Choosing the best NZ credit card depends on what you value most: Airpoints, low interest, no fees, or travel perks. Here’s the definitive 2026 roundup — organised by category.
Best rewards card: ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum ($150 fee, travel insurance, best mainstream Airpoints earn rate). Best no-fee/travel card: Kiwibank Zero Visa (no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees). Best if you carry a balance: ANZ Low Visa or ASB Visa Light (12.9% p.a.). Never carry a balance on a rewards card.
The Golden Rule of NZ Credit Cards
Before picking a card, answer one question: Do you pay your full balance every month?
- Yes, always: → Get a rewards card (Airpoints or cashback)
- Sometimes carry a balance: → Get a low-rate card first; forget rewards
- Not sure: → Start with a no-fee, low-rate card
A $2,000 balance at 20.95% p.a. costs $419/year in interest — more than most rewards cards earn in a year.
Best Overall Rewards Card — ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 |
| Interest rate | 20.95% p.a. |
| Airpoints earn rate | 1 Airpoints Dollar per $75 spend |
| Travel insurance | Yes — included |
| Break-even spend | ~$11,250/year to earn enough Airpoints to cover the fee |
Best for: Regular spenders who travel, pay in full monthly, and want travel insurance included.
Full review: ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum review
Best No Annual Fee + Travel Card — Kiwibank Zero Visa
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 |
| Interest rate | 25.99% p.a. |
| Foreign transaction fee | 0% |
| Rewards | None |
| Break-even spend | N/A — free |
Best for: Travellers who want a fee-free card with no overseas surcharges. Pay in full monthly — the high interest rate is irrelevant if you never carry a balance.
Full review: Kiwibank Zero Visa review
Best Low Interest Card — ANZ Low Visa / ASB Visa Light
| Card | Annual fee | Interest rate |
|---|---|---|
| ANZ Low Visa | $30/year | 12.9% p.a. |
| ASB Visa Light | $0–low fee | 12.9% p.a. |
| BNZ Low Rate Mastercard | $0 | 13.45% p.a. |
Best for: Anyone who occasionally carries a balance. At 12.9% vs 20.95%, a $2,000 balance costs $258/year instead of $419 — saving $161/year.
Full reviews: ANZ Low Visa (within Platinum review) | ASB Visa Light review | BNZ Low Rate Mastercard review
Best Airpoints Earn Rate — Amex Airpoints Platinum
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $200 |
| Airpoints earn rate | 1 Airpoints Dollar per $59 spend |
| Lounge access | Yes — Air NZ and partner lounges |
| Amex acceptance | Lower than Visa/Mastercard in NZ |
| Break-even spend | ~$11,800/year to cover fee in Airpoints |
Best for: High spenders ($20,000+/year on card) who value lounge access and want maximum Airpoints. Must carry a backup Visa or Mastercard — Amex isn’t accepted everywhere.
Full review: Amex Airpoints Platinum review
Best Cashback — Amex Cashback Card
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | Low/varies |
| Cashback rate | 1.5% on eligible purchases |
| Acceptance | Lower than Visa/Mastercard |
Best for: Those who prefer cashback to Airpoints, and who spend at merchants that accept Amex.
Best First Credit Card — Kiwibank Zero Visa
No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, Visa accepted everywhere, and simple to understand. The only downside is the high interest rate (25.99%) — but this is irrelevant if you pay in full monthly.
Alternative first card for those worried about carrying a balance: BNZ Low Rate Mastercard — no annual fee, 13.45% p.a.
Full review: Kiwibank Zero Visa review
Comparison: All Major NZ Credit Cards
| Card | Annual fee | Rate | Rewards | Travel cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum | $150 | 20.95% | Airpoints | Yes |
| ANZ Airpoints Visa | $65 | 20.95% | Airpoints | Partial |
| ANZ Platinum Visa | $65 | 20.95% | ANZ rewards | Yes |
| ANZ Low Visa | $30 | 12.9% | None | No |
| ASB Visa Light | $0 | 12.9% | None | No |
| ASB Visa Rewards | $40 | ~20% | ASB rewards | No |
| BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum | $90 | ~20% | BNZ points | Yes |
| BNZ Low Rate Mastercard | $0 | 13.45% | None | No |
| Westpac hotpoints Mastercard | $45 | ~20% | hotpoints | No |
| Westpac Low Rate Mastercard | $0 | 13.9% | None | No |
| Kiwibank Zero Visa | $0 | 25.99% | None | No |
| Kiwibank Low Rate Visa | $0 | 13.9% | None | No |
| Amex Airpoints Platinum | $200 | ~20% | Airpoints (best) | Yes |
| Amex Airpoints Card | Low | ~20% | Airpoints | Limited |
Rates indicative — verify directly with card issuers.
How to Choose: Decision Framework
- Do you carry a balance? → Low-rate card (ANZ Low Visa, ASB Visa Light, BNZ Low Rate)
- Do you travel internationally? → Kiwibank Zero Visa (no fee, no overseas surcharge) or ANZ Airpoints Platinum (earn + travel insurance)
- Do you spend $15,000+ per year on a card? → ANZ Airpoints Platinum or Amex Airpoints Platinum
- Do you want the simplest possible setup? → Kiwibank Zero Visa
Next Steps
- Best Airpoints credit cards NZ — compare all Airpoints-earning cards
- Best travel credit cards NZ — overseas spending cards compared
- How credit card interest works NZ — understand the cost of carrying a balance
- Airpoints guide NZ — how Airpoints Dollars work