Telephone numbers in New Zealand

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

New Zealand and Pitcairn Islands telephone numbers
New Zealand
Location
CountryNew Zealand and Pitcairn Islands
ContinentOceania
Typesemi-open
NSN length8 (landline)
9 (most mobile)
Typical format(0x) xxx xxxx
(0xx) xxx xxxx
(0xxx) xxx xxx
Access codes
Country calling code64
International call prefix00
Trunk prefix0

History

By the 1970s, New Zealand's telephone network consisted primarily of step-by-step telephone exchanges or, in the main centres, a mixture of rotary and step-by-step exchanges, with a few rural areas still served by manual exchanges. 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 reach 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 (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 by dialling 111.

Crossbar exchanges were installed from the 1970s, and electronic exchanges from 1982.

Subscriber toll dialling (the historical codes)

Subscriber toll dialling (STD) was introduced in the 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:

  • 020 Gore
  • 021 Invercargill
  • 0225 Otautau
  • 0228 Lumsden
  • 0229 Te Anau
  • 024 Dunedin
  • 027 Greymouth
  • 0288 Hokitika
  • 0289 Westport
  • 0294 Alexandra
  • 0297 Oamaru
  • 0299 Balclutha
  • 03 Christchurch
  • 04 Wellington
  • 0502 Rangiora
  • 0504 Amberley
  • 0505 Fairlie
  • 0513 Kaikoura
  • 0514 Akaroa
  • 0516 Darfield
  • 0519 Waimate
  • 0524 Motueka
  • 053 Ashburton
  • 054 Nelson
  • 0553 Featherston
  • 056 Timaru
  • 057 Blenheim
  • 058 Paraparaumu
  • 059 Masterton
  • 062 Hawera
  • 063 Palmerston North
  • 064 Wanganui
  • 0650 Pahiatua
  • 0652 Marton
  • 0653 Dannevirke
  • 0658 Raetihi, Taihape
  • 0663 Stratford
  • 067 New Plymouth
  • 069 Levin
  • 070 Napier-Hastings
  • 071 Hamilton
  • 0724 Wairoa
  • 0728 Waipukurau
  • 073 Rotorua
  • 074 Taupo
  • 075 Tauranga
  • 076 Whakatane
  • 079 Gisborne
  • 080 Tokoroa
  • 0812 Taumarunui
  • 0813 Te Kuiti
  • 0814 Putaruru
  • 0816 Paeroa
  • 0817 Huntly
  • 0818 Matamata
  • 0819 Te Aroha
  • 082 Te Awamutu
  • 0843 Thames
  • 0846 Warkworth
  • 085 Pukekohe
  • 0884 Dargaville
  • 0887 Kerikeri
  • 0889 Kaitaia
  • 089 Whangarei
  • 09 Auckland

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, as exchanges often increased the length of local numbers to accommodate new lines.

Reorganisation

With the introduction of NEC stored program control exchanges in 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, local telephone numbers were standardised to seven digits. 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 a seven-digit local number, of which the first three digits generally specify the exchange and the final four specify the subscriber's unique line at that exchange.

International number lengths

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

The minimum number length after the international prefix is three digits. Most numbers, other than service numbers have at least eight digits.

The maximum number length after the international prefix is nine digits, except numbers starting with 210 (which have ten digits).

Present numbering plan

New Zealand follows an open numbering plan. The country code is 64. The long distance dialing prefix is 0 and the international prefix is 00.

Landlines

New Zealand landline phone numbers have a total of 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:[2]

The first few digits of the local number can specify the general area of the telephone numbers.[3] Note the names below are of the local calling areas.

Mobile phones

Telephone numbers for mobile phones begin with 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.

PrefixNetworkNumber lengthNotes
0201OrconOrcon no longer provide mobile services; these prefixes are now under Skinny.
0202Orcon
0203Voyager

