This mid-range property offers a blend of comfort and affordability, making it an ideal choice for business travellers or anyone seeking a budget-friendly alternative to the pricier Park Hyatt in the same area.

Room Experience

The highlight of my stay was the quality of sleep. The Guest Room King, though standard, featured a comfortable bed, ensuring a restful night which is of course the bare minimum a hotel should provide.

The room, while not designed for extended work sessions due to the lack of a proper desk, did provide essential amenities like standard coffee and tea making facilities, an iron, and an ironing board - much appreciated by any business traveller.

The room's decor was enhanced somewhat by a canvas backdrop of Auckland above the bed, a small touch that adds some character to what could otherwise be a very bland space.

Bathroom

The bathroom, albeit compact with limited space around the sink, was clean and functional.

I appreciate a titled shower with a closing door, which prevents water from splashing out, something that was missing from my stay at the Oaks Wellington.

While the absence of a rain shower head was noted, the Peter Morrissey-branded bathroom amenities were good, and they were refillable and not single-use in line with New Zealand's eco-friendly approach.

Other Amenities

A minor drawback was the USB-A power chargers beside the bed. With USB-C becoming the new norm, these felt somewhat outdated already. A Qi charger alarm clock was also missing, which I find are present in more hotels these days.

Value for Money

The value for money was exceptional, especially considering the various discounts obtained through Trip.com, bringing the price to sub-$100 for the night. The check-in process was smooth and welcoming, thanks to a 24/7 front desk. The hotel was otherwise deserted at the time I arrived which was well past 10pm.

Summing Up

For those seeking a comfortable, no-frills stay in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter, the Travelodge Hotel is a solid choice.

While it may not cater to every need, particularly for those looking to work in their room, its combination of cleanliness, comfort, and affordability makes it a recommendable option, especially for short stays.

This historic 9-storey hotel has undergone renovations, transforming the former Ford vehicle assembly plant into a modern accommodation.

With US$200 in GHA DISCOVERY rewards credits to use (NZ$343 at the time), the Oaks Wellington was the only participating hotel in the region.

Initial reviews of the hotel made me skeptical. A majority of the negative reviews targeted the internal rooms lacking windows.

However, with my Platinum status with GHA DISCOVERY, I anticipated an upgrade to an external room. I booked a 2-night stay for NZ$385, which thanks to my credits brought my out-of-pocket cost down to less than NZ$50.

Hotel Room City View

Upon check-in, I was pleased to receive a City View room on a high floor as an upgrade. The room itself was clean and modern, with contemporary furnishings like a white tiled bathroom and a comfortable king bed. I slept very well for two nights, finding both the bedding and pillows to be comfortable. The temperature in the room was also easily adjustable.

The lack of any welcome gift or amenity was disappointing given my GHA DISCOVERY Platinum status. Emailing the hotel about this went unanswered.

Working in the room proved difficult with uncomfortable furniture and no business centre access. The hotel's prime location did provide walking access to many cafes, but a better in-room workspace would have been preferred.

Standard tea and coffee facilities were present. But, those hoping for an espresso machine or complimentary bottled water might be disappointed.

The bathroom's heavy sliding glass door and lack of a shower door were also inconvenient. The lack of a shower door allowed the bathroom to get overly humid and foggy after showering. The shower was large enough to include a door, so its omission felt more like a compromising design choice than a necessary constraint.

Other Facilities

While I didn't avail them, the hotel offers a gym and laundry service. They also house the Oak & Vine restaurant, serving breakfast and lunch daily, with dinner options from Tuesday to Saturday.

Summing Up

The biggest pro of my stay was the clean modern room and its proximity to everything I needed from Wellington. The comfortable king bed also led to great sleep. However, the lack of complete GHA DISCOVERY Platinum recognition was a shortfall. The room's impractical layout for working was another negative. While renovated and centrally located, the Oaks Wellington ultimately fell short of expectations. For a proper business trip, I would choose a hotel better suited for getting some desk work done during the day.

Exciting news from Accor Plus! The hospitality brand has recently announced an enticing new benefit for its members: a bonus of 20 Status Nights.

This new advantage will help those Accor Plus members seeking to level up their membership status or prolong their current one.

For context, Accor Plus is a membership programme favoured by clients in the Asia-Pacific region and international travellers alike. It offers a range of benefits on accommodations, food and beverage discounts, and other perks. But now, the programme has become even more appealing, especially for those that have acquired their status as a perk with a high-end credit card like the American Express Platinum.

In the past, members could fast-track to Gold status with the ibis BUSINESS card, a paid membership option.

But since the rebranding of ibis BUSINESS to ibis PLUS, the fast-track option now only leads to Silver status - the same as the initial enrolment benefit for Accor Plus. This change made the Gold status level even more elusive for those that stayed at Accor properties only a few times a year.

With the introduction of the new 20 Status Nights benefit, Accor Plus members will find it much easier to reach Gold or even Platinum status.

Securing Gold status typically requires 30 nights, while Platinum requires 60 nights. But with these bonus nights, members only need 10 nights for Gold and 40 nights for Platinum.

This is a significant reduction in status earn requirements, incentivising members to book more stays rather than purchasing 'status' for a one-off stay.

Accor Plus will credit your bonus 20 Status Nights to your account within 10 days, either for existing members, or for those that join.

Following this, you'll automatically receive a bonus of 20 Status Nights every 12 months upon renewing your Accor Plus membership.

So, if you're not yet a member, now might be the perfect time to join and start enjoying more of what Accor has to offer.

Do you love Country Road or Trenary? Are you always on the lookout for the best deals and offers to make your shopping experience more rewarding?

If yes, then the Country Road Loyalty Program is just what you need.

This rewards program offers a variety of benefits, rewards, and special offers to its members, making shopping at Country Road not only a delightful experience but also a rewarding one.

Introduction

Country Road began its journey as a women’s shirt company in 1974 and soon grew to become Australia's first lifestyle brand.

With a mission to offer a sustainable, clean look through their simplistic aesthetic, Country Road has won the hearts of many fashion enthusiasts over the years, including in New Zealand where they have opened a number of stores.

Today, Country Road is recognised as the home of the modern-day Australian lifestyle.

But did you know that you can make your shopping experience even better with the Country Road Loyalty Program?

What is the Country Road Loyalty Program?

The Country Road Loyalty Program is designed to reward loyal customers for their frequent purchases at Country Road and Trenary. By becoming a member of this program, you can earn rewards not only on your birthday and anniversary but also every time you move up to a new tier or spend over a certain amount in one day.

Joining the Country Road Loyalty Program

Joining the Country Road Loyalty Program is simple, easy, and free! All you need to do is create an account either online or in-store, and you’re all set to start earning rewards every time you shop at Country Road or Trenery.

How to Sign Up

To sign up for the Country Road Loyalty Program, simply visit the Country Road website and click on the 'Join Now' button. You'll be asked to provide some basic information like your name, email address, and postcode. Once you've filled out all the necessary fields, click 'Submit' to complete your registration. If you prefer to sign up in-store, just ask any of their friendly staff members for assistance.

