One NZ Mobile Plans 2025: Prices, Coverage & Comparison

Choosing a mobile plan in New Zealand often comes down to the big three: Spark, One NZ, and 2degrees. After Vodafone NZ rebranded to One NZ in 2023, the landscape shifted — and so did the pricing, with entry-level monthly plans starting at $40 and unlimited data plans at $88.

Cheapest plan starting price: $40/month · Coverage (4G/5G): 99% of NZ population · Parent company: Infratil and Brookfield Asset Management · Unlimited data plan price: $88/month · Prepay price range: $20–$70 · Number of plan tiers: 4 (Lite, Endless, Unlimited, Satellite)

Key facts about One NZ at a glance:

What is the cheapest mobile plan in NZ?

One NZ pay monthly plans starting at $40

• One NZ’s Lite plan costs $40/month and includes unlimited NZ calls and texts with 2GB data at max 100Mbps (One NZ (official plan page)).
• The next tier, Endless ($50/month), gives 1.5GB full-speed data then reduced speeds, plus unlimited social media (One NZ (pay-monthly)).
• Unlimited data plan (One Plan) costs $88/month with no speed cap and includes satellite texting for emergencies (One NZ (pay-monthly)).

Prepay options and their costs

• One NZ prepay plans range from $20 (2GB data) to $70 (50GB data) per month, all with unlimited calls and texts (One NZ (official site)).
• No lock-in contracts; top-ups are managed via the One NZ app or retail outlets (One NZ (official site)).

How One NZ prices compare with Spark’s cheapest plan

• Spark’s cheapest postpaid plan is 3GB Endless at $43/month — $3 more than One NZ’s Lite plan (Spark NZ (official shop)).
• One NZ’s $40 plan offers 2GB data; Spark’s $43 plan offers 3GB, so Spark gives more data for an extra $3 (Spark NZ (official shop)).
• For light users, the difference is marginal; for moderate users, Spark’s extra GB may be worth the $3 (MoneyHub NZ (comparison site)).

Bottom line: One NZ’s $40 Lite plan is the cheapest pay-monthly mobile plan from a major NZ network. But Spark’s $43 plan comes with an extra gigabyte — the trade-off is $3 for roughly 50% more data.

The takeaway: If you use less than 2GB a month, One NZ’s Lite plan is the most affordable. For light streamers, Spark’s $43 plan gives better value per gigabyte.

Is One NZ still owned by Vodafone?

The rebranding from Vodafone to One NZ

• Until April 2023, One NZ was known as Vodafone NZ, operating under license from Vodafone Group (One NZ (official site)).
• The rebrand followed the sale of Vodafone NZ to Infratil and Brookfield Asset Management in 2022 (One NZ (official site)).

Current ownership structure

• Infratil holds 51% and Brookfield holds 49% of One NZ (One NZ (official site)).
• Vodafone Group no longer has any ownership stake or board control.
• One NZ is a fully independent New Zealand company, though it still uses some legacy network assets from Vodafone.

What changed for customers

• Existing Vodafone NZ customers were migrated to One NZ billing and branding; phone numbers and contracts remained the same (One NZ (official site)).
• Network infrastructure, retail stores, and customer support continue under the new name.
• Roaming agreements with Vodafone Group may be phased out over time; currently, One NZ retains reciprocal roaming with Vodafone partners.

Why this matters: One NZ is no longer a subsidiary of a global telecom giant. Its decisions on pricing, coverage, and roaming are now made in Auckland, not London.

Which network does One NZ use?

One NZ’s own infrastructure

• One NZ operates its own radio access network (RAN) and core network, independent of Spark and 2degrees (One NZ (official site)).
• The network uses 4G LTE and 5G NR (primarily band n78), with 99% population coverage for 4G/5G (One NZ (official site)).
• According to MoneyHub NZ (consumer comparison site), all three major networks cover over 95% of populated areas with 4G.

Roaming partnerships

• One NZ has reciprocal roaming agreements with major international carriers, including Vodafone partners in over 50 countries (One NZ (official site)).
• There is speculation that One NZ may renegotiate these agreements as Vodafone ties loosen, but no changes have been announced.

5G rollout status

• One NZ launched 5G in 2020 and now covers 50+ towns and cities (One NZ (official site)).
• Canstar NZ reports that One NZ has the widest 5G coverage, slightly ahead of Spark (Canstar NZ (comparison site)).
• Mobile-phones.co.nz (a third-party aggregator) reports that Spark leads 5G coverage with 100+ locations, compared with One NZ’s 50+ (Mobile-phones.co.nz (third-party aggregator)). This discrepancy suggests coverage data depends on how locations are counted.

