Telecom NZ reveals amazing $10/day unlimited data roaming deal

Telecom NZ is rolling out unlimited data roaming for NZ$10 per day, or an astoundingly low A$8.

The New Zealand telco will launch the service on Friday December 21 for travellers to the UK, USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia, although it's limited to postpaid or contract customers.

Roaming in Australia will cost even less, at just NZ$6 per day.

The carrier promises that "data roaming charges will be slashed by 83% to 92% in other markets, although charges will continue to be on a usage basis."

Telecom typically allows its phones to use data tethering to become a personal wifi hotspot, making the deal even sweeter for travelling New Zealanders.

But there's a frustratingly vague fair use policy: "We keep an eye on how much data you use each day and compare this to ordinary personal or business data usage and the way you use your mobile when travelling back in New Zealand," Telecom says.

"If you use significantly more data while roaming than you do at home, you may be in breach of this policy. If this is the case, we will alert you, and if you breach the policy again, we reserve the right to suspend your account."

Australian Business Traveller recommends against using your phone as an actual phone, though: in NZ dollars, you'll fork out 49c a minute in Australia or $2.49 a minute in the UK, USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.

Switch to Skype, Google Voice or another VOIP Internet calling app instead.

Read more: Telecom's full release

We love  nifty global roaming deals like this! Let us know if you spot something interesting, either in a comment or in a tweet: we're @AusBT.

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.