The Benefits of Completing Your Profile

Completing your profile is not just a formality; it can actually enhance your shopping experience. When you provide your date of birth and other details, you allow Country Road to send you personalised rewards, including a special treat on your birthday. Also, by providing your email address, you ensure that you never miss out on any updates about new collections, exclusive offers, and upcoming sales.

Understanding the Tier System

The Country Road Loyalty Program works on a five-tier system, where the more you spend over a 12-month period, the higher your tier and the more benefits you enjoy. Here's a quick summary of what each tier offers:

Member

All members enjoy first access to new collections, exclusive access to Spend & Save and Spend & Earn rewards, $10 Birthday and Anniversary rewards, 30-day reward expiry, and complimentary basic tailoring on full-priced suits.

Bronze (Spend $300+)

Bronze members receive all the benefits of the Member tier plus a $20 Welcome Reward, increased Birthday and Anniversary Rewards to $20 each, and an extended reward expiry of 60 days.

Silver (Spend $750+)

Silver members enjoy all the benefits of Bronze, plus free standard delivery on all online orders, early access to Spend & Save, and increased Welcome, Birthday, and Anniversary Rewards to $30 each.

VIP Gold (Spend $2,500+)

In addition to Silver benefits, VIP Gold members receive complimentary store transfers, VIP tailoring on full-priced suits and pants, styling by appointment, first VIP access to Spend & Save, increased Welcome, Birthday, and Anniversary Rewards to $50 each, and an extended reward expiry of 90 days.

VIP Platinum (Spend $5,000+)

VIP Platinum members get all the VIP Gold benefits plus an annual gift from Country Road, and increased Welcome, Birthday, and Anniversary Rewards to $100 each, with an extended reward expiry of 120 days.

The tiered approach means the more you shop at Country Road and Trenery, the more rewarding your experience becomes.

Earning Rewards with Country Road

One of the highlights of the Country Road Loyalty Program is the opportunity to earn rewards every time you shop. Whether you're buying something for yourself or gifting someone else, every purchase brings you closer to exciting rewards.

How Purchases Translate into Rewards

As a member of the Country Road Loyalty Program, every purchase you make counts. Every time you spend $100 or more in one day, you'll receive a Spend & Earn reward for your next purchase. This means you earn a $10 Reward when you spend $100 or more, and a $35 Reward when you spend $250 or more. So, the more you shop, the more you earn!

Exclusive Offers for Members

Being a member of the Country Road Loyalty Program also gives you exclusive access to signature member offers, available at selected times throughout the year. These offers include getting $50 off when you spend $150, $100 off when you spend $300, and a whopping $200 off when you spend $600. This works out to be a 33.3% discount on spend during these promotions, on all products, including new season clothing.

Birthday Rewards

Who doesn't love a special treat on their birthday? At Country Road, they make sure your special day is even more memorable with Birthday Rewards. As a member of their Loyalty Program, you can receive a reward between $10 and $100 on your birthday, depending on your status tier.

Redeeming Rewards

So, you've earned some rewards and are excited to redeem them. But where and how can you do this?

Where You Can Redeem Rewards

Rewards can be redeemed in store at Country Road or Trenery, or online at countryroad.co.nz, or trenery.co.nz. However, rewards cannot be redeemed in any Country Road/Trenery Outlet stores, Online, or Country Road/Trenery concessions stores in David Jones.

In-Store Redemption

To redeem your rewards in-store, simply present your digital membership card or provide your membership number at the checkout. Your available rewards will be automatically deducted from your purchase total, saving you money instantly.

Online Redemption

If you prefer to shop online, you can still redeem your rewards. Simply log into your account, add the items you want to purchase to your cart, and proceed to the checkout. You’ll see an option to add your discount to your total purchase cost before you make payment. If you have multiple vouchers, you can use all of these, you’re not limited to just one.

How to Maximise Your Voucher Earn with the Country Road Loyalty Program: Hacks

The Country Road Loyalty Program rewards you more the more you shop. But with a bit of strategy, you can stretch your dollar even further. Here's how:

Maximise Earnings on Regular Purchases

When shopping at Country Road or Trenery, aim to spend over $100, and if possible, over $250 for each transaction. By spending $250, you'll earn a $35 reward. That's a 14% return on your spend.

It could be worth pushing your basket to this amount to capitalise on this increased reward.

Leverage Exclusive Offers

Country Road runs exclusive spend and save offers throughout the year that can provide you with up to a 33.3% discount on your spend. These offers provide a great opportunity to plan larger purchases and maximise your savings.

Climb the Tier System Strategically

Ascending the tier system is a fantastic way to maximise your rewards. Every time you level up, you receive a Welcome Reward, increased Birthday and Anniversary Rewards, and a range of other benefits. But here's where things get really interesting: the Silver tier.

By spending $750 in a year to reach the Silver tier, you'll earn $205 in rewards, equating to a 27.3% return on your spend. This figure takes into account the Spend & Earn rewards, the Welcome Rewards for reaching the Bronze and Silver tiers, and Birthday Rewards. This is already the highest effective return across all tiers.

But there's more to the story. When a Spend & Save event rolls around, if timed perfectly, you'll ideally have $205 in rewards from your journey to the Silver tier. You might be tempted to spend $300, fully covered by your $205 in rewards and the $100 discount from the Spend & Save event, but there's a catch.

To earn a Spend & Earn reward, you need to spend $100 or $250 in one day after all rewards have been redeemed and all discounts have been applied. This means that while your $205 in rewards and the $100 discount will significantly reduce your out-of-pocket expense, they won't contribute to earning a new Spend & Earn reward.

Nonetheless, you're still getting a great deal. You'll have received $1050 worth of goods ($750 from the initial spend to reach Silver, and $300 from the Spend & Save event) for an out-of-pocket total spend of only $750, with a total effective return of 40% ($300 savings on $750 spend).

Keep in mind, this strategy requires careful planning and timing to ensure all your vouchers are available to use during the Spend & Save event, given their 60-day expiry. This strategy also relies on your voucher earn and climb to Silver falling over your birthday period.

But with a bit of strategic planning, you'll have cracked one of the most effective ways to maximise your rewards with the Country Road Loyalty Program. So, plan your purchases, climb the tiers strategically, and enjoy a more rewarding shopping experience.

Don't Ignore the Birthday and Anniversary Rewards

Birthday and Anniversary Rewards increase with each tier, starting at $10 for a basic Member and going up to $100 for a VIP Platinum member. These rewards contribute significantly to the effective return at each tier level.

Consider Your Shopping Habits

Your strategy should also consider your shopping habits. If you shop frequently and spend a significant amount on each shopping trip, moving up to the Gold and Platinum tiers could provide additional benefits that might be valuable to you, such as complimentary tailoring and an annual gift.

But obviously don’t go spending more than you need. There is a good saying: when something is on sale for 50% off and now costs $50, you’re not really saving, you’re still spending.