The pattern: One NZ runs its own network with strong 4G/5G coverage. The 5G coverage lead depends on who you ask — One NZ claims widest, while some third-party sources say Spark has more locations.

Who is better, Spark or One NZ?

Price comparison between Spark and One NZ plans

Five plans, one pattern: One NZ undercuts Spark on entry price but Spark offers more data at similar price points.

One NZ (official plan page), Spark NZ (official shop)

Data and speed differences

• One NZ’s Endless plans throttle after a small full-speed data allowance (e.g., 1.5GB on $50 plan), whereas Spark’s Endless plans offer a much higher full-speed cap (e.g., 75GB at $65) (One NZ (pay-monthly), Spark NZ (official shop)).
• For truly unlimited data, One NZ’s One Plan ($88) and Spark’s Unlimited Data Plan ($90) are nearly identical in price, but One NZ’s plan includes satellite SMS and texting (One NZ (pay-monthly), Spark NZ (official shop)).
• According to Canstar NZ (comparison site), One NZ’s 5G download speed averaged 313 Mbps vs Spark’s 262 Mbps in Opensignal data.

Coverage and reliability

• Both networks claim 99% population coverage for 4G/5G. One NZ is traditionally stronger in rural areas, while Spark performs better in cities (MoneyHub NZ (consumer comparison site)).
• TimeTransfers (travel guide site) says Spark is the safest bet for wide national coverage and South Island road trips, while One NZ is strong for big-city travel and major highways.
• Mobile-phones.co.nz (third-party aggregator) reports Spark has 98.5% population coverage and 85% geographic coverage, which would slightly exceed One NZ’s 99% population claim for the same metric.

Customer satisfaction scores

• Canstar NZ’s 2024 survey gives One NZ 4.5/5 for overall satisfaction, ahead of Spark (Canstar NZ (comparison site)).
• One NZ’s complaints to the Telecommunications Dispute Resolution are lower than the industry average.

Is One NZ a good network?

Network reliability and speed

• One NZ’s 5G average download speed is 313 Mbps according to Opensignal data cited by Canstar (Canstar NZ (comparison site)).
• 4G speeds are adequate for streaming and video calls, though throttled after data cap on Endless plans (One NZ (pay-monthly)).
• MoneyHub NZ (consumer comparison site) notes One NZ traditionally has strong rural coverage, which matters for travelers.

Customer service reviews

• One NZ has a 4.5/5 rating on Canstar for overall satisfaction, indicating customers are generally happy (Canstar NZ (comparison site)).
• Complaint volumes are below industry average, according to the Telecommunications Dispute Resolution scheme.

Value for money

• The $40 Lite plan is the cheapest major-network plan in NZ, but limited to 2GB data (One NZ (official site)).
• The $88 One Plan offers unlimited data with satellite features, good value for heavy users who also want emergency connectivity (One NZ (pay-monthly)).
• Prepay ranges from $20 to $70, giving flexibility for those who want no contract (One NZ (official site)).

The verdict: One NZ is a reliable network with faster 5G speeds than Spark, strong rural coverage, and the cheapest unlimited plan. The main compromise is smaller full-speed data allowances on Endless plans compared to Spark.

One NZ offers four plan categories, each with different data and speed profiles.

One NZ (official plan page)

“Our ambition is to be the most trusted digital company in New Zealand, and reaching 99% population coverage is a key milestone.”

— One NZ spokesperson (press release on coverage milestone)

“One NZ scored 4.5 out of 5 in our annual customer satisfaction survey, reflecting strong performance across value, network, and service.”

— Canstar NZ editor

For New Zealanders comparing mobile plans, the choice between One NZ and Spark is not a landslide win for either. One NZ offers the cheapest entry-level plan and the cheapest unlimited plan, faster 5G speeds, and a unique satellite safety feature. But Spark provides more full-speed data on mid-tier plans and may have a slight edge in geographic coverage. If you’re a light user who wants the lowest bill, One NZ’s Lite plan at $40 is the clear pick. For heavy data users who need lots of full-speed data before throttling, Spark’s 75GB Endless plan at $65 delivers more value. The trade-off is clear: pick One NZ for price and speed, or Spark for data volume.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Compare NZ service providers and pricing · NZ pricing guides and comparisons