What is Number Portability

Local and mobile number portability was introduced on 1 April 2007. It means in most cases you can change your local or mobile phone company but keep the same phone number if you wish.

How do I benefit?

Keeping the same local and mobile phone numbers can save businesses and consumers a lot of time and money: 

• You can compare the rates and services on offer from the telecommunication companies and pick the one that’s best for you or your business.
• You can avoid the cost and hassle of reprinting your business cards and stationery, or changing your advertising and signage if you change phone companies.
• You can change phone companies as many times as you’d like in order to take advantage of the best deals available in the market.

What have I got to lose if I change companies but keep my number?

• Your contact list, voice messaging greeting, answering service, and other services may not transfer when you change companies.  Ask your new phone company what services will, and won’t, transfer with you if you change to them.
• If your current telecommunication provider is also your Internet service provider (ISP), you may need to change your email address.
• You can keep other services, like broadband, separate from any phone or mobile changes.  However your existing number for those services may have to be changed.  Your new company can give you more information.

What does it cost to change?

You should not be charged a fee to change companies. However you should check with your phone or mobile company to find out if there are any other costs you’ll incur, such as:

• You may have obligations you need to complete or fees to pay if you break a contract.
• You may have to purchase a new phone or other equipment (like a SIM card).
• You will change to a new calling plan that could have different costs.  You may not get the same deals as before, like discounts for certain overseas calls or for calling people on the same network.

How do I change my phone or mobile company?

Contact the phone or mobile company that you want to change to, and tell them you want to “port” your number.  You need to give the new company your current details including your name, billing address, contact number and the date/time you want your service to begin. Depending on the company you chose, they may need additional information or have other requirements. 

How long does it take?

Porting your number doesn’t take long, usually up to one business day for mobile numbers and three business days for local numbers, unless you have a lot of numbers to change or the company encounters a problem. 

You can also ask for your number to be ported at a later date so long as it is not more than one month out from when you make your request. Your new company should confirm with you when the change has been completed.

What else do I need to know?

• Mobile number prefixes (021, 022, 027, 029) can now be provided by any mobile company, so you won’t be able to tell which network you are calling just by the prefix. Likewise you may want to tell your friends you have ported your number as it may affect special rates they were getting if you were previously on the  same company’s network.  
•  If you want to know what network the person you are calling is on, TXT their mobile number to 300 (at no charge to you). You will receive a free return TXT letting you know which network they're on.
• You can no longer rely on the number to indicate whether the caller or called party is within a specific calling area – for example, (09) 620-xxxx number may not be in Mt Eden, it could now be on the North Shore or in South Auckland.
• Number portability doesn’t allow you to keep your landline number if you move outside your local calling area – for example, if you shift from Wellington to Christchurch you can’t take your local Wellington number with you. 

Whose idea was this anyway?

The Government and TCF believe it is in the best interests of New Zealanders to increase competition in the telecommunications market by making it easier to change companies. The Commerce Commission and the TCF worked with the telecommunications industry to make number portability possible.

Where can I get more info?

Contact your current phone company or the company you’d like to change to for more information.

For a list of the telecommunications companies who are a party to the number portability determination and to access information on their websites, click here.