Summing Up

The Country Road Loyalty Program is a fantastic way to make your shopping experience more rewarding. With tiered rewards, exclusive offers, and personalised treats, you can enjoy numerous benefits just by being a loyal customer.

Whether you're shopping for a loved one or treating yourself, every purchase brings you closer to exciting rewards, making shopping at Country Road and Trenery a truly rewarding experience.

What is Trip.com?

Trip.com is a leading global online travel agency that offers an expansive selection of travel products encompassing over 1.4 million hotels in 200 countries and flights to over 5,000 cities. The original Trip.com was started and is still headquartered in Singapore but is now owned by a Chinese parent company with headquarters in Shanghai, originally known as CTrip.

Since its inception, Trip.com has made it its mission to simplify travel planning and make travelling a more enjoyable experience. With 24/7 customer service and a commitment to quality, they provide travellers with easy access to the best deals and offers and a seamless booking experience.

Whether you are planning a family holiday, a business trip, or a last-minute getaway, Trip.com can be a one-stop solution for booking travel.

What are Trip Coins?

Trip Coins are part of the loyalty programme offered by Trip.com. These coins are a form of virtual currency that you can earn through various activities on the platform and then redeem for great rewards, including discounts on future pre-paid bookings.

How to Earn Trip Coins from Bookings on Trip.com

There are several ways you can earn Trip Coins:

Earning Trip Coins Through Different Booking Types

Trip Coins are earned based on the type of booking, the amount spent, the member tier, and the platform used for booking. Here's the breakdown:

• Flights: For every US$100 spent (or its equivalent), you'll earn 25 Trip Coins.

• Hotels: For every US$100 spent (or its equivalent), you'll earn 80 Trip Coins.

• Gift Cards: For every US$100 spent (or its equivalent), you'll earn 50 Trip Coins.

• South Korea Trains (app only): For every US$100 spent (or its equivalent), you'll earn 25 Trip Coins.

The exact number of Trip Coins rewarded for each booking will be shown after payment when the booking is completed.

The number of Trip Coins you earn also depends on your membership tier:

• Gold tier members earn 10% more Trip Coins.

• Platinum members earn 30% more Trip Coins.

• Diamond members earn 40% more Trip Coins.

Booking with the Trip.com App

By booking through the Trip.com app, you stand to gain 30% more Trip Coins compared to using desktop or mobile websites. This approach motivates people to download the app and subscribe to regular push notifications. It also enables Trip.com to minimise payouts to affiliate partners.

Write Hotel Reviews

As a Trip.com member, you can earn coins by writing reviews on hotels you've stayed at. The number of coins you earn is determined by several factors including the popularity of the hotel, when the review was written, and the completeness of your review.

Each approved review earns you Trip Coins on a sliding scale:

• 10 coins for less than 20 characters

• 20 coins for 20-50 characters

• 50 coins for over 50 characters.

Bonuses are also available. Uploading images or videos earns an extra 10 coins, as does leaving a review within three days of your stay. Writing your first review, or reviewing a hotel with fewer than 15 reviews, bags an additional 50 coins.

You can't cheat the system though, and there are some guidelines. Reviews will be screened for inappropriate content and may not be posted if they're found to be falsified, nonsensical, plagiarised, offensive, aggressive, or promotional. In such cases, or if a review is deleted, any Trip Coins earned will be withdrawn.

So, keep your reviews honest, insightful, and respectful!

Write Attraction Reviews

Registered users have the opportunity to earn coins by writing reviews for attractions. By posting a photo of any attraction along with a review of at least 15 characters, you can earn 10 Trip Coins, up to a monthly limit of 200. Once your submitted content successfully passes the verification process, the coins will be automatically added to your account.

Remember to keep your reviews original and honest to avoid any deduction of coins.

Trip Moments

The Trip Moments community grants registered users ways to gain Trip Coins by engaging with posts and fellow users. Everyday tasks like liking posts reap daily rewards, and membership-level upgrades unlock further benefits.

Opportunities span from viewing and liking posts to adjusting your profile and creating high-quality content.

Here are the task details:

• Daily tasks such as liking a post earn 1 Trip Coin (up to 3 times).

• New membership level tasks reward 2-5 Trip Coins for activities like viewing posts, liking items, following users, writing reviews, and editing your profile.

• Higher levels (4-6) yield up to 300 Trip Coins for posting and creating high-quality content.

• Monthly tasks offer 500 Trip Coins for five high-quality posts post-level 6, totalling up to 1000 Trip Coins.

There are some community rules you must adhere to:

• All contributions must be original, and contain legitimate and proper content.

• Unlawful, unrelated, malicious or plagiarised posts/comments won't be published.

• For clarity and user experience, posts must have sufficient details and quality.

Participate in Promotions

Trip.com regularly runs promotions and contests that offer coins as prizes. Keep an eye on their website and emails for these opportunities.

How to Use Trip Coins

You can use Trip Coins when paying to save instantly on pre-paid bookings.

For example, 100 Trip Coins can be used to save approximately US$1 on a booking.

Effective Cashback Rates with Trip Coins on Trip.com

Understanding how much you effectively earn back in value with Trip Coins can help you make the most of this rewards programme. Below, we’ve broken down the effective cashback rates based on different booking types, status tiers, and platforms:

1. Effective Cashback Rate for Each Form of Booking with No Status:

• Flights: 25 Trip Coins for every US$100 spent, equivalent to US$0.25 (0.25% cashback).

• Hotels: 80 Trip Coins for every US$100 spent, equivalent to US$0.80 (0.8% cashback).

• Gift Cards: 50 Trip Coins for every US$100 spent, equivalent to US$0.50 (0.5% cashback).

• South Korea Trains (app only): 25 Trip Coins for every US$100 spent, equivalent to US$0.25 (0.25% cashback).

2. Effective Cashback Rate for Bookings Made on the App (No Status):

• Flights (app): 32.5 Trip Coins for every US$100 spent, equivalent to US$0.325 (0.325% cashback).

• Hotels (app): 104 Trip Coins for every US$100 spent, equivalent to US$1.04 (1.04% cashback).

• Gift Cards (app): 65 Trip Coins for every US$100 spent, equivalent to US$0.65 (0.65% cashback).

• South Korea Trains (app only): 32.5 Trip Coins for every US$100 spent, equivalent to US$0.325 (0.325% cashback).

3. Effective Cashback Rate for Hotel Bookings Made with the App for Each Status Tier:

• Gold Tier (10% more Trip Coins):
  Hotels (app): 114.4 Trip Coins for every US$100 spent, equivalent to US$1.144 (1.144% cashback).

• Platinum Tier (30% more Trip Coins):
  Hotels (app): 135.2 Trip Coins for every US$100 spent, equivalent to US$1.352 (1.352% cashback).

• Diamond Tier (40% more Trip Coins):
  Hotels (app): 145.6 Trip Coins for every US$100 spent, equivalent to US$1.456 (1.456% cashback).

