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Credit Cards | Comparisons, guides, reviews and resources to help you choose the right card for your needs

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MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh shares his views on the best credit cards offers available right now:

"Firstly, banks (arguably) offer credit cards aggressively to their customers, but my view is that these cards don't deliver the value they should do in many situations. I frequently receive complaints about poor value bank "cashback" and "reward" cards, just as I do about bank savings account interest rates (as outlined in this Stuff.co.nz column).

New Zealanders pay a lot to, in effect, spend their own money. But very few deliver value. My view is simple - no one should rush into a credit card application. For this reason, we've explained the cards below in detail to help your decision-making process. If you are in any doubt about what you can afford, it's likely that the best credit card is "no credit card".

The credit card market fits into three segments - bank issued cards (e.g. Westpac Mastercard, BNZ Visa etc), American Express and the long-term finance cards (and arguably debt traps for many people) such as Gem Visa and Q Mastercard.

I ask you to be careful. The work MoneyHub does is focused on helping every New Zealander make better financial decisions. While many people use credit cards without any issue, I am realistic in that credit cards lead to debt and have written about how to pay it off in Stuff.co.nz. The data doesn't lie - the wrong credit card with a too-high limit is a debt trap.
MoneyHub Founder
Christopher Walsh

Start Here: Find a credit card based on what you spend each month:

Our shortlist has you covered for rewards, cashback and free flights. If you're spending at least $500 a month on credit card-friendly merchants (e.g. supermarkets, petrol stations and everyday expenses), we list the most rewarding cards:

Firstly, do you struggle to pay off a credit card?

MoneyHub's Most Popular and Rewarding Credit Cards:

We take a view that bank-issued credit cards are not competitive when it comes to value-for-money card fees and reward-earning rates. American Express, however, successfully challenges the "Australian-owned banks" and give cardholders power and value.

Important: We appreciate American Express is not accepted everywhere - this guide has more details. However, after mortgage repayments and rent, many New Zealanders spend the majority of their incomes on supermarkets, petrol and chain dining and retail. American Express is widely accepted throughout, although we confirm some cafes, coffee trucks and independent retailers and eateries may not accept it. For such purchases, which tend to be small, we suggest using a debit card as it helps the business owner.
Do you spend around $500 a month? 
  • We suggest considering The American Express Airpoints Card - it costs $0/year and gives you 1 Airpoints Dollar for every $1,00 you spend.
  • Bonus: 50 bonus Airpoints Dollars when you apply, are approved and spend $750 on your new Card within the first 3 months. New Card Members only.
  • Alternative Cards: We suggest reading our Free Credit Cards comparison
Do you spend between $500 and $5,000 a month?
Do you spend between $1,000 and $5,000 a month and want statement credit/cashback and restaurant bonuses?
  • We suggest considering the American Express Gold Rewards Card - it costs $200/year fee and gives you two $100 dining credits (one every six months) at selected restaurants. It also gives you 2 Membership Rewards Points per $1 spent, which can be used for flights, hotels, statement credit and other items. If you don't want a flight-specific credit card, this is arguably New Zealand's strongest offering (and more attractive if you consistently use the dining vouchers).
  • Please note that the card is made of metal, and applicants choose between a gold or pink design.
  • Bonus: $300 statement credit bonus when you apply, are approved and spend $1,500 on your new Card within the first 3 months. New Card Members only.

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