No system is going to be perfect. My objection to the phone is just based on my lack of familiarity with it and the potential that raises for unexpected problems after I am in Thailand. I prefer something I understand better.

Regarding the Kiwibank phone service, I do use that from time to time and I don't have to pay a fee because I am a pensioner. But I'm not sure how that would work from Thailand. I also don't know what security questions they are going to ask and I may not have the information at hand (like my IRD number). I need to be confident that whatever I use will work when I need it.

At the moment I am just collecting information. I will also be ringing Kiwibank about this but I wanted to first see what the very knowledgeable people here have to say.