Notes
0201 Orcon
0202 Orcon
0203 Accelero
0204 Skinny
0205 Vodafone
0206 Voyager Internet
0207 TeamTalk Unallocatable as of 05 Dec 2013
0208 TeamTalk Unallocatable as of 05 Dec 2013
0209 TeamTalk Unallocatable as of 05 Dec 2013
021 Vodafone 6 to 8 digits 6 digits originally assigned to on account customers only and 7 digits assigned to prepay customers only
022 2degrees 7 digits 2degrees was launched in August 2009.
023 Unused Owned by Vodafone
024 Unused Protected by Management Committee 30.01.09 to preserve the potential code expansion option.
025 Unused 6-7 digits Was used by Telecom New Zealand until it was shut down on 31 March 2007. All numbers have now migrated to 027 (7-digit), with older 025 numbers prefixed with 4 (e.g. 027-4xxx-xxx).
026Spark New Zealand,
Team Talk
7 digits Used for calling Fleetlink or other trunked radios from a phone line
027Spark New Zealand 7 digits
028 0Compass Communications
028 CallPlus or BLACK + WHITE
028 85 Vodafone This Code Block was previously allocated to M2 NZ Limited and was Transferred to Vodafone on 6/11/13
028 86 Vodafone This Code Block was previously allocated to M2 NZ Limited and was Transferred to Vodafone on 6/11/13
028 96 NOW Previously called Airnet NZ Ltd
029Vodafone Vodafone acquired TelstraClear in 2012

The introduction of mobile number portability on 1 April 2007 meant that an increasing number of mobiles will be operating on a different network to that which originally assigned the number. To find out whether a particular number belongs to a specific network provider, one can text the mobile number of interest to 300. It is a free service provided by 2degrees. A reply will be sent to verify whether the number is operating on their network or not. Note: Some reports indicate this service will work for Vodafone and Spark, but as at 05/11/2014 only 2Degrees appears to support this service.

Other numbers

Toll-free and premium-rate

Toll-free numbers begin with 0508 or 0800, usually followed by 6 digits (some numbers on 0800 have seven digits). Premium rate services use the code 0900 followed by 5 digits. Local rate numbers, such as internet access numbers, have the prefix 08xx, and are usually followed by 5 digits.

  • 083210 Call Minder answerphone service
  • 08322 Infocall numbers
  • 0867 Dial-up Internet numbers

Service numbers

Numbers beginning with 01 are for operator services.

The '1' codes are used for local services, including activating exchange features. The emergency services number is '111'.

The mobile network also recognises telephone numbers starting with *, including:

Text message numbers for mobile phones are 3 or 4 digits long.

Other useful numbers

Fictional numbers

New Zealand has no dedicated series of fictional telephone numbers. Television shows and movies generally use any available range of numbers (e.g. the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street uses the unassigned (09) 4299 number range.).

See also

References

  1. Trunk Prefix

External links