Where is Amex Accepted in New Zealand?
Amex cards offer great points and rewards, but are they widely accepted for payment in New Zealand? This guide reveals everything you need to know.
Updated 3 August 2024
Before signing up for an Amex card, it's important to know that you can use it as part of your everyday spending. This guide confirms where American Express cards are accepted, and explains what you need to know in general.
Before signing up for an Amex card, it's important to know that you can use it as part of your everyday spending. This guide confirms where American Express cards are accepted, and explains what you need to know in general.
Know This First: More and more retailers in New Zealand (and around the world) are accepting American Express
In Australia, Europe and the USA, American Express claims it has reached acceptance ‘parity’ with Visa and Mastercard.
Recep - American Express was lagging in acceptance around New Zealand, but things have changed. Now, all major supermarkets, petrol stations and transport providers accept Amex cards. However, you’ll still hear the phrase, “I’m sorry, we don’t take American Express”, at smaller independent retailers like cafes and restaurants. This is due primarily to the high fee charged to anyone accepting Amex, which is a lot more than that of Mastercard and Visa. The added cost, at a time when being a small business can be tough and margins are low, is enough for some merchants to forgo accepting Amex.
Why does Amex charge retailers more?
Unlike Mastercard and Visa, Amex cardholders have targeted businesses and people who historically pay their cards off in full when the balance is due. This means Amex earns far less money from high-interest charges. Amex also offers a range of charge cards which need to be paid off in full the following month. As a result, Amex makes its money from transaction fees unseen by the cardholder.
However, they also know that Amex cardholders typically spend a lot more per transaction than those with other credit cards. For example, a restaurant will likely see bills paid using Amex around 1.5 to 1.7 times higher than those paid with Mastercard of Visa (per American research).
Recep - American Express was lagging in acceptance around New Zealand, but things have changed. Now, all major supermarkets, petrol stations and transport providers accept Amex cards. However, you’ll still hear the phrase, “I’m sorry, we don’t take American Express”, at smaller independent retailers like cafes and restaurants. This is due primarily to the high fee charged to anyone accepting Amex, which is a lot more than that of Mastercard and Visa. The added cost, at a time when being a small business can be tough and margins are low, is enough for some merchants to forgo accepting Amex.
Why does Amex charge retailers more?
Unlike Mastercard and Visa, Amex cardholders have targeted businesses and people who historically pay their cards off in full when the balance is due. This means Amex earns far less money from high-interest charges. Amex also offers a range of charge cards which need to be paid off in full the following month. As a result, Amex makes its money from transaction fees unseen by the cardholder.
However, they also know that Amex cardholders typically spend a lot more per transaction than those with other credit cards. For example, a restaurant will likely see bills paid using Amex around 1.5 to 1.7 times higher than those paid with Mastercard of Visa (per American research).
Where are Amex cards accepted?
Cards are increasingly accepted at major New Zealand retailers – You can use your card at Countdown, New World, PAK'nSAVE and other supermarkets. Other retailers include most petrol stations and airline websites. Beyond that, many other companies accept them, as outlined below.
Groceries and retails
Countdown, New World, PAK'nSAVE and Four Square. Bottle shops include Bottle'O, Glengarry and Liquor King, among others. Retailers include Harvey Norman and Noel Leeming. A number of fashion retailers also accept American Express, including all shops within Westfield malls. However, independent retailers often don't accept Amex, meaning you'll need an alternative payment method.
Petrol stations and vehicle-related businesses accepting American Express include:
Z Energy, BP, Mobil, Gull, Bridgestone and Supercheap Auto are the major companies accepting Amex.
Transport and leisure companies accepting American Express include:
AT Hop (Auckland Transport), rental car firms Avis, Budget and Hertz, and online booking sites such as Expedia, Hotels.com, Tripadeal and Wotif.com. UBER also accepts Amex. Duty-free shops such as JR Duty Free accept Amex, as do all major hotel chains in New Zealand and around the world. All major airlines also accept Amex, but you may have to pay a credit card fee when purchasing a ticket.
Insurance companies and utility providers accepting American Express include:
AA Insurance, AMI, Asteron, NZI, State and Vero. Internet/power providers include 2 degrees, Contact Energy, Genesis Energy, Meridian Energy, National Storage, Orcon, Powershop, Skinny, Slingshot, Spark, Trustpower and Vodafone.
Dining and takeaway providers accepting American Express include:
McDonald's, KFC, Carl's Jnr, Pizza Hut and St Pierre Sushi, among others. Whether or not restaurants and cafes take your Amex card can be fairly hit or miss. In most cases, they won't, due to the fees charged. In such instances you'll need a backup card.
Business expenses can be paid by American Express:
Online payments providers Stripe and PayPal, which process credit card payments for Xero, accept Amex. If you're a business owner whose suppliers use Xero, you would be able to pay business bills by Amex.
Where can't I use an Amex card?
Historically, independent retailers, restaurants, cafes and recreation businesses are, more often than not, were unlikely to accept Amex. But things are changing, slowly. To ensure you make the most of your Amex cards, including maximising the points and travel benefits offered, applying for a low-fee or free credit card is a popular option.