VoIP Phones in New Zealand: Which Type to Buy and How to Set One Up

A VoIP phone is simply a telephone that makes calls over your internet connection instead of over a copper line. In New Zealand that shift has already happened for most people: Chorus has brought its copper-retirement date forward to 2028, and in areas where fibre is available the old copper phone line has largely been switched off already. If you are buying a phone for a small business, a home office or a bach, the question is no longer “copper or internet?” — it is which kind of internet phone suits you, and what you need to plug it in. This guide walks through the four main hardware types, real 2026 New Zealand prices, how to set one up, and the one safety point everyone forgets: calling 111 when the power is out.

What is a VoIP phone, and how is it different from an old landline phone?

A VoIP phone turns your voice into digital data and sends it over the internet using a protocol called SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). An old analogue landline phone, by contrast, sends an electrical signal down a dedicated copper pair to the exchange. The practical differences matter when you are choosing hardware.

First, a VoIP phone needs two things that an old phone did not: a working internet connection and a VoIP “account” (a SIP service from a provider) to register against. The handset on your desk is only the endpoint — it does nothing on its own. Second, because calls travel as data, a single internet connection can carry many lines at once, and features such as voicemail-to-email, call recording, auto-attendant menus and three-way calling are usually included in the service rather than charged as extras. Third, the number is no longer tied to a physical copper pair, so you can keep the same number if you move premises, or have a Wellington number ring on a phone in Auckland.

The trade-off is dependence on power and broadband. An old copper phone drew its power from the exchange and kept working in a blackout. A VoIP phone and the modem it relies on both need mains electricity, so when the power goes out, so does the phone — which is why the 111 section below is essential reading, not an afterthought.

Do VoIP phones still make sense now copper is being switched off in New Zealand?

For almost everyone in New Zealand, a VoIP phone is now the standard choice rather than an upgrade. Chorus reported in its April 2026 connections update that it is accelerating the copper shutdown, with full retirement expected in 2028 rather than the previously signalled 2030. In fibre areas the change is already well advanced: only a few thousand copper voice lines remain across the Chorus and local-fibre-company footprints, while roughly 49,000 copper lines linger in areas without fibre.

If your premises can get fibre, fixed wireless or Starlink, your home phone and business lines will run over that connection as VoIP whether you think of it that way or not — most “home phone” plans from the big retailers are already VoIP behind the scenes. Buying a proper VoIP phone simply gives you a better handset, more lines and business features than a basic plug-in phone. The main group for whom the picture is less tidy is people in remote areas still on copper with no fibre and patchy mobile coverage; they should check their provider’s plans and keep a charged mobile as a backup regardless.

What are the main types of VoIP phone?

There are four hardware categories plus one software option. Picking the right one is mostly about how and where people make calls, not about brand loyalty.

Desk IP phones

A desk IP phone is the classic office handset with a screen, a numeric keypad and an Ethernet socket on the back. It plugs straight into your network and registers to your VoIP service with no computer involved. Entry models such as the Grandstream GRP2601P or Yealink T31P handle one or two lines and suit a reception desk or a single-line office. Step up to a Yealink T33G, T53 or a Grandstream GRP2602 for several lines, programmable buttons and a better display. Executive models like the Grandstream GRP2650 add a colour touchscreen, Wi-Fi and a dozen or more line keys for people who juggle many calls.

DECT cordless IP phones

A DECT cordless system is the right pick when people move around — a shop floor, a warehouse, a café or a large house. DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) is the same short-range wireless standard used by traditional cordless home phones, but here the base station plugs into your network and talks to your VoIP service. A kit such as the Yealink W73P pairs a W70B base with a W73H handset and can grow to several handsets and multiple calls on one base. The base needs mains power, so the same power-cut warning applies.

Conference phones

A conference phone is a flat, multi-microphone speakerphone designed for a meeting-room table. Models like the Yealink CP925 or equivalents from Poly and Grandstream pick up voices around a table and cancel echo far better than a desk phone on speaker. For a small business with one or two meeting rooms this is usually the only specialist handset worth buying — everyone else can use a softphone with a decent headset.

ATAs: keep your existing analogue phone

An ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter) is a small box that lets you plug an ordinary analogue phone — or a fax machine, a cordless set you already own, or an EFTPOS terminal that dials out — into a VoIP service. One end has a standard phone socket (an “FXS” port); the other plugs into your network. The Grandstream HT801 (one phone port) and HT802 (two ports) are the common choices in New Zealand and cost far less than a new handset, so an ATA is the cheapest way to go VoIP if you are happy with the phone you already have.

