Internet is a utility in New Zealand — but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Most households pay $85–110/month for broadband when $60–75/month delivers the same performance. The difference is inertia: people don’t switch.
Skinny broadband is the cheapest mainstream fibre option in NZ at around $60–65/month for 100/20Mbps fibre. Most households don't need more than 100Mbps. If you're with Spark or One NZ and haven't reviewed your plan in 2+ years, you're likely overpaying by $20–40/month. Switching takes about 10 minutes online and 1–5 working days to activate.
Types of Home Internet in NZ
Fibre (FTTP)
The gold standard. Chorus lays the physical fibre to most NZ homes; retailers (ISPs) sell plans over it. Fibre is available to over 87% of NZ premises.
- 100/20Mbps: Standard tier — plenty for most households
- 300/100Mbps: Good for larger households or frequent large downloads
- 900/500Mbps: Gigabit — overkill for most homes, significant premium
VDSL / ADSL (copper)
Legacy copper broadband. Still available where fibre hasn’t reached. Speeds 10–50Mbps typical VDSL; slower and less stable than fibre.
4G/5G Home Broadband
Uses cellular network. Works where fibre isn’t available (rural areas) or as a temporary solution. Performance varies with congestion.
- Skinny Jump is the best-known budget 4G home broadband option (~$60/month)
- One NZ and Spark also offer 4G/5G home broadband
Fibre Plan Comparison — May 2026
Fibre 100/20Mbps (most popular tier)
| Provider | Monthly price | Contract | Setup fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skinny | $60 | No contract | Often waived | Cheapest mainstream option |
| 2degrees | $70 | No contract | Often waived | Good mid-range |
| Voyager | $70 | No contract | Often waived | Smaller ISP, good support |
| Spark | $89 | No contract | Often waived | Premium; best for bundled services |
| One NZ | $90 | No contract | Often waived | Premium; includes some extras |
Note: Promotional pricing changes frequently. Always check provider websites for current offers.
Fibre 300Mbps Comparison
| Provider | Monthly price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Skinny | $70 | Good value step-up |
| 2degrees | $80 | — |
| Spark | $109 | — |
| One NZ | $105 | — |
Skinny Jump (4G Home Broadband)
Skinny Jump is a 4G wireless home broadband service — you plug in a modem that connects to Spark’s 4G network.
- Price: ~$60/month unlimited data
- No installation: Just plug in the device
- Speed: Typically 20–80Mbps down depending on location
- Best for: Renters who move often, temporary setups, areas without fibre
Limitation: Speed varies with network congestion and location. Not suitable for heavy uploading (video production, cloud backup of large files).
Do You Need More Than 100Mbps?
For most NZ households: no.
| Activity | Bandwidth needed |
|---|---|
| 4K Netflix stream | ~25Mbps |
| HD video call (Zoom/Teams) | ~5–10Mbps |
| Online gaming | ~5–15Mbps |
| General browsing and email | <5Mbps |
| 3-person household, all activities simultaneous | ~50–70Mbps |
100/20Mbps fibre handles a typical family household easily. Step up to 300Mbps if you have 5+ heavy users or regularly download very large files.
Checking If Fibre Is Available at Your Address
Go to chorus.co.nz and enter your address. Chorus is the main fibre infrastructure provider in most of NZ (Enable Networks covers Christchurch; Ultrafast Fibre covers some regional centres).
If fibre is not yet available, ask your ISP about VDSL or 4G/5G home broadband alternatives.
Setup and Switching Process
Switching ISPs in NZ is straightforward:
- Sign up with the new ISP online (takes 10 minutes)
- Activation date is scheduled — typically 1–5 working days for fibre
- Your old connection stays active until the new one is live
- Cancel your old plan once you’re on the new ISP
- Equipment: If you rent a modem from your old ISP, return it. New ISPs typically send a modem free or at minimal charge.
Installation is handled by Chorus (or local equivalent) — they book a technician if needed. Most existing fibre homes just need an ISP switch with no physical visit.
Contract vs No-Contract
Most NZ ISPs offer no-contract monthly rolling plans. There is little reason to sign a 12–24 month contract unless:
- A significant discount is offered for the contract period
- Installation costs are waived only on contract (check what it is)
Read the fine print on early termination fees before signing a contract.
Tips for Paying Less
- Call and ask for a retention deal. ISPs often give existing customers discounts of $10–20/month if you threaten to leave.
- Check sign-up promotions. New customer deals (first 3 months discounted, free modem) are common.
- Don’t pay for more speed than you need. Dropping from 300Mbps to 100Mbps saves $10–20/month with no real-world difference for most homes.
- Bundle carefully. Bundled phone + internet is sometimes cheaper but only if you actually use the landline.
Annual Savings by Switching
| Current plan | Switch to | Monthly saving | Annual saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spark $89/month fibre 100 | Skinny $60/month | $29 | $348/yr |
| One NZ $90/month fibre 100 | 2degrees $70/month | $20 | $240/yr |
| Spark $109/month fibre 300 | Skinny $70/month | $39 | $468/yr |