As you can see, taking advantage of status tier benefits and booking through the Trip.com app will help you maximise the number of Trip Coins you earn, thus increasing your effective cashback.

The best value Trip Coins earn is for a Diamond member booking hotels through the app, where they would earn an effective cashback of approximately 1.456%.

Cashback Comparison with Other OTA Loyalty Programmes

It's important to put the Trip.com rewards programme into perspective by comparing it to other loyalty programmes in the travel industry.

For example, Hotels.com has a renowned rewards programme where members earn a free night's stay after booking 10 nights.

This essentially equates to a 10% cashback in value, which is significantly higher than what you can earn with Trip.com.

Even by maximising Trip.com rewards with status and app bookings, the effective cashback is approximately 1.456%.

This highlights that, while Trip Coins can offer some savings, savvy travellers looking for more substantial rewards might find better value in alternative programmes such as the one offered by Hotels.com.

Of course, if the price of a stay with Trip.com is substantially cheaper than booking with Hotels.com, or another online travel agency (OTA), then this needs to be taken into account also.

When will Trip Coins be added to my account?

For flight bookings, your Trip Coins are added to your account 3 days after your departure. If your booking includes multiple flights, then your coins will be credited 3 days after the departure of the final flight in your booking.

For hotel bookings, Trip Coins may take between 2 to 6 weeks following confirmation of check-in to appear in your account. This timeline can extend if Trip.com experience any delay in receiving confirmation from the hotel.

Do Trip Coins Expire?

Yes, Trip Coins do expire. The expiry timeline depends on how they are earned. Coins earned by booking hotels or flights expire 18 months after they reach your account, while those earned by writing hotel reviews expire 6 months after they reach your account.

For coins earned through other promotions, the expiry date varies, so it's best to refer to the information on the specific promotion page.

Thankfully, for members with a Gold or higher tier, beginning from March 1, 2022, it is possible to extend the validity period of Trip Coins that are set to expire within 30 days.

Trip.com charge an 'extension fee' for this benefit, which is deducted from your Trip Coin balance. This is typical of many Asian-based frequent traveller programmes. The extension fee is calculated based on the amount of Trip Coins about to expire.

The amount of the fee and the number of extensions allowed is based on your status level:

• For Gold members, you're allowed one extension, and 10% of your Trip Coins will be charged for this service. This extension prolongs your coins' validity by 2 months.

• For Platinum members, two extensions are permitted, with the same fee and duration.

• Diamond members are entitled to three extensions, and the fee is lowered to 5%, with each extension also lasting 2 months.

Regardless of status, you must have a minimum balance of 10 Trip Coins.

The number of extensions you can utilise resets yearly. If your membership tier changes, the number of available extensions adjusts accordingly, but it doesn't exceed the number you've already used if you're downgraded. If you've upgraded and haven't used up the number of extensions available at your previous tier, you may continue to use them.

Note that you can only extend the validity of Trip Coins earned through bookings. Trip Coins obtained through other methods, such as writing reviews or participating in promotions, cannot have their validity period extended.

Overall, pretty complicated, and we think for Gold or above they should just not expire the Trip Coins at all. This would make for a more rewarding loyalty programme overall.

Tips for Maximising Your Coin Earnings

1. Book Frequently: The more you book, the more coins you earn. If you travel regularly, consider making all your bookings through Trip.com to maximise your coin earnings.

2. Write Detailed Reviews: The more helpful your review is, the more likely it is to be approved and earn you coins.

3. Refer Friends: If you have friends who travel, refer them to Trip.com. You'll both benefit when they make their first booking.

Summing Up

Earning and using Trip Coins is an okay way to stretch your travel budget and make it go further.

By fully understanding the ins and outs of the system and taking advantage of all the opportunities to earn coins, you'll save money and work your way towards increased savings with status.

However, as we've analysed above, there are potentially better OTA reward programmes around by way of the effective value you get back.

Whether you're an avid traveller or just embarking on your journey with Air New Zealand, our guide will cover off on the key benefits of reaching Silver status.

What is Airpoints Silver?

Airpoints Silver is the second tier in Air New Zealand's frequent flyer programme, positioned above the entry-level Airpoints tier and below Gold and Elite tiers.

To earn Silver status, you need to accrue 450 status points within a 12-month period, with at least half of these points earned on Air New Zealand operated flights, qualifying partner airline flights, or Star Alliance qualifying flights. To retain your status, you need 405 status points.

Key Benefits of Airpoints Silver

Lounge Access

As a Silver member, one of the key benefits you'll enjoy is access to Air New Zealand's lounges. You will receive two complimentary single-entry lounge eVouchers each membership year. These can be used at all Air New Zealand owned lounges when departing on an Air New Zealand ticketed and operated flight.

Cabin Upgrades

Airpoints Silver members receive one recognition upgrade each membership year. This upgrade can be used to request a cabin class upgrade for one flight sector (for example, from premium economy to business premier) on an Air New Zealand operated flight.

In addition, Air New Zealand's OneUp upgrade offer system provides an opportunity for Silver members to move up one cabin class on international flights. As a token of appreciation for your loyalty, Silver members' OneUp offers will be upweighted by 10%.

Extra Silver Benefits

Silver members are privy to discounted long haul Business class fares, available in limited quantities. This benefit allows you to experience the luxury of Business class at a lower cost. The fares however can only be purchased using Airpoints Dollars and exclude all applicable taxes, levies and surcharges, which must be paid for in cash. You better have a hefty balance ready!

Airpoints Silver and Star Alliance Status

As an Airpoints Silver member, you'll also be recognised as a Star Alliance Silver Status holder. This status entitles you to privileges like priority reservation waitlist and priority airport standby, making your journey smoother when flying with any Star Alliance member airlines.

Summing Up

Airpoints Silver status offers a range of benefits designed to enhance your travel experience with Air New Zealand and its partners.

While the perks are pretty basic compared to the higher tiers, they’re designed as such, to try and encourage you to travel ‘just that little bit more’ and earn Gold in your next membership year. The free lounge access passes are a great teaser and may push some to purchase Koru Club membership, so you don’t go without on future trips.

From lounge access to cabin upgrades and discounted Business class fares, achieving Silver status truly adds a bit more value to your journey.

Discover how to make the most of your Airpoints Dollars when shopping at Mitre 10 and enjoy exclusive benefits with this comprehensive guide.

How to Earn Airpoints Dollars at Mitre 10

To earn Airpoints Dollars at Mitre 10, follow these simple steps:

1. Shop at any Mitre 10 store or online at www.mitre10.co.nz.

2. For every $115 spent, you'll earn 1 Airpoints Dollar. Smaller purchases will earn a percentage of an Airpoints Dollar.

3. Present your Airpoints card or include your Airpoints number when making a purchase.

4. Airpoints Dollars will be credited to your account within 14 working days.

Additionally, using the Air NZ mobile app at checkout will also allow you to earn Airpoints Dollars.