Softphones: an app instead of hardware

A softphone is a software VoIP client that runs on a computer or smartphone, turning the device you already own into a phone. Free apps such as Zoiper, Linphone and MicroSIP, the paid Bria app, or the dedicated app your provider supplies all register to the same SIP account a desk phone would use. Softphones are ideal for remote and hybrid workers because the office number follows them on a laptop or mobile. A USB or Bluetooth headset is strongly recommended — a laptop’s built-in microphone makes for tiring call quality. If your interest is really in calling apps rather than a SIP line, the big video and messaging tools are a different category; this guide stays with phones that register to a VoIP service.

What do VoIP phones cost in New Zealand?

VoIP handsets are cheaper than most people expect, because the clever features live in the service, not the hardware. The figures below are indicative 2026 retail prices including GST from New Zealand suppliers such as PB Tech and Comsys; stock and pricing move around, so confirm on the retailer’s own page before you buy. Prices exclude the VoIP calling plan itself, which you pay monthly to a provider.

Two things are worth knowing before you spend. A handful of resellers restrict some business models to registered companies, councils, government departments and schools, so a sole trader may need to pick a different model or buy through a telecoms installer. And the “W” or Wi-Fi variants (for example the Grandstream GRP2602W) cost more and only make sense if you genuinely cannot run a network cable to the phone — for a fixed desk, a wired phone on Ethernet is cheaper and more reliable.

What do you need before a VoIP phone will work?

A VoIP phone needs four things in place, and missing any one of them is the usual reason a new phone “doesn’t work”.

A VoIP (SIP) service. This is the account the phone registers to, bought from a VoIP provider. It gives you a phone number, call rates and the features. The service is a separate decision from the handset — our rundown of VoIP providers in New Zealand covers who to sign up with and what plans cost. You enter the SIP username, password and server address from that provider into the phone during setup.

A stable broadband connection. Voice does not need much bandwidth — a typical call uses well under 100 kbps each way — but it is sensitive to jitter and dropouts. Fibre is ideal; VDSL, fixed wireless and Starlink all work fine for calls. If your connection already struggles, it is worth running a quick broadband speed test and checking upload as well as download before you add phones to it.

Power, or Power over Ethernet. Every VoIP phone needs electricity. Most desk phones can take it down the network cable (see the next section); otherwise you use the plug-pack that may or may not be included — budget models often sell the power supply separately.

A tidy local network. If several phones and computers share the connection, prioritising voice traffic keeps calls clear when the line is busy. That is the job of Quality of Service (QoS) on your router or switch, and it is the single most effective fix for choppy calls on an otherwise fast connection.

Power over Ethernet (PoE): how VoIP phones get their power

Power over Ethernet lets a single network cable carry both data and electricity, so a desk phone needs only one lead — no separate power brick and no wall socket beside the desk. Most office IP phones draw only a few watts and use the common 802.3af (“PoE”) standard, which any PoE-capable switch supplies comfortably.

To use it you need a PoE switch (or a PoE injector on the single cable to each phone). A small business with several phones will find a PoE-capable network switch the neatest option: plug every phone in with one cable each and power them all centrally. If you have only one or two phones and no PoE switch, use the included power adapter or a cheap single-port injector instead. The catch is the same as always — PoE runs from your switch, which runs from the mains, so a blackout cuts the phones unless the whole rack is on a UPS (uninterruptible power supply).

How do you set up a VoIP phone?

Setting up a modern IP phone takes a few minutes once you have your provider’s details to hand.

1. Get your SIP credentials. Your VoIP provider gives you a SIP username (often the phone number or an extension), a password, and a server or “registrar” address. Keep these private — they are what authorises calls on your account.

2. Connect the phone to your network. Plug the phone’s “Internet” or “LAN” port into your router or PoE switch with an Ethernet cable. If the phone supports PoE and your switch provides it, the screen lights up; otherwise connect the power adapter.

3. Find the phone’s IP address. On the handset menu, look under Status or Network for its IP address (something like 192.168.1.x). Type that address into a web browser on a computer on the same network to open the phone’s admin page, and log in with the default credentials printed in the manual — then change that password.

4. Enter the SIP account. Under Account or Line 1, enter the username, password and server address from step 1. Save, and the phone should show the line as “Registered” within a few seconds.

5. Set the essentials. Check the time zone (New Zealand), the emergency-dialling setup, and any voicemail or do-not-disturb options. Make a test call, then call the phone from a mobile to confirm both directions work.

For ATAs the steps are the same, except you also plug an ordinary phone into the FXS socket. For softphones you simply type the same SIP details into the app.

Can you call 111 from a VoIP phone?

Yes, you can dial 111 from a VoIP phone, but it will not work during a power cut or an internet outage — and that is the most important thing to plan for. Because the phone and your modem both need mains power, a blackout takes your “landline” with it. Emergency services also cannot always see your exact location from a VoIP call the way they could from a fixed copper line, so be ready to state your address.

