Can you still buy prepaid topups from dairies?

Forums › New Zealand Mobile and Wireless › Can you still buy prepaid topups from dairies?

CamH

615 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 327

Subscriber

#323298 15-Nov-2025 19:11

I know, I know - I could just go to a dairy and ask, but I'm comfy at home and Geekzone doesn't require moving.

I'm looking to buy a number of prepaid topups (about 50 of them). I know you used to be able to buy them from dairies and they had a 12(ish) month expiry. Is this still a thing? Which providers still do them this way? Can I select an amount or is it a multiple of $10, $20 etc?

Behodar

11089 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6069

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3434847 15-Nov-2025 19:50

Just to check: You haven't been asked to buy these by the "IRD" or "CEO" or anything, right?

snj

305 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 221

#3434850 15-Nov-2025 19:54

Pretty sure it's all still done via ePay and able to be done via the EFTpos network, so as long as the local dairy hasn't switched to an incompatible terminal, should still be possible (for context https://eftpos.co.nz/value-added-solutions/gift-cards still says vouchers).

Linux

12173 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8469

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3434855 15-Nov-2025 20:13

Yes

wellygary

8810 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5287

#3434858 15-Nov-2025 20:33

Dare we ask to what end?.. anyone can top up most/all? Pre pay connection by just knowing the phone number .. you don’t need to log in or provide any authentication

yitz

2238 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 594

#3434861 15-Nov-2025 20:44

Epay NZ have API integration so you don't need an EFTPOS terminal, but with a terminal you can also do physical Prezzy Cards.
Their retail channel is Gift Station https://www.giftstation.co.nz/telco.html

Terminals may have rate limits so you might not be able to walk down to the dairy and buy 50 at once... denominations are determined by the provider. I know Skinny starts at $5 and Spark Mobile $10.

Activata is another terminal provider
https://activata.co.nz/paytech-solutions/payments/

CamH

615 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 327

Subscriber

#3434864 15-Nov-2025 20:48

Behodar:

Just to check: You haven't been asked to buy these by the "IRD" or "CEO" or anything, right?

Yeah, but I'm the CEO and I authorised myself 😅

wellygary:

Dare we ask to what end?.. anyone can top up most/all? Pre pay connection by just knowing the phone number .. you don’t need to log in or provide any authentication

We're donating a bunch of phones, but don't want to just top up the SIMs as that'll start the credit expiry. If we provide topups and the person uses the topup when they're ready, the 12 month expiry is from that date.

It effectively gives us a max of 24 months (12 month topup expiry + 12 month credit expiry once applied) instead of 12 months if we just put credit onto the SIMs at purchase.

We also don't want to be activating SIMs either. That'll be done by the recipients of the devices.

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Goosey

3012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 866

Subscriber

#3434889 16-Nov-2025 08:05

Yes, dairies sell top ups however as another reply mentioned they may be restricted to denominations and a max limit per transaction/card used per day.

if you are a business and have an business account manager with an ISP, is it worth asking them to see if they have access to the SIM card packs that come with free value or it could be somthing they can source (obviously for the same face value of top up fee)…….or free if they wanted the “businesses/social goodwill advertising”.

Eva888

2760 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2420

Lifetime subscriber

#3434951 16-Nov-2025 10:53

Assuming donations are for the needy why not make it easy and just supply them with a Warehouse Mobile SIM card that has $5 already loaded and some splendid additional bonuses which you could print out on a good wishes card for the recipients.

https://www.warehousemobile.co.nz/

Edit to add a $5 note could also be attached to the card if feeling generous.

trig42

5889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2094

ID Verified

#3435181 17-Nov-2025 12:14

Also be aware, that from a Dairy or similar, the vouchers will be on Thermal Paper, and as such will degrade to being unreadable over time, so be careful how/where they are stored.