Alex

Hi, I remember reading something on here a short while ago about people buying sim cards for use in N.Z that they could use immediately, with their U.K phones
Please could anyone tell a dim whit like me how to go about doing it- the simpler the better!! Thanks

geordiekiwi

First, you need to make sure your phone is dual band (most mobiles sold in the UK in the last few years are, so as long as yours isnt a brick, you should be ok), and make sure its not network locked. Most locked phones have branding on them, but not all. To test if yours is, put a sim card belonging to a network other than your usual one in the phone. If it works, then you're fine.

Far as the sim card goes, you can get them from places like ebay, or just pop into a vodafone store when you get to new zealand. Both will work right away.

poppets

we got our sim cards for our phones from www.0044.co.uk/ Our phones are ready to go when we land in NZ

geordiekiwi

If you can wait until you can get to a local stockist (see http://search.vodafone.co.nz/outlets/08.0_outlets.jsp ) do so. 0044.co.uk charges £29.99 for a vodafone nz sim, but last time I bought one in NZ (3 years ago) they were only $30.

Joshlin

hi there
as previously mentioned get your phone unlocked first - easier done in the uk - then when you get here pop into vodafone buy a sim card - $35 and you're away

sarahw

We brought our UK phones over without unlocking them (BT Mobile). When we went to get them unlocked and buy Vodafone SIMs we were told they didn't need unlocking and they worked fine straightaway

Adventurer

I bought 2 from ebay.(2 new vodaphone ones for £28 (£14 each))
Some available for between £25 & £30 buy it now.
But sometimes people sell them who have returned from NZ or they start at 99p and can go for as little as £10 to £14 + postage

sarahw

Alternatively just go to any NZ Vodafone shop (there's even one at the airport) and buy a SIM only pack. I think it's $35 and you get $15 airtime free.

P18PPS

we had an old orange vodaphone. spent £10 getting it unlocked at any high street phone shop, then bought a used NZ pay as you go sim card from ebay - cost about £20, it still had $30 credit on it, so as soon as we landed we put it in and it worked - easy peasy. I've had it for 7 months and it has been perfect, only problem was getting a few stray phone calls in the early days.