“Modem router” is a phrase New Zealand retailers still use for almost any box with Wi-Fi, but most Kiwi homes no longer need a modem at all. On fibre, which now serves about three-quarters of homes, the fibre company’s ONT does the modem’s job and all you need is a router. Copper VDSL, the one connection that still needs a modem, is being retired by 2028. This guide explains what each NZ connection actually requires, when the router your ISP posted out is holding you back, and what to buy in September 2026.
If coverage rather than speed is your problem, read our mesh Wi-Fi guide; the router is only half of a good home network, and our home network setup guide covers the rest.
Key takeaways
- On fibre you need a router, not a modem. The ONT on the wall converts the fibre; a plain Wi-Fi router plugs into it with an Ethernet cable.
- Only VDSL and ADSL copper connections need a built-in modem, and Chorus is retiring copper nationwide by 2028, so buy a VDSL modem router only if fibre or wireless is not an option where you live.
- Hyperfibre (2, 4 and 8 Gbps) needs a router with a 2.5 Gbps or 10 Gbps WAN port. A gigabit router caps any plan at about 940 Mbps.
- Most NZ fibre ISPs use VLAN 10 on the WAN port with DHCP or PPPoE. Check your ISP’s settings page before buying; nearly all current routers support it.
- A good Wi-Fi 6 router costs NZ$150–$350; a Wi-Fi 7 router with 2.5G ports starts around NZ$350–$450. Keep the ISP router if it provides your home phone.
In this guide
Modem vs Router: What Each NZ Connection Needs
A modem converts the signal on the line coming into your house into Ethernet. A router shares that one connection with all your devices, runs the firewall and provides Wi-Fi. On copper broadband those two jobs live in one box, the modem router. On fibre the modem job is done by the optical network terminal (ONT) that Chorus or your local fibre company installed on the wall, which is why a fibre “modem router” is just a router with an unused DSL port.
| Connection | What you need | Typical NZ plan speeds | Port to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre 300 / Fibre Max (UFB) | Router only, WAN port to the ONT | 300/100 Mbps; 900+/500 Mbps | Gigabit WAN, VLAN tagging |
| Hyperfibre 2000 / 4000 / 8000 | Router with a multi-gigabit WAN port | 2, 4 or 8 Gbps symmetric | 2.5G WAN (2000) or 10G WAN (4000/8000) |
| VDSL or ADSL copper | Modem router with a VDSL2 modem | Up to ~70 Mbps down on VDSL; far less on ADSL | RJ11 DSL port, plus a WAN port for fibre later |
| 4G / 5G wireless broadband | ISP-supplied wireless modem; your own router optional | Tens to a few hundred Mbps, varies by cell | Ethernet LAN port on the wireless modem |
| Starlink | Starlink router included; your own router via bypass mode | Typically 100–300 Mbps | Starlink Ethernet adapter (Standard kit) |
Copper matters less every quarter. Chorus said in April 2026 it will finish retiring the copper network by 2028, two years earlier than planned, with about 53,000 copper connections left in the March 2026 quarter against a fibre uptake of 73.1 percent. If you are still on VDSL in a fibre area, the sensible move is to switch rather than buy a new modem router. In rural areas without fibre, VDSL competes with 4G/5G wireless and Starlink, and a VDSL modem router with a separate WAN port keeps your options open.
Which Router Do You Need?
Pick your connection, house and needs, and the tool recommends the type of box, the ports it must have and a September 2026 budget.
Router picker for NZ connections
Tell it what comes into the house and what the house is like; it tells you whether you need a modem, which WAN port speed matters, and roughly what to spend.
Budgets are NZ retail ranges incl. GST seen in September 2026. Plan names follow Chorus wholesale products; retailers use their own names.
Is Your ISP Router Holding You Back?
The routers Spark, One NZ, 2degrees and the smaller ISPs supply are better than they were: most now ship Wi-Fi 6 and handle a gigabit connection. They are built to a price, though, and the usual weaknesses are Wi-Fi range in a larger house, a small number of LAN ports, limited settings, and no multi-gigabit ports for Hyperfibre. Signs it is time to replace or bypass it:
- A cabled laptop next to the router gets your plan speed on our speed test, but Wi-Fi in the next room gets a fraction of it.
- Video calls stutter when someone else streams, and the router has no working QoS setting. Our QoS explainer covers what that setting does.
- You have run out of Ethernet ports for the TV, console and NAS, and the router has no 2.5G port.
- You are moving to Hyperfibre, or you want features such as VPN server, custom DNS or proper guest networks.
Check the phone before you unplug anything
Many ISP routers carry a VoIP home phone on their green phone port. Replace the router and the phone stops. Either keep the ISP router as the gateway and add your own router in access point mode, or move the phone to a separate VoIP adapter; our VoIP phone guide explains the options.
Router Features That Matter in 2026
- WAN port speed. Gigabit for Fibre 300 and Fibre Max, 2.5G for Hyperfibre 2000, 10G for Hyperfibre 4000 and 8000. This is the spec that decides whether you get what you pay for.
- VLAN tagging on the WAN. Needed for most NZ fibre ISPs (VLAN 10). Almost every router sold here supports it, but the cheapest imports sometimes do not.
- Wi-Fi 6 as the floor, Wi-Fi 7 if the price is close. Wi-Fi 7 adds multi-link operation and 6 GHz; New Zealand has the lower 6 GHz band only, which still gives one wide channel. See our Wi-Fi explainer for what the generations change.
- Enough LAN ports, including one 2.5G. Four gigabit ports is the minimum; a 2.5G LAN port future-proofs a NAS or gaming PC. Otherwise add a network switch.
