On a budget and looking for free ATMs in New Zealand - Any top banks?
Swapping stories at hostels in Rotorua, most travelers were using Westpac or BNZ to avoid ATM fees, but ANZ was popular for their reliable English menus and central locations-even if you pay NZ$3 per use. TSB/Allpoint was hit-or-miss: my Aussie card got charged NZ$7, but a friend's Allpoint-branded credit union card was free. Max out the per-transaction limit when you can, since small cash withdrawals rack up unnecessary charges fast. Cash is still important for buses and some local markets.
For anyone with Mastercards, note that ASB ATMs sometimes charge NZ$6.50, which caught me by surprise in Wellington-other cards like CBA or Bankwest pay nothing at those same machines. BNZ was the most flexible, with no surcharge and flexible limits, so great if you need to grab cash late at night or from rural areas. I advise always reading the onscreen fee warning before hitting OK, as fees do vary even between different branches of the same bank.
If you want the no-nonsense rundown: ANZ and ASB both charge NZ$3 per withdrawal with a NZ$2,000 limit, but some ASB machines charged me NZ$6.50 when using my UK Mastercard. TSB (and Allpoint) ATMs are completely free for Allpoint network cards, but they hit others with a NZ$7 flat fee and the withdrawal amount depends on what cash is loaded in the machine. I used Westpac most often around Christchurch since the zero fee helped keep costs down on a tight backpacker budget.
Just wrapped up three weeks in New Zealand and found Westpac and BNZ ATMs easiest on my wallet-absolutely no ATM fee for international withdrawals at either, and both have plenty of machines in main centers like Auckland and Queenstown. Westpac does have a lower per-transaction limit (NZ$800), which was a pain when paying for a long hostel stay, but BNZ lets you take out up to your card’s own limit. My Monzo debit card worked smoothly everywhere and I never hit any hidden surcharges.
BNZ ATM in New Zealand - saw a Facebook update about this location, confirming its fully functional.
Tried to withdraw NZD 40 from a TSB ATM in New Zealand, but it wanted to charge me NZD 7 - I canceled. Was using an Aussie Mastercard debit.
ANZ Smart ATMs are modern, but only had English language. Used Google Translate to figure it out.
Westpac ATM was out of money when I visited. Disappointing.