Can I use a card to pay for taxis in New Zealand, or should I carry local cash?
My personal experience in New Zealand was excellent with taxi payments. Every ride I took, from Auckland Airport to city hops, was paid by card. Some drivers mentioned a surcharge for credit cards, but it was minimal. I never once needed to hand over cash, and that suited me fine. If you like carrying physical money, have a little, but it’s not a necessity. New Zealand has embraced digital life, and that includes the taxi industry without question.
In New Zealand, taxis are highly geared toward card payments. The machines work with contactless, and I used both debit and credit without issues. The only small annoyance was that some companies charge a card fee of around 5%, so cash can be slightly cheaper if you really want to save. But overall, cards are widely accepted, and you’ll have no trouble. It’s one of those places where taxis are as easy to pay for as ordering a coffee.
My visit to New Zealand showed me how seamless card payments can be. I used taxis in Queenstown and Christchurch, and all had working terminals. The drivers even asked if I preferred to pay by card or cash, which shows how normal it is. The country in general embraces digital payments, so you won’t feel out of place using your card for short or long rides. I would still keep a bit of cash for emergencies, but it’s rarely necessary.
New Zealand is very card-friendly, and taxis are no exception. In Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, every cab I took had a card machine, and contactless tap worked smoothly. You can use Visa, Mastercard, and even mobile wallets like Apple Pay. I honestly didn’t carry any New Zealand dollars during my trip, and I never had a problem. If you’re heading into very rural areas, maybe have some cash as a backup, but for city taxis, cards are completely fine.