Phone numbers
Phone numbers in New Zealand
How New Zealand phone numbers work in Cradle: formats, leading digits, porting, emergency calling, and messaging for NZ teams.
If your team works from New Zealand, this is the reference for how Cradle handles your numbers.
Country code and formats
New Zealand's country code is +64. When you write a NZ number in international form, drop the leading 0 from the local format.
| Type | Local format | International form |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland landline | 09 555 0101 |
+64 9 555 0101 |
| Wellington landline | 04 555 0202 |
+64 4 555 0202 |
| Christchurch landline | 03 555 0303 |
+64 3 555 0303 |
| Mobile | 021 555 1234 |
+64 21 555 1234 |
Cradle stores and displays numbers in international (E.164) format. When you type a number into the dial pad, you can use either the local format or the international form, and Cradle will route it the same way.
Leading digits
- Mobile: starts with
02(so021,022,027,029). - Landlines:
03(South Island),04(Wellington),06(lower North Island),07(Bay of Plenty / Waikato),09(Auckland and Northland). - 0800 / 0508: national toll-free numbers.
Porting your NZ number to Cradle
NZ number porting is governed by the Number Administration Deed (NAD), the agreement between NZ telcos that defines how numbers move. Your losing carrier and Cradle's carrier coordinate the cutover.
How long it takes: typically 2 weeks, can be as quick as 3 business days or as long as 6 weeks, depending on your losing carrier, the complexity of the port, and getting the documents right at the start.
Full process and forms: How can I port my current number to Cradle?
Emergency calling
Cradle has no emergency-calling capability. Calls to 111 will not connect through Cradle.
If you need to reach emergency services from New Zealand, call 111 from a mobile phone or a fixed line. Cradle is not a substitute for either.
If you'd like the wider context (including what to do if you only have a satellite or VoIP option), see Emergency calling.
Messaging in New Zealand
SMS is available on Cradle's New Zealand numbers, from the Cradle desktop app (Windows and macOS) and the Cradle iOS and Android apps. The rules are:
- SMS is country-confined: NZ Cradle numbers message NZ mobiles only. Don't expect cross-country sends to an AU mobile to work.
- SMS needs a dedicated Cradle-provisioned mobile number (it can't ride on your existing voice number). See Why does my Cradle SMS need a separate number?.
- SMS is enabled per number, not per user. Your admin logs a request with Cradle support to switch it on for a specific number. See Getting SMS switched on.
For the full availability picture: SMS availability today.
WhatsApp Business is in private beta. WhatsApp works across regions, so an NZ team will be able to message customers anywhere once it's generally available. See WhatsApp availability today.
Calling NZ from another country
If you have an AU or UK Cradle number and want to dial NZ, prefix +64 and drop the leading 0. For example, an Auckland landline 09 555 0101 becomes +64 9 555 0101. Most international call destinations are gated on your account, see I can't make international calls.