NZ credit cards fall into a few types: rewards cards (including Airpoints cards), low-rate cards, no annual fee cards and premium travel cards. This page groups the main cards by type with the figures their issuers publish. Providers are listed alphabetically within each type.
Rewards cards in NZ mostly earn Air New Zealand Airpoints, charge around 20.95% to 22.95% p.a. on purchases and have annual fees from $0 to $195. Low-rate cards charge about 12.90% to 13.90% p.a. and usually have no annual fee. A $2,000 balance carried for a year at 20.95% costs $419 in interest.
Paying in Full or Carrying a Balance
How a card is used decides which numbers matter:
- Balance always paid in full by the due date: on a card with interest-free days, no purchase interest is charged, so the annual fee and the rewards earned are the numbers to compare
- Balance sometimes carried: the purchase rate is the main cost; a $2,000 balance carried for a year costs $419 at 20.95% and $258 at 12.90%
How interest is charged is explained in how credit cards work in NZ.
Airpoints Cards
Airpoints cards earn Air New Zealand Airpoints on eligible spending. The break-even spend below is the spending needed for the Airpoints earned to equal the annual fee, valuing one Airpoint at Air NZ’s stated NZ$1 equivalence.
| Card | Annual fee | Purchase rate | Earn rate | Break-even spend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Airpoints Card | $0 | See issuer | See issuer | None (no fee) |
| American Express Airpoints Platinum | $195 | 22.95% | 1 per $70 | $13,650 a year |
| ANZ Airpoints Visa | $65 | 20.95% | 1 per $170 | $11,050 a year |
| ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum | $150 | 20.95% | 1 per $110 | $16,500 a year |
Fees, rates and earn rates checked on the issuers’ pages 14 October 2026.
American Express says it is accepted at over 100,000 locations nationwide, and the brands on its acceptance page are only a selection. The Amex Airpoints Platinum also includes airport lounge benefits (two Priority Pass visits a year for the main cardholder, and two Centurion Lounge entries a year in Sydney or Melbourne). Other Airpoints cards, and the full detail on each, are in Airpoints credit cards NZ.
Reviews: Amex Airpoints Card | Amex Airpoints Platinum | ANZ Airpoints Visa | ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum
Other Rewards Cards
Banks also run their own points or cashback programmes, such as BNZ Advantage, Westpac hotpoints and ANZ CashBack. Earn rates and fees for these are compared in rewards credit cards NZ.
Reviews: BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum | Westpac hotpoints Mastercard
Low-Rate Cards
Low-rate cards focus on a lower interest rate on a carried balance rather than points, although some offer cashback through partner schemes such as ANZ Loop.
| Card | Annual or account fee | Purchase rate |
|---|---|---|
| ANZ Low Rate Visa | $0 | 13.90% |
| ASB Visa Light | $0 | 13.50% (May 2026) |
| BNZ Lite Visa | $5 half-yearly | 13.50% |
| Kiwibank Zero Visa | $0 | 12.90% |
| Westpac Low Rate Mastercard | $0 | 13.9% (not re-checked) |
The full comparison, with cash advance rates and interest-free days, is in low interest credit cards NZ.
No Annual Fee Cards
Several cards have no annual fee, including the American Express Airpoints Card, the ANZ Low Rate Visa, the ASB Visa Light and the Kiwibank Zero Visa. With no annual fee, a card that is always paid in full has no fee for holding it, although other fees such as the overseas transaction fee can still apply. See no annual fee credit cards NZ.
Travel Cards
For overseas spending the figures to compare are the overseas transaction fee and any included travel insurance. The Kiwibank Zero Visa charges 1.85% on transactions processed overseas. ANZ says its platinum cards include up to 90 days of overseas travel insurance, subject to eligibility (checked 14 October 2026). Cards compared for travel: travel credit cards NZ.
First Cards
The figures that matter most for a first card are the annual fee and the interest rate, since a new cardholder may not always clear the balance. See first credit cards NZ.
Where to check the latest data
Rates, fees and returns change often. Before deciding, check current figures yourself:
- interest.co.nz credit card rates: tables of current credit card interest rates and fees.
- The provider's own website: has its current rates, fees and full terms; these change more often than any comparison page.
- Financial Service Providers Register: shows whether a provider is registered to offer financial services in New Zealand.
Related Guides
- Credit cards in NZ: all card guides and reviews
- How credit cards work in NZ: interest, fees and protections
- Airpoints guide NZ: how Airpoints work
- Credit cards for groceries