New Zealand
Oceania · 21 specs
Direct Answer
New Zealand (NZ / NZL / 554) operates on a 230 V / 50 Hz electrical grid using AS/NZS 3112 (Type I) sockets. Traffic drives on the left (LHT). The official currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD, $), country calling code is +64 (exit code 00), emergency dispatch is 111, and the standard document format is ISO 216 A4.
Source: Standards New Zealand / AS/NZS 3112 / Waka Kotahi NZTA / New Zealand Post · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | New Zealand ISO 3166-1 |
| Local Endonym | Aotearoa (Māori) |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | NZ |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | NZL |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 554 UN M49 (Code 009) |
| Country Calling Code | +64 ITU-T E.164 |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 00 dial prefix for international calls |
| Internet ccTLD | .nz InternetNZ Registry |
| Vehicle Registration Code | NZ UNECE 1949/1968 Convention |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | New Zealand Dollar (NZD, $) 100 Cents (5c coin eliminated in 2006) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 230 V (±6%), 50 Hz Electricity (Safety) Regulations / AS/NZS 3000 |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type I (AS/NZS 3112) 10 A & 15 A inverted V-prong |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Left-Hand Traffic (LHT / RHD) Land Transport Rule |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) Weights and Measures Act 1987 |
| Standard Office Paper Format | ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) NZS ISO 216 |
| Standard Business Envelope | ISO 269 DL (110 × 220 mm) & C4 |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 111 Police, Fire, Ambulance dispatch |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | 4 Digits (NNNN, e.g. 1010 Auckland) NZ Post Standard |
| Primary Time Zones | UTC+12 (NZST / UTC+13 NZDT) & UTC+12:45 (Chatham) DST observed |
| Date Format Standard | DD/MM/YYYY (e.g., 23/08/2026) New Zealand standard |
| Number Radix / Separators | $1,234.56 (Comma thousands, Dot decimal) National Standard |
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 230 V (±6%), 50 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type I (AS/NZS 3112). Uses Type I inverted V-prong sockets (compatible with Australian/New Zealand or Chinese/Argentine configurations).
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +64. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 111. Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the left (LHT) with Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD, $).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under Standard time.
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes 4 Digits (NNNN, e.g. 1010 Auckland).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → New Zealand.