Spending Airpoints Dollars at Mitre 10

To spend your Airpoints Dollars at Mitre 10, follow these steps:

1. Visit the Airpoints store (www.airpointsstore.co.nz) to purchase a Mitre 10 E-Gift Card using your Airpoints Dollars. E-Gift Cards are available in $50, $100, $250, $500 and $1000 denominations.

2. The gift card will be emailed directly to you in 1-2 working days from Mitre 10.

3. Use your E-Gift Card for purchases in-store or online at Mitre 10.

Mitre 10 Club Benefits

By linking your Airpoints card with your Mitre 10 Club membership, you'll unlock additional benefits such as exclusive Club prices and entry into a monthly prize draw.

To join the Mitre 10 Club or link your Airpoints card, visit this link.

Airpoints for Business

Mitre 10 also rewards business trade customers with Airpoints Dollars. To earn Airpoints Dollars for your business, follow these steps:

1. Become an Airpoints member and register for the Airpoints for Business programme.

2. Set up a trade account with Mitre 10 in-store.

3. Link the Airpoints number of the Airpoints for Business account owner to the Mitre 10 trade account.

4. Airpoints Dollars will be credited to the Airpoints for Business account for your next trade purchase.

Summing Up

Earning and spending Airpoints Dollars at Mitre 10 is the perfect way to enhance your home improvement shopping experience.

It’s also perfect for those who run a small business and regularly purchase from Mitre 10.

Imagine having a small home building company and purchasing the bulk of your supplies from one of their stores. You could earn literally thousands of Airpoints Dollars per year.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you'll be well on your way to making the most of your Airpoints Dollars and enjoying exclusive benefits.

While Booking.com promo codes can be difficult to come by, there are still several ways to save on your next booking.

In this guide, we'll cover everything from Booking.com Genius loyalty program cashback offers to credit card partnerships and cashback websites.

So, say goodbye to hours of searching for elusive promo codes, and learn how to maximise your savings on your next Booking.com reservation.

Get Up to 10% Cash Credits on Booking.com with Visa

You can get up to 10% cash credit on your accommodation bookings by using a valid Visa debit or credit card.

Here's how to take advantage of this offer:

1. Click here.

2. Create a Booking.com account (if you don’t already have one).

3. Choose an accommodation with a cashback badge.

4. Book and pay with a valid Visa card.

It's that easy! Any cashback you earn will be recorded in your Rewards/Wallet on your Booking.com profile.

Your credit can be cashed out (i.e., withdrawn straight onto your card) or used towards bookings at properties that offer online payment.

Things to Know:

• Offer is valid for all Visa Principal and Supplementary cardholders.

• Bookings must be made via Booking.com/VisaNZ using a registered Booking.com account and a valid Visa card - either debit or credit.

• Bookings made through the Booking.com app are not eligible for this promotion.

• Cancelled and “no show” bookings are not eligible.

• Cashback will be credited at least 67 business days after completion of stay.

• Accommodations that only accept cash as payment are not eligible for the offer.

• Offer is subject to terms and conditions of Booking.com.

• Inquiries and concerns can be addressed to Booking.com Customer Service.

• Terms and conditions may change at any time by Booking.com and/or Visa.

Booking.com Travel Credit Offers

I often get Booking.com travel credit offers sent directly to my inbox. This is because I have signed up as Booking.com Genius member, which is free.

You may receive an email that looks similar to this:

Each offer will have a limited time duration. For example, I receive this offer on the 10 February and had only until the 12 February to use it.

For these offers, the reward value is usually capped, can only be applied to one booking, and cannot be withdrawn to your credit card as cash credits can.

These offers are a great option if you frequently use Booking.com and know that you will be able to use the credit towards your next booking.

Booking.com Cashback

Cashback sites work as a middleman between you and the retailer, and give you a percentage of your purchase back in cash.

There are a few websites that offer cashback on your Booking.com purchase, though the amount you get back from these will usually be less than if you used one of the options above.

Note that you usually cannot stack these cashback offers with any other deals.

Options include:

• Kiwiwallet - 3% cashback

• myWorld - 3% cashback

• Cashrewards - 6% cashback. Sign up here to get $10 extra cashback.

Summing Up

As you can see, there are a few different options for securing a “discount” on your Booking.com purchase, though in most cases, this in the form of cashback or travel credits.

Don’t be fooled by all the coupon websites. When you ‘click’ on one of their offers, and then make a booking, usually you’re receiving no discount, plus you’re helping that site earn affiliate income.

Our personal favourite is using your Visa card to earn a consistent 10% cash credit on all your stays.

As usual, read the terms and conditions of any offer before booking.

This Swedish-based company is all about making online shopping easier and more enjoyable for consumers. Whether you're a seasoned shopper or just starting out, Klarna is the perfect solution for anyone looking to simplify their shopping experience.

With Klarna, you can split your online purchases into four equal, interest-free payments made every two weeks. You can do this at checkout at one of Klarna's partner retailers or through the Klarna app, which is a shopping buddy that helps you keep track of your purchases, get exclusive deals and rewards, and more!

And the best part? No interest fees, provided you pay on time!

So, let's dive into the world of Klarna and see what all the buzz is about! With our top tips, you'll be shopping like a pro in no time.

Get ready to say goodbye to one-time payments and hello to effortless shopping and a clearer budget!

What is Klarna?

Klarna is a Swedish-based buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) provider founded in 2005 with the aim of making online shopping easier for consumers.

The company allows Kiwi shoppers over the age of 18 to split their online purchases into four equal, interest-free payments made every two weeks.

This can be done at checkout at one of Klarna's partner retailers or through the Klarna app, which also offers a variety of other features such as payment tracking, wish list creation, exclusive deals and rewards, and price drop notifications.

They’re unique in that unlike Afterpay, Laybuy and other BNPL providers, they let you create a ‘one time’ card that can be used at practically any online retailer. This removes the limitation of Klarna needing to have direct integration with e-commerce.

They also have a rewards programme, where you earn points, and can then redeem those for a range of digital gift cards. I have personally redeemed for quite a number of Mighty Ape gift cards thanks to Klarna!

Klarna sets customised limits for each shopper based on factors such as payment history, outstanding balance, shopping cart amount, and Klarna's ability to identify the shopper.

Late payment fees are limited to a total of $9 per order, and are dependent on the total purchase amount. These are the lowest fees among all BNPL providers in New Zealand.

Klarna does not perform a credit check when signing up or downloading the app but may perform one during a first-time purchase or after 365 days have passed since the last check.

What is the difference between BNPL and a credit card?

BNPL services like Klarna allow shoppers to pay off an item over several weeks without interest, while credit cards allow borrowing money from the card provider with interest charged on outstanding balances that are not paid in full at the end of each statement cycle.

With BNPL, shoppers can track repayments on individual items, while with credit cards, all purchases are lumped into one pool.

When BNPL and credit cards are used together, they can make for a powerful way of managing household cash flow, and also points and mileage earn.