Formerly owned by Accelero

0204Skinny6 or 7 digits
0205Vodafone
0206Voyager Internet
0207TeamTalkUnallocatable as of 5 December 2013
0208TeamTalkUnallocatable as of 5 December 2013
0209TeamTalkUnallocatable as of 5 December 2013
021Vodafone[4]6 to 8 digits6 digits were originally assigned to on account customers only; 7 digits are assigned to prepay customers only.
0222degrees[4]7 digits2degrees was launched in August 2009.
023UnusedOwned by Vodafone
024UnusedProtected by Management Committee 30.01.09 to preserve the potential code expansion option.
025Unused6-7 digitsWas 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. 027-4xx-xxxx). Telecom told existing 025 subscribers that their new number was simply their old number with '0274' in front. This was actually incorrect as the access number is 027 and the subscriber number although it starts with a 4 is separated from it by a hyphen.
026Spark New Zealand,[4]
Team Talk
7 digitsUsed for calling Fleetlink or other trunked radios from a phone line. Used for Paging service until shutdown in 2017
027Spark New Zealand[4]7 digitsFormerly Telecom New Zealand
028 0Compass Communications
028CallPlus or Black + White[4]
028 4Warehouse MobileOwned by The Warehouse group, this network launched on 28 November 2015 as an MVNO on 2Degrees Mobile
028 85VodafonePreviously allocated to M2 Limited and was transferred to Vodafone on 6/11/13
028 86VodafonePreviously allocated to M2 Limited and was transferred to Vodafone on 6/11/13
028 892Talk7 digits
028 96NOWPreviously called Airnet NZ Ltd
029TelstraClear[4] (Vodafone)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. As of September 2019, this service will work for Vodafone and Spark Active.

Toll-free and premium-rate calls

Toll-free numbers begin with 0508 or 0800,[2] followed by usually six but sometimes seven digits. Premium rate services use the code 0900 followed by five digits (some with six digits). Local rate numbers, such as Internet access numbers, have the prefix 08xx, and are usually followed by five digits.

  • 0508 Tollfree sold by many network operators (originally launched by Clear Communications as a competitor to the then Telecom only 0800 range)
  • 0800 Tollfree sold by many network operators (originally only available to Telecom NZ, now known as Spark)
  • 08xy Various non-geographic services
    • 083210 Call Minder answerphone service
    • 08322 Infocall numbers
    • 0867 Dial-up Internet numbers (retired)
  • 0900 Premium rate services[4]

Service numbers

Numbers beginning with 01 are for operator services.

  • 010 National Operator
  • 0170 International Operator
  • 0172 International Directory Service
  • 018 National Directory Service

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

  • 105 Police non-emergency number.
  • 111 Emergency Services Operator (all telephones; forwarded to Fire, Police or Ambulance as required).
  • 112 Emergency Services Operator for GSM Mobiles (only) - not advertised.
  • 11x Not allocatable. Used internally for specific emergency services.
  • 12x Spark repair and sales services.
  • 1319 Various uses, mainly exchange service.

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

  • *123 Spark Mobile Sales and Service
  • *200 2degrees Mobile Sales & Service
  • *222 Automobile Association Roadside Service
  • *500 Coastguard Marine Assistance
  • *555 Traffic Safety Services (Police non-emergency traffic calls)

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

Other useful numbers

  • 1956 - reads back the number the user is calling from (includes the area code "3" 7654321). (not TelstraClear/Vodafone)
  • 1957 - reads back the number the user is calling from (without the area code e.g. 7654321). (not TelstraClear/Vodafone)
  • 1958 - sends back the number the user is calling from in DTMF tones. (not TelstraClear/Vodafone)
  • 511 - reads back the number the user is calling from (TelstraClear/Vodafone only)
  • 083201234 - reads back the pilot number of the line the user is calling from (if calling from a business line in a stepping group) or the individual number on the Telstra/Vodafone network.
  • 083201231 - reads back the pilot number as above, with area code.
  • 083201232 - returns the DTMF tones of the line called from.
  • 137 - ringer test (ringback number); Pick up phone handset, dial 137, hang up, the phone will ring, pick up handset to cancel.
  • 0196 - Dialed before numbers to show caller ID if it is disabled for outgoing calls on number you are calling from.
  • 0197 - Dialled before any normal phone number disables caller ID for the receiving party. (not Spark currently, possibly discontinued for others)
  • #31# - Dialled before any normal phone number disables caller ID for the receiving party.
  • *32 - Dialled before any normal phone number disables caller ID for the receiving party. (TelstraClear/Vodafone only)
  • *67 - Dialled before any normal phone number disables caller ID for the receiving party. (Voyager)

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. "ITU allocations list". ITU.int.
  2. "New Zealand Numbering Plan". TNZI. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  3. "Number Register". NAD.org.nz. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  4. Naden, Liam (17 January 2019). "Telephone Area Codes in New Zealand". TripSavvy. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
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