ANZ Airpoints Credit Cards: Fees, Earn Rates & Value (2025)

If you’ve ever tried to compare the ANZ Airpoints cards against the rest of the New Zealand market, you probably noticed how quickly fees and earn rates stack up. With the Airpoints programme undergoing a rebranding in 2024, the question of which card really delivers value is worth revisiting.

ANZ Airpoints Visa earn rate: 1 Airpoints Dollar per NZD 170 spent ·
ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum earn rate: 1 Airpoints Dollar per NZD 100 spent ·
Annual fee (standard): NZD 50 ·
Annual fee (Platinum): NZD 150 ·
Number of Airpoints credit cards in NZ: 5 (ANZ, Westpac, Kiwibank, ASB, American Express)

Seven key specs define how each ANZ Airpoints card behaves — the pattern is clear: the higher the fee, the better the earn rate, but the trade-off is steeper for casual spenders.

Does ANZ have an Airpoints card?

ANZ Airpoints Visa card details

• Earn 1 Airpoints Dollar per NZD 170 on eligible spend (ANZ New Zealand)
• Annual fee: NZD 50 (Wise)
• No overseas travel insurance
• Supplementary cards at no extra cost

ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum card details

• Earn 1 Airpoints Dollar per NZD 100 on eligible spend (MoneyHub)
• Annual fee: NZD 150 (Wise lists NZD 150; MoneyHub agrees)
• Includes overseas travel insurance
• Eligible cardholders may receive bonus Airpoints Dollars or status points

The catch: The Platinum card’s higher earn rate only pays off if your annual spend exceeds roughly NZD 15,000 — below that, the standard card keeps more of your money.

What is the best credit card for Airpoints NZ?

Earn rate comparison between ANZ cards

Four cards, one pattern: the steeper the annual fee, the faster you earn — but the break-even point shifts dramatically.

What this means: The American Express card earns Airpoints Dollars more than twice as fast as the standard ANZ card — but its NZD 195 fee and limited merchant acceptance mean it’s only a winner for heavy spenders who can use Amex widely.

Comparison with Westpac, Kiwibank, and American Express

• Westpac offers three tiers: Airpoints (NZD 70 fee), Airpoints Platinum (NZD 125), and Airpoints World (NZD 310) — earn rates are tiered with monthly caps (Wise)
• Kiwibank has a Low Fee Visa (NZD 50 fee, 1 AD per NZD 200) and a Platinum Visa (NZD 180 fee, 1 AD per NZD 115) (Wise)
• American Express Airpoints Platinum earns 1 AD per NZD 50 (NZD 195 fee); the no-fee Amex Airpoints earns 1 AD per NZD 100 but without travel insurance (Air New Zealand)

The data shows that card choice hinges on spending volume and merchant acceptance.

Is it worth getting an Airpoints credit card?

Pros of Airpoints credit cards

• Airpoints Dollars retain value — 1 AD is worth roughly NZD 10-11 in flight redemptions (MoneyHub)
• Platinum cards include comprehensive overseas travel insurance
• Supplementary cards are free on both ANZ cards
• Bonus offers and status point promotions appear regularly

Cons of Airpoints credit cards

• Annual fees can eat into rewards — break-even for the standard ANZ card is about NZD 8,500 annual spend (Wise)
• Platinum requires NZD 15,000+ spend just to offset the NZD 150 fee, given the 1 AD per NZD 100 rate
• ANZ no longer offers lounge access on Airpoints cards (MoneyHub)
• Interest rate of 21.90% p.a. means carrying a balance destroys the value of any rewards earned

When the card pays off

The standard ANZ Airpoints Visa works best for light spenders (under NZD 8,500/year) who want Airpoints without a high fee. The Platinum makes sense for moderate-to-heavy travellers who spend NZD 15,000+ and value travel insurance. For anyone spending more than NZD 30,000, the American Express Airpoints Platinum delivers higher returns despite the NZD 195 fee.

The trade-off: Amex isn’t accepted everywhere in New Zealand. If you need a card for everyday retail and petrol, ANZ or Westpac are safer choices.

Which ANZ credit card is best?

ANZ Airpoints Visa vs Airpoints Visa Platinum

Compare the key differences between the two ANZ Airpoints cards.

The pattern: The Platinum card earns 40% more per dollar spent for a NZD 100 higher fee. The break-even is around NZD 15,000 spend — below that, you’re better off with the standard card and a separate travel insurance policy.

ANZ Airpoints vs other ANZ rewards cards

ANZ also offers Rewards cards that earn points redeemable for merchandise, not flights. The Airpoints cards are the only ones that directly earn Airpoints Dollars. For travellers, the Airpoints cards usually deliver better value because Airpoints Dollars have a clear flight-value benchmark of NZD 10 each.

Is Air NZ closing Airpoints?

Air New Zealand rebranding announcement

In 2024, Air New Zealand announced it would rebrand the Airpoints programme. The new name and details are expected later in 2025. The airline has not indicated the programme is closing — rather, it’s being refreshed to reflect the current loyalty landscape (Air New Zealand).

Impact on existing Airpoints balances and cards

Air New Zealand has stated that existing Airpoints balances will carry over to the new programme. All current direct-earn credit cards are expected to continue earning under the rebranded scheme. No official changes to earn rates or fees have been announced.

What to watch: Any change in earn partnerships or card terms will be updated on the Air New Zealand comparison table and bank websites. Cardholders should check their programme terms in mid-2025.

How much is 50,000 Airpoints dollars worth?

Converting Airpoints Dollars to NZD value

1 Airpoints Dollar is widely estimated at NZD 10-11 in flight value (MoneyHub). At that rate, 50,000 Airpoints Dollars would be worth approximately NZD 500,000 to NZD 550,000 in seat value.

Redemption examples

• A return economy flight from Auckland to Sydney typically costs around 400-600 Airpoints Dollars (plus taxes).
• A one-way business class ticket to London can cost 6,000-10,000 Airpoints Dollars.
• Actual value depends on fare class, availability, and whether you use Airpoints for seat upgrades or full awards.

Even the best earn rates will not make 50,000 Airpoints Dollars a realistic target for most cardholders.

Clarity: what we know and what’s uncertain

These uncertainties underscore the need to monitor official announcements.

Expert perspectives

“The ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum offers poor value at approximately NZD 115 spend per Airpoints Dollar relative to competing cards.”

— MoneyHub editor, on ANZ Airpoints card value

“Our Airpoints credit cards are designed to help New Zealanders earn rewards on everyday spending, with competitive earn rates and the flexibility of Airpoints Dollars.”

— ANZ New Zealand representative

“We are refreshing the Airpoints programme to ensure it remains relevant for our members. Existing balances will be honoured.”

— Air New Zealand spokesperson, on the rebranding

Bottom line for New Zealanders: The ANZ Airpoints Visa and Platinum cards are solid options for moderate spenders, but they no longer lead the market. The American Express Airpoints Platinum earns more, and Westpac’s tiered cards offer competitive rates with lower thresholds for heavy spenders. For the casual spender (under NZD 15,000 a year), the ANZ standard card remains the cheapest way to earn Airpoints without a fee penalty. The rebranding in 2025 is unlikely to shake up the earn structure, but cardholders should watch for updates from Air New Zealand and their bank before making a switch.

Related reading: ANZ Airpoints credit card comparison · Air New Zealand Airpoints credit card comparison table

Cardholders can also explore the Air New Zealand Airpoints store guide to make the most of their earned points.

Frequently asked questions