How to start with Klarna

Getting started with Klarna is easy and straightforward. Here's a quick guide on how to start using Klarna for your online shopping:

1. Download the Klarna app: To start using Klarna, you'll need to download the Klarna app from the App Store or Google Play. The app is free to download and use.

2. Sign up for an account: Once you've downloaded the app, you'll need to create an account. This is a quick and simple process, and you'll need to provide some basic information, such as your name, email address, and date of birth. You could also create an account online in advance. This is all to help with verification and keep you and other shoppers safe.

3. Browse Klarna's partner retailers: The Klarna app features hundreds of partner retailers where you can use Klarna as a payment method at checkout. Browse the list of retailers and find one that you'd like to make a purchase from. If a partner isn’t present, you can search for the retailer website that you’re interested in and then opt to create a one-time card.

4. Add a payment method: To use Klarna, you'll need to add a payment method. This can be a credit or debit card.

5. Make a purchase: When you've found a product you'd like to purchase, select Klarna as your payment method at checkout. You'll then be able to split your purchase into four equal, interest-free payments made every two weeks. If Klarna isn’t available as a payment method direct with the retailer, you can use the app to create a one-time card to use with practically any online retailer.

6. Track your payments: You can use the Klarna app to track your payments, view your shopping history, and get help if you need it.

That's it! With these simple steps, you're ready to start using Klarna for your online shopping.

Why might I want to use Klarna?

Here are some reasons why you may want to consider using Klarna for your next purchase:

1. Pay in 4 instalments over 6 weeks with zero interest.

2. Shop with hundreds of partnered retailers or use the Klarna app to pay at any store online using a one-time card.

3. Manage all your payments, report returns, and get help if you need it through the Klarna app.

4. Get a clear overview of your shopping history, saved items, exclusive deals, and price drop notifications.

5. Choose from flexible payment options to fit your budget.

6. Never pay interest on your purchases, as long as you pay them off in time. They offer free payment extensions on the off chance that you need them.

7. Earn points for your purchases, and then redeem them on gift cards. Provided you are never paying late fees, you’re effectively making money from shopping as per normal.

What are some of the downfalls of BNPL products like Klarna?

Like with any product, there are potential pitfalls, and buy now pay later products like Klarna are not immune. Here are some reasons why using Klarna might not be for you:

• Late fees: If a payment is missed, Klarna charges a late fee of up to $3 per instalment, with a maximum of $9 per order. Whether you are charged a late fee will depend on the total purchase amount.

• Limited spending: Klarna sets customised limits based on your payment history, outstanding balance, shopping cart total, and its ability to identify you, which may limit the amount you can spend.

• Credit check: Klarna performs a credit check when making your first purchase with a one-time card or choosing Klarna as a payment method at checkout, which may impact your credit score.

• Repayment schedule: Repaying your purchases in four equal instalments every two weeks may not align with your personal financial situation and may lead to difficulty making payments.

• Hidden costs: Some retailers may charge additional fees for using Klarna as a payment method, which may not be immediately apparent.

• Lack of control: Using Klarna to make purchases may lead to overspending and a buildup of debt, as you are not required to pay for the item in full upfront. Never use Klarna of other buy now pay later providers if you cannot afford to buy the item now.

• Limited retailer options: Not all retailers accept Klarna as a payment method, so you may not be able to use it for all of your shopping needs.

How to Avoid Late Fees with Klarna

Late fees can quickly add up and eat into the savings you get from using Klarna's interest-free payments. To avoid late fees and keep your shopping experience with Klarna worry-free, follow these tips:

1. Keep track of your due dates: Make sure to keep track of your payment due dates and make your payments on time. You can easily do this by using the Klarna app, which will send you reminders when a payment is due.

2. Set up automatic payments: To ensure that you never miss a payment, consider setting up automatic payments through the Klarna app. This way, you won't have to worry about making payments manually and can avoid late fees altogether.

3. Make use of Klarna's "Extend Due Date" option: If you need a few extra days to make a payment, Klarna offers an "Extend Due Date" option in its app. By using this option, you can avoid late fees and ensure that you're able to make your payments on time.

4. Stay within your spending limit: Klarna sets customised spending limits based on several factors, including your payment history with Klarna and the total amount in your shopping cart. Be mindful of your spending limit and avoid overspending, as this can result in late fees or damage to your credit score.

5. Make payments in full: To avoid late fees, make sure to pay your Klarna payments in full and on time. Late fees are limited to a total of $9 per order and can be extended through the Klarna app.

By following these tips, you can avoid late fees with Klarna and enjoy the benefits of their interest-free payments.

Remember, do not use apps like Klarna if you could not otherwise afford to purchase the product outright.

Remember, your goal is to stay on top of your payments and manage your cashflow, so stay mindful of your spending and due dates.

Our Top Klarna Tips

Here are our top five tips for using Klarna effectively:

1. Make use of Klarna's app-based management: Use the Klarna app to keep track of your payments, report returns (with Klarna-integrated retailers), and get help if you need it. By taking advantage of Klarna's app-based management, you'll have a clear overview of all your shopping with Klarna, which can help you keep better track of your spending.

2. Spread out your payments: By spreading out your payments over time, you'll be able to avoid having to pay for your purchases all at once. This can help you manage your cashflow and ensure that you don't overspend or go over budget.

3. Consider combining Klarna with a credit card: If you have a credit card that earns rewards points like Air New Zealand Airpoints, consider using Klarna to make your purchases and then spreading out your payments onto your credit card. This way, you can earn rewards on your purchases while also managing your cashflow.

4. Make use of Klarna's "Extend Due Date" option: If you need a few extra days to meet a repayment, Klarna offers an "Extend Due Date" option in its app. By using this option, you can avoid late fees and ensure that you're able to make your payments on time.

5. Stay within your spending limit: Klarna sets customised spending limits based on several factors, including your payment history with Klarna and the total amount in your shopping cart. Be mindful of your spending limit and avoid overspending, as this can result in late fees or damage to your credit score.

Summing Up

Klarna offers a smooth and safe way to get what you want today, without breaking the bank.

With its interest-free payments and app-based management, it among other BNPL providers is a great alternative (and addition) to a credit card and a perfect solution for those who prefer to spread the cost of their purchases.

Whether you're a seasoned shopper or just starting out, Klarna is a must-try for anyone looking to simplify their online shopping experience.

Just remember though, that while Klarna can be a great option for some, it may not be the best choice for everyone.

It's essential to weigh the benefits against the potential drawbacks, such as lack of control over your spending and potential late fees, before making a decision.

Never make a purchase using BNPL if you could not afford to buy the item in full today. The aim is to use BNPL to keep money in your bank account for longer, not to make purchases that you cannot afford.

This used to be a programme that I really didn’t know to take advantage of and was always just using my fuel discounts as soon as they were available. However, it really does make sense to learn how to accumulate them into a big saving at the petrol pump.

This comprehensive FAQ guide will provide answers to all your questions, whether you're a new member or have been using AA Smartfuel for years.

