Call forwarding in New Zealand, network by network.

Every network, at a glance

Spark

*61*NUMBER*11#

One NZ (Vodafone)

**61*NUMBER#

2degrees

**61*NUMBER#

Skinny

Cannot forward (Runs on Spark)

Warehouse Mobile

**61*NUMBER# (Runs on 2degrees)

One NZ home or business phone (fibre)

*92NUMBER (Landline)

Spark home or business phone (fibre)

Set up in a menu (Landline)

2degrees home or business phone

Set up in a menu (Landline)

What is different in New Zealand.

• Skinny does not support call forwarding, even though it runs on Spark.
• One NZ Prepay cannot divert calls. Call divert is for Pay Monthly plans.
• Spark’s ring time can be changed in steps of 5 seconds, but not on an iPhone.
• Fibre landlines are set up in your provider’s account (MySpark, 2degrees online) or with One NZ’s *92 code.

Why forwarding fails, and the fix.

• Voicemail took the slot back. Voicemail uses the same “no answer” setting, and some phone updates restore it. Dial the check code; if it shows your voicemail number, dial the forwarding code again.
• Live Voicemail on iPhone, or Take a Message on Pixel, answers first. Turn it off in the Phone settings.
• Wi-Fi Calling is on. Some networks reject codes over Wi-Fi. Switch Wi-Fi Calling off, dial the code, then switch it back on.
• Prepay or pay as you go. Many prepay plans block forwarding or only allow voicemail. The network page above says which.
• The number is in the wrong format. Use the format your network asks for, with no spaces.
• Dual SIM. Codes apply to the SIM that dials them, so dial from your business SIM.
• The ring time is too short. Under 15 seconds you lose calls you were about to pick up. 20 seconds suits most people.

Test it in two minutes.

Ask someone to ring your number three times. Each call should reach the number you forwarded to:

• Let the first call ring out. That tests “no answer”.
• Press decline on the second. That tests “busy”.
• Turn on flight mode for the third. That tests “phone off”.

Forward them to a receptionist, not a voicemail box.

Most people forward missed calls to voicemail, and most callers hang up on it. Aroha gives you a number to forward to with a New Zealand number. Its receptionist answers in your business’s name, books the job or takes the details, and texts you a summary. Your phone still rings first, and the cancel code switches it off any time.

Get a free number: Aroha answers up to 60 minutes of calls in your first 14 days, then about 10 calls a month for free. No card. The setup screen shows these codes with your number already filled in.

Questions

Can I divert calls on Skinny?

No. Skinny does not support call forwarding. Put your answering number on your website and Google profile instead, or move your business number to Spark, One NZ or 2degrees.

What is the call divert code for One NZ?

**61*NUMBER# for calls you do not answer, **67*NUMBER# for busy and **62*NUMBER# for when your phone is off. ##002# cancels them all. It does not work on Prepay.

Does call forwarding cost extra?

On most plans the forwarded part of the call is billed like a normal call from your phone, which is free on plans with unlimited calls. Some networks charge per minute, mostly in Canada (Bell, Fido, Virgin Plus) and amaysim in Australia. Your network’s page says which.

Will callers know their call was forwarded?

No. They hear your phone ring, then whoever you forwarded to picks up. Their caller ID still shows to the person answering.