- Mesh expandability. Routers that can become the main node of a mesh (Deco, eero, Orbi, ASUS AiMesh, TP-Link EasyMesh) save you buying twice.
- Ongoing firmware updates. A router is your firewall. Brands with a track record of multi-year updates are worth a small premium.
Best Routers and Modem Routers NZ
Price bands below are what New Zealand retailers were charging in September 2026; individual models move around, so check current listings.
Best value fibre router: Wi-Fi 6, NZ$150–$350
TP-Link’s Archer AX55 and AX72, ASUS’s RT-AX58U and TUF-AX3000, and Netgear’s RAX series all handle Fibre Max with VLAN tagging, four gigabit ports and solid Wi-Fi 6. The ASUS models add AiMesh, so a second ASUS router later becomes a mesh node; TP-Link’s support EasyMesh with their RE extenders. For a typical three-bedroom house this bracket is all you need.
Best for Hyperfibre: Wi-Fi 7 with 2.5G or 10G ports
TP-Link’s Archer BE550 (five 2.5G ports) and ASUS’s RT-BE86U or RT-BE92U class routers suit Hyperfibre 2000 at roughly NZ$350–$700. Hyperfibre 4000 and 8000 need a 10G WAN, which pushes you to the Archer BE800/BE900 class, ASUS’s flagship BE models or a small firewall appliance with separate access points, typically NZ$700 and up. Remember the computer needs a matching 2.5G or 10G port to see the benefit.
Best for big homes: a mesh main node
For anything over about 200 m² or two storeys, a single router in the corner where the ONT sits will not cover the house. Buy a mesh system whose main node plugs into the ONT, such as TP-Link Deco or Amazon eero, and add nodes as needed. Our mesh Wi-Fi guide has the node counts and prices.
Best VDSL modem router, if you must
TP-Link’s Archer VR and VX series and AVM’s FRITZ!Box 7530/7590 are the mainstream VDSL2 modem routers sold in New Zealand at roughly NZ$150–$400. All of them include an Ethernet WAN port, so they carry over to fibre or a wireless modem when copper is switched off in your area. Do not pay for Wi-Fi 7 on a copper connection that tops out around 70 Mbps.
For tinkerers: Ubiquiti, MikroTik and OPNsense
If you want VLANs for cameras and smart-home gear, a proper firewall and wired access points, a Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway with UniFi access points is the tidy option, and a mini PC running OPNsense the flexible one. Our UniFi guide walks through a home build.
Setting Up Your Own Router on NZ Fibre
- Find your ISP’s settings. Most publish a “bring your own router” page listing the connection type (DHCP or PPPoE), the VLAN ID (usually 10) and any username and password for PPPoE.
- Cable the WAN port to the ONT’s port 1 (or the port your ISP specifies) with a Cat5e or better cable; see our Ethernet cable guide.
- Enter the WAN settings in the router’s setup wizard, including the VLAN tag. On Hyperfibre make sure the 2.5G or 10G port is set as the WAN.
- Reuse your old Wi-Fi name and password so every device reconnects, then update the firmware.
- Test on a cable first. If a cabled laptop gets the plan speed, the connection is right and anything slower is Wi-Fi placement; our router settings guide covers the fixes.
Our Verdict on Modem Routers in NZ
Our take
- On fibre, buy a router, not a modem router. A Wi-Fi 6 model at NZ$150–$350 covers Fibre 300 and Fibre Max for a typical house.
- Match the WAN port to the plan: 2.5G for Hyperfibre 2000, 10G for 4000 and 8000. Nothing else on the box matters as much.
- Big house? Make the router a mesh main node from day one.
- Only buy a VDSL modem router if fibre and wireless are not available, and get one with a WAN port for later.
Prices are NZ$ incl. GST ranges seen at New Zealand retailers in September 2026. Copper retirement and fibre figures are from Chorus announcements and may change. Nicegear is independent and has no paid placements.
Sources and further reading
- Chorus accelerates copper network shutdown (19 April 2026) – Scoop
- Moving off copper: your options – Chorus
- Hyperfibre – Chorus
- Copper retirement and landline changes – NZ Telecommunications Forum
- WLAN use in the 6 GHz band – Radio Spectrum Management NZ
- Bypass mode and third-party routers – Starlink support
FAQs
Do I need a modem for fibre in NZ?
No. The ONT that Chorus or your local fibre company installed does the modem’s job. You only need a router with an Ethernet WAN port that supports your ISP’s VLAN tag, usually VLAN 10.
Can I use my own router with Spark, One NZ or 2degrees fibre?
Yes. All the major NZ ISPs allow your own router on fibre and publish the settings, typically DHCP or PPPoE with VLAN 10. The exception is a home phone that runs through the ISP router, which needs the ISP router kept in the chain or moved to a VoIP adapter.
What router do I need for Hyperfibre?
One with a 2.5 Gbps WAN port for Hyperfibre 2000, or a 10 Gbps WAN port for Hyperfibre 4000 and 8000. A standard gigabit router limits any of these plans to about 940 Mbps.
Is a modem router the same as a router?
A modem router is a router with a DSL modem built in for copper connections. On fibre or wireless broadband the modem part is unused, so a plain router does the same job, usually for less money.
When is copper broadband being switched off in NZ?
Chorus announced in April 2026 that it will complete the retirement of its copper network by 2028, two years earlier than planned. Customers are moved to fibre where available, or to wireless or satellite broadband elsewhere.
Is the router my ISP gave me good enough?
For a small to medium home on Fibre 300 or Fibre Max, usually yes. Replace or bypass it if Wi-Fi range is poor, you need more ports or 2.5G, you are moving to Hyperfibre, or you want features such as a VPN server or proper guest networks.