New Zealand has a specific safety net for this. The Commerce Commission’s 111 Contact Code — in force since February 2021, with an updated version effective from 1 July 2024 — requires telephone providers to make sure “vulnerable consumers” can still reach 111 in a power failure. A vulnerable consumer is broadly someone at particular risk who has no other way to call 111 during an outage (for example, a person who relies on the landline for a medical reason and has no mobile). For those customers the provider must supply, free of charge, a means of contacting 111 that works for at least eight continuous hours during a power cut — typically a charged mobile or a backup-battery solution. If that describes someone in your household, contact your provider and ask to be registered under the 111 Contact Code.

For everyone else the practical advice is simple: keep a charged mobile phone as your emergency backup, and if uninterrupted phone service matters to your business, put the modem and phones on a UPS so they ride through short outages.

Common mistakes when choosing a VoIP phone

The errors that cost people money or call quality are predictable, and all avoidable.

Buying the handset before the service. The phone is useless without a SIP account, and a few providers lock their plans to their own supplied hardware. Choose the service first, confirm it works with standard SIP phones, then buy the handset.

Forgetting the power supply. Budget desk phones frequently ship without a plug-pack because they expect PoE. If you have no PoE switch, order the adapter or an injector at the same time, or the phone will arrive dead.

Paying for Wi-Fi models you do not need. A Wi-Fi desk phone costs more and is more fiddly than a wired one. Unless you truly cannot run a cable, a wired phone on PoE is cheaper and steadier.

Ignoring the network. Choppy or robotic calls are almost always a network problem — congestion, bufferbloat or poor Wi-Fi — not a faulty phone. Set up QoS and, where you can, wire the phones rather than relying on Wi-Fi.

Treating 111 as solved. Assuming the new phone behaves like the old copper line in a blackout is the dangerous one. It does not; plan a backup.

Over-buying features. A twelve-line executive phone on a one-person desk is wasted money. Match the number of line keys and handsets to how people actually work.

Who does each type of VoIP phone suit?

A desk IP phone suits anyone with a fixed workstation who takes regular calls — reception, sales, support. A DECT cordless system suits shops, warehouses, cafes, trades yards and large homes where people move while talking. A conference phone suits meeting rooms. An ATA suits anyone who wants to keep a phone, fax or alarm dialler they already own and simply move it onto a VoIP service for the lowest possible outlay. A softphone suits remote and hybrid staff, or a very small business that would rather turn existing laptops and mobiles into phones than buy hardware at all. Many small businesses end up with a mix: a couple of desk phones, a softphone for the owner’s mobile, and an ATA keeping the old alarm line alive. If you are still weighing up the service side rather than the hardware, start with the broadband and network foundations — our guide to setting up a solid home and small-office network covers the wiring and switch choices that make VoIP phones behave.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need a special phone for VoIP, or can I use my old one?

You can use your existing analogue phone with a small adapter called an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter), such as a Grandstream HT801 or HT802, which plugs your old handset into a VoIP service for under about $90. Otherwise you buy a dedicated IP phone — a desk handset, a DECT cordless kit or a conference phone — that connects straight to your network. A free softphone app on your computer or mobile is a third option that needs no new hardware at all.

How much does a VoIP phone cost in New Zealand?

Handsets are inexpensive: entry desk IP phones start around $66–$120 including GST, mid-range multi-line models run about $175–$330, a DECT cordless base-and-handset kit is roughly $290–$305, and an ATA to keep an analogue phone is about $77–$90. These are indicative 2026 retail prices and change often. On top of the hardware you pay a monthly VoIP calling plan to a provider, which is a separate cost.

Will a VoIP phone work in a power cut?

No. A VoIP phone and the modem it relies on both need mains power, so when the electricity or your internet goes down, the phone stops working — unlike an old copper line that drew power from the exchange. Keep a charged mobile for emergencies, and put the equipment on a UPS if uninterrupted calling matters. New Zealand’s 111 Contact Code requires providers to give at-risk “vulnerable” customers a free backup way to reach 111 for at least eight hours in an outage.

What internet speed do I need for good VoIP calls?

Very little bandwidth — a single call uses under about 100 kbps in each direction — so any modern fibre, VDSL, fixed-wireless or Starlink connection has plenty of headroom. What matters is a steady connection with low jitter, not raw speed. If calls sound choppy, the fix is usually enabling Quality of Service on your router to prioritise voice and wiring the phones rather than using Wi-Fi, not buying a faster plan.

What is PoE and do I need it?

Power over Ethernet (PoE) lets the network cable carry electricity as well as data, so a desk phone runs from one lead with no separate power brick. You need a PoE-capable switch or a PoE injector to supply it. It is tidy and ideal when you have several phones, but it is optional — if your phone includes a plug-pack or you buy an adapter, you can power it from a wall socket instead. Either way the phone still depends on mains power overall.