Are VPNs Legal in New Zealand? 

If you’ve been wondering, are VPNs legal in New Zealand, I‘ve got good news for you. New Zealand is one of the more relaxed countries when it comes to VPN use. So, whether you’re looking to secure your connection on public Wi-Fi or access streaming content from around the world, you’ll find all the information you need to find the right VPN for the job right here.

Key takeaways

1. It is legal to use a VPN in New Zealand.
2. A VPN protects your privacy and keeps you safe even on unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi.
3. I recommend ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark as the best VPNs for New Zealand users.

What is a VPN?

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is basically a tool you can use to make your internet connection more private and secure. When you establish a VPN connection, it creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet, so no one can see what you’re doing online.

It also changes your IP address, which means websites don’t see your real location. Instead, they see the location of the VPN server you’re connected to, which can be really useful for accessing blocked content from different countries or just keeping your browsing a bit more private.

Are VPNs legal in NZ?

The short answer here is, yes. VPNs are legal in New Zealand, as long as you aren’t using them for breaking any New Zealand laws. That means using it for privacy and security purposes is completely OK. You can even use it to access geo-restricted content, so it’s a great way to stay on top of your work, banking, and favorite shows on Netflix if you’re in NZ for a visit.

The legal landscape and VPNs in New Zealand 

New Zealand generally supports an open internet with minimal censorship. Using a VPN is completely legal for everyday things like protecting one’s privacy, securing public Wi-Fi, or even accessing content from other countries.

That said, just like in most places, a VPN doesn’t give you a free pass to break the law. If you’re using it for anything illegal, like downloading copyrighted content or committing fraud, you can still get in trouble. The VPN just adds privacy; it doesn’t make illegal activity okay.

Why you should use a VPN

Here’s how a high-quality VPN service can benefit New Zealand users:

• Privacy. A VPN sends all of your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel, ensuring your online activity stays protected from hackers, your internet service provider (ISP), and even the government. This is especially important if you’re using public Wi-Fi, where you’re most vulnerable.
• Security. If you’re traveling in New Zealand, you’re probably going to be using public Wi-Fi quite a bit. A VPN provides an extra layer of protection from cyber threats in cafes, hotels, or airports, where the connections aren’t always secure.
• Accessing blocked content. Streaming sites, online banking, and work sites usually have geo-blocks on them, meaning you can only access them locally. A quality VPN lets you connect to a server in any country you choose, which is great for accessing geo-blocked content.
• Improve speed. In some cases, a VPN can help avoid slowdowns from ISP throttling. Since your ISP can’t see how much data you’re using up, they will have no reason to throttle your connection.

Best VPN picks for New Zealand

There are so many VPN services on the market that finding the right VPN for your budget and needs can feel overwhelming. To make it easier on you, I’ve put together this overview of my 3 top picks for a New Zealand VPN.

1. ExpressVPN

My personal favorite VPN provider for New Zealand is ExpressVPN. I love how easy it is to use, and I know I can count on it for everything from secure browsing to full access to international content. Plus, its fast and stable connections make it a strong performer for all my online activities.

Features: Ad blocking, tracker blocking, and malware protection help ensure secure browsing. It also comes with extras like split tunneling, parental controls, a password manager, and more. With over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, it’s easy to access geo-restricted content from all over the world.

Speed: You can expect a fabulous connection speed from Express. Establishing a connection happens almost instantly, and it holds on to an average of 90% or better of its baseline speed, which is really impressive for a VPN.

Privacy and security: Keep your browsing habits private with ExpressVPN’s military-grade encryption, strong leak protection, and a no-logs policy that’s been audited 20+ times. Plus, it’s got an automatic kill switch that’ll keep you safe if your connection drops unexpectedly. It’s got what it takes to protect your privacy and keep you safe on public networks.

Performance: With ExpressVPN, you can stream content, make video calls, game, download large files, and more without lag or dropped connections.

Streaming: You’ll have no trouble bypassing geo restrictions on all your favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and others.

Compatibility: Express has well-designed, easy-to-use VPN apps for all of the major operating systems, including macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. You can connect anywhere from 10 to 14 devices simultaneously, depending on which plan you sign up for.

Pricing: The best deal on ExpressVPN is the 2-year starter package, which is available for 3.49 per month, and you’ve got 30 days to cancel and get a full refund.

2. NordVPN

It’s no surprise that NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN providers around. It offers blazing-fast speeds without compromising your online privacy, and it works well for all kinds of online activities, including streaming, gaming, and more!

Features: With all the extra features you get with NordVPN, you can set up your VPN just the way you want. It comes with split tunneling, Threat Protection, double VPN, dedicated IPs, dark web monitoring, and more. You also get great access to geo-restricted content worldwide, since it’s got over 8,000 servers across 120+ countries in its network.

Speed: I’m blown away by the kind of connection speeds I get with NordVPN. In real-world testing, I typically got 95% or better of my baseline speed, which is quite impressive in the world of VPNs.