From earning and redeeming fuel discounts to understanding where you can earn, this guide covers it all.

So, sit back, relax and learn how to maximise your fuel savings with AA Smartfuel.

Let's get started!

1. How does AA Smartfuel work?

AA Smartfuel is a rewards programme that allows you to earn fuel discounts when you shop at participating retailers.

You can pick up a free AA Smartfuel card from any of their partners, including bp, GAS, and Countdown, or use your existing AA Membership card.

You can also download the AA Smartfuel app and do it all digitally.

To start earning fuel discounts, simply show your card or scan the app with each qualifying purchase at any of their 1,200+ retail partners.

You can continue to build your balance of fuel discounts until you're ready to redeem them.

Though keep in mind that fuel discounts must be redeemed by the end of the following calendar month, so be sure to redeem them before they expire.

When you're ready to redeem your discounts, you can do so at bp or GAS, or exchange for other options include Qantas Points, Uber Gift Cards and donations to charity.

You can choose to redeem your discounts straight away or continue to build your balance for next time. Your discounts will come off every litre of fuel at bp or GAS, up to a maximum of 50 litres.

In order to redeem your fuel discounts, you'll need to first register your physical card online or by phone by calling 0800 842 877.

Once you've registered, you'll also be able to view your AA Smartfuel transactions and manage your account online, change your Countdown rewards preference, link cards with family and close friends, and receive email reminders before your fuel discounts expire.

If you're an AA Member, your AA Membership card is already pre-registered for AA Smartfuel and ready to earn and redeem fuel discounts.

You can manage your account with MyAA, which allows you to view your AA Smartfuel transactions, change your Countdown rewards preference, link cards with family and close friends, and sign up for email updates and reminders.

2. How long do AA Smartfuel points last?

AA Smartfuel points last for one to two months.

The discounts will expire at the end of the calendar month following the month in which they were earned. For example, if you earned a discount on April 1st, it will expire on May 31st.

Make sure to redeem your discounts before the expiration date to make the most of them.

3. How to apply for an AA Smartfuel card?

To apply for an AA Smartfuel card, there are a few options available to you.

The easiest option is to download the AA Smartfuel app and apply for a digital card. With the app, you can easily track your fuel discounts and redeem them at participating BP or GAS locations.

Alternatively, you can pick up a free AA Smartfuel card from participating retailers such as BP, GAS, and AA Centres. Once you have your card, you can start earning fuel discounts immediately by showing your card when you make qualifying purchases at any of their 1,200+ retail partners.

For AA Members, your AA Membership card is already pre-registered for AA Smartfuel and ready to earn and redeem fuel discounts, so there is no need to apply for another one.

4. Where can I use my AA Smartfuel card?

The AA Smartfuel card can be used to earn fuel discounts by shopping at any of the 1,200+ participating retail partners across New Zealand.

These include retailers such as Countdown, BP, GAS, and Contact Energy, as well as local cafes and restaurants, fashion and jewellery stores, and service providers.

The discounts can be redeemed at participating BP or GAS service stations for instant savings on fuel, or can be converted into other rewards such as Qantas Frequent Flyer points, CarbonClick carbon offsets, ChargeNet credits, or Uber gift cards through linking your AA Smartfuel account with the respective programme.

The location of the participating retail partners and fuel stations can be found on the AA Smartfuel website using their location finder tool.

5. When do AA Smartfuel points expire?

AA Smartfuel discounts expire at the end of the calendar month following the month in which they were earned.

For example, a fuel discount earned between 1st and 30th April will expire on 31st May, giving you one to two months to use your discounts.

6. How to activate an AA Smartfuel card?

There are three ways to activate an AA Smartfuel card:

1. Download the free app on the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play (for Android) and register the card through the app.

2. Register the card online by visiting the AA Smartfuel website and following the instructions on the screen.

3. Call 0800 842 877 to register the card over the phone.

Once the card is successfully registered, you will receive confirmation via email.

7. How to link AA Smartfuel cards?

You can link your AA Smartfuel card with family and friends to increase the fuel discounts accumulated across the group. This is great for those who share cars or household purchases.

To link cards, users can log in to their AA Smartfuel account and click on "Manage card groups" and then “Add cardholders to group”. Follow the steps on the screen.

If the other cardholder has already linked to another group, the user will need to ask the other cardholder to send an invite request for them to join that group.

Once the cards are linked, all fuel discounts go into a joint account and any cardholder in the group can redeem them.

Once any one cardholder has redeemed the fuel discounts, the account is cleared to zero.

Users can also unlink cards from the group, by logging in to their AA Smartfuel account and clicking on "Manage card groups" and then "Remove cardholder from your group".

8. How to check an AA Smartfuel balance?

To check your AA Smartfuel account balance, you can use one of the following methods:

1. Download the AA Smartfuel app from the App Store or Google Play and log in to your account.

2. Log in to your AA Smartfuel account on the website.

3. Check the receipt when you show your card at a participating retailer or service provider. The receipt should show both the discounts earned for that purchase and your total account balance. To find out more about specific participating retailers, visit the "Where to shop" page on the AA Smartfuel website.

Summing up

With this comprehensive guide, you should now have all the information you need to make the most of the AA Smartfuel programme, from earning and redeeming fuel discounts, to redeeming your discount for other options like Qantas Points or Uber Gift Cards.

AA Smartfuel also have an extensive FAQ section on their own website, which you can browse for the answers to less common questions.

I think the AA Smartfuel is a great way to save on fuel costs, especially given how exorbitant they are in New Zealand.

I do question whether these programmes artificially inflate the cost of fuel. In Australia, similar programmes were banned as they were found to not be fair to all consumers. However right now, it’s best to make the most of them.

Remember to use your registered AA Smartfuel card every time you shop at a participating retailer, either in-store or online, to earn fuel discounts, and take advantage of exclusive offers and competitions.

Safe driving!

If you're an Afterpay user, you may be wondering how to add your Afterpay card to Google Pay.

Adding your Afterpay card to your mobile wallet will make it super easy for you to just tap and go and use Afterpay for in-store shopping (see their complete store list).

In this guide, we'll walk you through the simple process of linking your Afterpay account to Google Pay, so you can enjoy the convenience of using your Afterpay account for in-store purchases.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here's what you'll need to do:

1. Open the Afterpay app on your device.

2. Tap on the "In-Store" option in the bottom menu.

3. Select "Pay in Store"

4. Tap on "Setup the card"

5. Select "Add to Wallet"

6. A SMS verification code will be sent to your mobile device, enter the code in the app.

7. Tap on "Next" to complete the process.

Now you will be able to use Afterpay as a payment option when making a purchase through Google Pay.

Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing any issues with adding Afterpay to Google Pay, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Ensure that you have the latest version of the Afterpay app and Google Pay installed on your device.

2. Check that your mobile device's operating system meets the minimum requirements for both apps.

3. Make sure that your device has internet connectivity when trying to add Afterpay to Google Pay.

4. Ensure that your Afterpay account is in good standing and that you have no outstanding payments or holds on your account.

