Description
This article is from the New Zealand
FAQ, by Phil Stuart-Jones and Lin Nah with numerous
contributions by others.
B3.5.5 New Zealand: Telephone
Telecommunications companies
Telecom NZ ( http://www.telecom.co.nz )
Sole supplier of residential phone lines.
Cellular network is an analogue/digital hybrid system.
The Telecom white and yellow pages are available online at:
http://www.whitepages.co.nz
http://www.yellowpages.co.nz
Clear Communications ( http://www.clear.co.nz/ )
Competes with Telecom on toll call market, business lines and
Internet ( http://www.clear.net.nz )
Bell South NZ ( http://www.bellsouth.co.nz )
Mainly Cellular phone service.
Only supplier of GSM Digital cellphone within NZ
Similar to British Telecom style. Uses BT 600 plug (not RJ-11) Phone line
is pins 2 and 5 of the BT 600 plug (RJ-11 is pins 3 & 4). Hotels will have
difficulty in converting plugs styles but conversion cables are available
from retailers.
Most NZ telephone systems can handle DTMF tone dialling.
BEWARE: NZ pulse dialing is the reverse of most countries. The digit are
reversed and so produce different numbers of pulses. The conversion is:
digit | # of Pulses
--------+------------
0 | 10
1 | 9
2 | 8
[.....]
8 | 2
9 | 1
The best solution is to use tone dialing.
Lin Nah contributes:
"Here's something that may be handy for travellers with a digital Mobile
phones. Those without GSM Mobile phones may rent or buy one.
"There are SIM cards available on short term rental. This allows them to
use their GSM digital mobiles. They will be allocated a NZ mobile number.
They can drop the card off at the Budget rental car desk at the airport on
their way out of the country."
"There is no need to reserve a card. Arrangements can be made when they
arrive in NZ. All they need to do is call 0800 800 021. Ask the help desk
person where is your nearest Bellsouth office. (I think this presumes you
are going to arrive in one of our cities with international airports like
Auckland, Wgtn or Chch. I have this feeling that trying to get it when you
are in Colville won't be too successful ;) )"
To find out more:
http://www.bellsouth.co.nz/rentals/index.htm
There is also another option where you buy a GSM SIM card that has been
loaded with a certain number of minutes. Each card is only valid for
two months. There is no option available online on this pre-pay scheme.
I suggest you ask Bell South about it if you are interested.
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