Privacy and security: This VPN protects your privacy and online safety with military-grade encryption, an automatic kill switch, reliable leak protection, and an independently verified no-logs policy. Keeping your online activities secure, even while you are using public networks.

Performance: Nord performs well for streaming, gaming, VoIP calling, downloading large files, accessing geo-restricted websites, and more!

Streaming: You can access streaming libraries worldwide on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more using NordVPN.

Compatibility: Since Nord offers so many features, the apps have a somewhat busier interface than Express, but they are intuitively designed to work with Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Linux operating systems. Each subscription allows for up to 10 simultanous connections.

Pricing: For the best value, purchase the 2-year starter package for $3.39/month. Once you sign up, you’ve got 30 days to cancel and get your money back.

3. Surfshark

My number one pick for a budget VPN provider is Surfshark. It’s fast, reliable, secure, and comes with unlimited simultanous connections, which can pile on the savings for anyone with a large household or multiple devices to cover.

Features: You get an impressive number of features for the price you pay with Surfshark, including split tunneling, ad blocking, malware protection, double VPN, and dark web monitoring to enhance your online privacy and keep you extra safe. The server network isn’t bad either, offering 4,500+ servers in 100 countries.

Speed: The speeds you get on Surfshark are also unusually good for a budget VPN provider, averaging 85% or better of baseline. You can get occasional slowdowns if there’s heavy internet traffic, but switching to a different, less crowded VPN server usually takes care of any issues. The 24/7 live chat support can help direct you to the best option.

Privacy and security: Surfshark takes online privacy seriously. It uses military-grade encryption, reliable leak protection, a kill switch, and a verified no-logs policy to protect your data, so you’re safe, even on unsecured public networks.

Performance: In general, you’ll get smooth and uninterrupted performance for VoIP calling, streaming, gaming, downloading large files, and browsing online. If you do run into any lag, just switch to another server.

Streaming: You can access geo-restricted streaming libraries on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and much more with Surfshark.

Compatibility: The Surfshark apps are intuitively designed and compatible with Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, and macOS devices. And best of all, you can connect as many devices as you want on a single account.

Pricing: You’ll pay just $1.99/month when you sign up for the Surfshark 2-year starter package, and you’ve got 30 days to try it out risk-free. If you don’t like it, cancel and get a full refund.

How to pick the best VPNs for New Zealand

These are the key features you want in a New Zealand VPN.

• Strong security and privacy features. Choose a VPN with military-grade encryption and an independently verified no-logs policy. You also want a kill switch so nothing gets leaked if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly. That way, you’re safe from hackers and surveillance, even on unsecured public networks.
• Fast speeds. Look for a VPN that maintains 80% or better of baseline speed to prevent lag while you’re streaming, VoIP calling, gaming, or engaging in other high-bandwidth activities. The faster the VPN, the better the performance.
• Reliable geo-spoofing. You want a VPN with a strong track record for accessing regional content worldwide, without having to worry about geo-blocks.
• Good device compatibility. Make sure your VPN works with your preferred devices and allows for multiple simultaneous connections.
• Strong customer support. Select a VPN that comes with 24/7 live chat support and at least a 30-day trial period.

VPN not working in New Zealand: Troubleshooting 

If your VPN isn’t working well, most of the time, one of these quick fixes gets everything up and running again.

• Switching to a different server. Sometimes the one you’re on is just slow or not working properly.
• Change VPN protocols. Switching to WireGuard, Lightway, NordLynx, or OpenVPN can make a big difference in speed and reliability.
• Update the VPN app. Outdated VPN apps can cause connection issues
• Clearing your browser cache and cookies. If you’re trying to access a specific site, your browsing habits may be getting in the way.
• Check your internet connection without the VPN. The issue may be with your Wi-Fi itself.
• Reach out to customer support. They can help you troubleshoot exactly what’s going on.

Is a free VPN a good choice for New Zealand? 

You’ve probably noticed that none of the free VPN’s made my list, and there’s a reason why. Many of the free VPN’s don’t have the highest level of security and privacy features you’ll want to protect you from cyber threats and safeguard your digital footprint, like a zero logs policy or a kill switch. In fact, some will even sell your browsing history to third parties for profit.

Of course, that’s not true for all of the free services, but there are other limitations to be aware of. For example, most have a poor track record for bypassing geo-blocks, and many limit the number of servers and speed, which can impact performance. It’s also common for free VPNs to place data caps, so it’s only good for a short time.

FAQ

Is using a VPN illegal in New Zealand?

No. It is legal to use a VPN in New Zealand. Plus, it’s a great way to stay safe on public Wi-Fi and access content from all over the world.

What VPN works in New Zealand?

My favorite VPNs for New Zealand are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark. Each of these VPNs offers reliable, fast, and safe internet service, even on public Wi-Fi.

Conclusion

All in all, VPNs are completely legal in New Zealand and can be a great tool for improving your privacy, security, and access to content online. You just can’t use one to try to cover up illegal activities.

My favorite VPN for New Zealand is ExpressVPN.