A Complete Guide to Prepaid Debit Cards in New Zealand: Options, Features, and Where to Get Them

You can order or buy a prepaid debit card in New Zealand as a way to securely spend locally, for travel use, or as a gift for someone else. Different cards are available for one off or everyday use, with their own features and fees to suit a very broad range of customer needs.

This guide walks through what you can expect with a prepaid card, and where to buy prepaid Visa cards in New Zealand. Let’s dive right in.

What is a prepaid card?

A prepaid card might be a single-use gift prepaid card from a provider like Prezzy, or a reloadable multi-currency travel card such as the OneSmart card from Air New Zealand. Gift cards are usually used for personal and corporate gifting, while dedicated travel cards like the OneSmart card are meant for overseas usage.

Aside from these options there are also more all-round prepaid debit cards like the Wise debit card which you can use locally to spend NZD or make cash withdrawals, as well as for overseas spending, online shopping, sending payments or receiving money from others in select currencies. This guide walks through the core options available for prepaid cards in New Zealand so you can see if any suit your specific needs.

Prepaid debit cards in New Zealand

Here are the popular options for travellers and consumers we’ve picked out to look at in this guide - we’ve got a quick word on why each is a great choice, and more detail on the features and fees to expect coming up right after:

• Wise debit card - great choice for local and travel use, supporting 40+ currencies with the mid-market rate and no foreign transaction fee
• Revolut card - popular option for travellers with 25+ currencies, great if you want a personalised card, including metal cards¹
• Dosh card - handy NZD wallet and card which lets you earn up to 10 NZD cash back as you spend, every month² 
• Air New Zealand OneSmart - Air New Zealand reloadable multi-currency prepaid card supporting 8 currencies - good for frequent fliers³
• Prezzy card - preloaded gift card for personal and business giving, which can be used to spend online and in partner retailers just like using a debit card⁴

Wise debit card

Best for: No ongoing account fees, and ways to hold, send and spend 40+ currencies with the mid-market rate and no foreign transaction fee

Get your Wise debit card online or using your phone, and make in person, online, contactless and mobile payments in 150+ countries. Add NZD to your account or receive money in 8+ currencies with local account information, then spend or convert with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees. You can use your linked account to send and receive foreign currency payments, to pay your local bills and for holding a balance in 40+ currencies.

Main features and fees to consider:

• No account opening or ongoing fees - one time card order charge of 14 NZD
• Virtual card available instantly, physical card available by mail
• Hold 40+ currencies and spend for free if you have enough balance in the currency needed
• Currency conversion uses the mid-market rate and low fee, with no foreign transaction charge
• Up to 2 ATM withdrawals per month, to 350 NZD in value, fee free. - 1.50 NZD + 1.75% after that

➡️ Order a Wise card

Revolut card

Best for: Choice of account and card plans, with different no fee transaction limits and user perks

Revolut New Zealand has four different account tiers which all have their own cards, from a basic plastic card to a personalised premium metal card. All accounts have their own features and fees, with basic accounts having no ongoing costs but limited no-fee transaction options, and top tier cards offering more perks. Aside from monthly fees, some transaction fees can apply including fair usage costs when plan limits are exceeded.

Main features and fees to consider:

• Monthly fees from 0 NZD - 22.99 NZD depending on the plan selected
• Plans support holding 25+ currencies which you can spend, convert, hold or send to others
• Some weekday currency exchange with the Revolut rate on all account plans - fair usage fees or out of hours costs can apply 
• Higher tier accounts have insurance and travel perks as well as priority service
• All accounts have some no fee ATM usage before Revolut fees begin

Dosh card

Best for: Local NZD account from a fully digital provider offering cash back on card spending and few day to day fees

Get a Dosh card online and add money to your linked account in NZD, for spending conveniently online and in person. Accounts let you visualise your budget, plan your money and split bills with others easily. Your Dosh card is also fully compatible with Google and Apple Pay for easy mobile payments, and offers cash back of up to 10 NZD a month when you spend. Card spending overseas incurs additional fees of 2%.

Main features and fees to consider:

• Full digital solution to spend online, and in person, including mobile payments
• Get up to 10 NZD/month in cash back when you use your Dosh card
• Great budgeting and money management tools provided
• Very few fees for local count use in New Zealand
• 2% foreign transaction fee if you use your card in a foreign currency⁵ 

Air New Zealand OneSmart

Best for: Air New Zealand frequent flyers can earn 1 Airpoints dollar for every 100 NZD spent

The Air New Zealand OneSmart card lets you earn 1 Airpoints dollar for every 100 NZD spent, which you can then use to redeem flights, upgrades and other perks with Air New Zealand. The card is a prepaid multi-currency card supporting 8 foreign currencies. While there’s no fee to spend a currency you hold, fees may be built into the exchange rate used for conversion when you top up in NZD and convert to a foreign currency.

Main features and fees to consider:

• Earn Airpoints Dollars as you spend, which you can use for flights and upgrades
• Hold 8 different currencies - costs may apply when you convert from NZD to the currency you need, which may be built into the rate used
• Load your card by bank transfer or with a NZD debit card
• No fee to order, but there’s a 1 NZD monthly fee once you have your card
• 2.5% foreign transaction fee if you spend a currency you don’t hold

Prezzy card

Best for: Gifts for others, including corporate gifting, with physical and virtual cards for various types of purchases 

The Prezzy card is a physical or virtual preloaded gift card which is available in denominations of 25 NZD right up to 1,000 NZD. The purchaser will pay a fee to add money to the card and then the recipient can spend with no additional cost in eligible retailers locally and overseas. It’s worth knowing there’s no ATM use, and cards expire after 2 years, plus there are some limitations on overseas use depending on the market involved.

Main features and fees to consider:

• Gift idea for individuals, or as a corporate reward product for business use
• Range of different physical and virtual card designs available 
• Card can only be used in select ways, including online and by phone, and some physical retailers - no ATM use available 
• Cards expire after 2 years, and balance will be lost at this point if not redeemed 
• 5.95 NZD load fee paid by the person adding money to the card

Where to get prepaid cards in New Zealand

Best prepaid cards in New Zealand: Summary

There are different types of prepaid cards in New Zealand, so the right one for you will depend on whether you’re looking for a present for a friend, a local card for NZD usage, a travel card, or an all round option to manage your money locally and overseas with low costs and flexible currency exchange.

If you want a solid everyday card which you can use for local and travel use, Wise may be the suitable debit card for you. With no monthly fees and access to 40+ currencies at the mid-market exchange rate, you're usually getting the best value for your money.

🚀 Get your Wise card today

This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you.