5. Try resetting your device and restarting the process of adding Afterpay to Google Pay.

6. If you are still experiencing issues, contact Afterpay's customer support team for further assistance.

If you receive a verification error, try waiting a few hours and then going back into your digital wallet to check if the card has updated. If after a few hours the card still hasn't verified, delete the card from Google Pay and wait 24 hours before attempting to set it up again.

In addition, make sure that NFC is turned on by opening the settings app and checking under "Connected Devices" for the "NFC" option. If it is not there, turn it on.

If you are unable to see the option to "Add to Wallet" under Step 5 above, you may need to reduce the text size on your device by going to the settings app, selecting "Accessibility" and then "Font size" and using the slider to adjust the size.

Summing up

By following the simple steps in this guide, you should now have successfully added your Afterpay card to Google Pay.

This will make shopping with Afterpay much easier, by letting you tap and go at Afterpay partners in-store.

As a personal fan of the programme, I know first-hand how the points earned on shopping can help to smooth the cost of grocery shopping out over time.

This comprehensive FAQ guide will provide answers to all your questions, whether you're a new member or have been using Onecard for years.

From earning and redeeming points to understanding the Onecard Visa, this guide covers it all.

So, sit back, relax and learn how to maximise your savings with the Countdown Onecard programme.

Let's get started!

1. What is Onecard?

Onecard is Countdown's loyalty programme. As a member, you can get an automatic 6 cent per litre fuel discount when you spend $40 or more at participating BP or GAS stations and swipe your Onecard. Additionally, you can choose rewards like Countdown e-vouchers or extra fuel discounts, take advantage of exclusive Onecard Club Prices on select products, access Boosts (special offers), and enter exclusive Onecard competitions.

2. How many Onecard points for a voucher?

To earn an e-voucher through the Onecard programme, you will need to collect 2,000 points from your spending. These points are earned at a rate of 1 point for every dollar spent, excluding tobacco and vaping products.

Once you have earned 2,000 points, you will receive a $15 e-voucher that can be used on your next shop, saved for later, or donated to charity.

3. How do I redeem my Onecard points?

Once you have 2,000 points, you’ll automatically receive a $15 e-voucher - there is no special redemption process that needs to be followed. You can then redeem that e-voucher when shopping at any Countdown store or online.

4. How do I check my Onecard balance?

To check your Onecard balance, you can sign in to the Onecard Dashboard or download the myCountdown app. This will allow you to easily keep track of your points.

To check your fuel balance, you can visit the AA Smartfuel website or download the AA Smartfuel app.

5. How to apply for Onecard?

To apply for a Onecard, you first need to collect a physical card from any Countdown store or participating retailers.

Once you have your card, you can register it online by visiting the Countdown website and following the registration process.

You also have the option to register a digital Onecard by downloading the myCountdown app and using the digital card.

Once registered, you will be prompted to choose which rewards you want to earn, either Onecard e-vouchers or fuel discounts.

6. How to use Onecard points?

Once you have 2,000 points, you’ll automatically receive a $15 e-voucher. You can use the voucher at any Countdown store, either via the checkout or on Scan & Go. When you present your Onecard at the time of purchase, you’ll be asked whether you want to redeem your e-voucher. If yes, then the value of the e-voucher will be deducted from your total bill.

You can also use your voucher when shopping with Countdown online. If you are shopping online and are logged in, you will be presented with the option of using your e-voucher at the time you make your payment.

7. How to earn Onecard points?

To earn Onecard points, simply use your registered Onecard every time you shop with Countdown, whether in-store or online. You will earn 1 point for every $1 spent when using a registered Onecard.

Additionally, occasionally you may receive special email offers from Countdown to earn Onecard points from purchases via other retailers, such as on alcohol. These offers are rare, and usually come during November and December before Christmas. Keep an eye out for these promotions and take advantage of them to earn extra points.

8. What is Onecard Visa?

The Onecard Visa card is no longer available for new applicants. It was a card that offered extra benefits to Onecard members, such as earning 2x the amount of Onecard points and AA Smartfuel discounts when shopping at Countdown with the Onecard Visa card. Additionally, members could earn Onecard points by using the Onecard Visa wherever Visa was accepted. However, this card is no longer offered by Countdown.

9. How to get a Onecard?

Getting a Onecard is simple, you can collect one from any Countdown store or participating retailers. Once you have your card, you can register it online by visiting the Countdown website and following the registration process or by downloading the myCountdown app and using the digital card. Once registered, you will be prompted to choose which rewards you want to earn, either Onecard e-vouchers or fuel discounts.

10. How to get a new Onecard?

If you need to get a new Onecard, you can pick one up at any Countdown store or participating retailers.

To add the new card to your existing account and transfer your points, you will need to register the new card online and select it as your nominated card.

If you have active e-vouchers on your lost card, contact the Countdown Customer Care Team on 0800 40 40 40 as soon as possible and they will assist you in transferring the e-vouchers to your new Onecard.

Remember to cancel your old Onecard once you have added the new one to your account. You can do this via your profile when logged in online.

Note that if your old card was not registered, Countdown won't be able to transfer any points or rewards you've earned - so it’s a good reminder to register your card as soon as you get one!

11. How to order a new Onecard?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to order a new Onecard online or by phone. To get a new Onecard, you will need to visit a Countdown store or participating retailers to pick one up in person.

12. What do you do with Onecard points?

Onecard points are automatically redeemed for e-vouchers once you earn 2,000 points. These e-vouchers can then be redeemed in-store at Countdown or online towards the cost of your shopping bill.

13. What can you do with Onecard points?

With Onecard points, you can redeem them for e-vouchers when you have accumulated 2,000 points. This redemption occurs automatically. Note that you cannot redeem points for fuel vouchers, this is a different option that can be selected when you register for Onecard.

14. How to spend Onecard points?

When it comes to spending your Onecard points, you will need to have earned at least 2,000 points. Once you have reached this threshold, your points will automatically be redeemed for a $15 e-voucher, which can be used in-store or online.

It is important to note that it is not possible to redeem points for fuel vouchers, this is a separate option that can be selected when registering your Onecard. Remember, you can change over to fuel rewards at any time if you decide you no longer want to earn Onecard points.

15. How many Onecard points do I need to get a voucher?

To redeem an e-voucher through the Onecard programme, you will need to have earned at least 2,000 points. For every dollar spent, you will earn 1 point towards an e-voucher. However, it's important to note that tobacco and vaping products are excluded from earning points.

16. Where can I use my Onecard Visa?

The Onecard Visa is no longer available for new applicants. It was a card that could be used wherever Visa was accepted, however it is no longer offered by Countdown.

Summing up

I think the Countdown Onecard programme is a great way to save on your grocery shopping and earn rewards while you spend.

With this comprehensive guide, you now have all the information you need to make the most of your Onecard, from earning and redeeming points, to understanding the Onecard Visa and getting a new card.

Countdown also have an extensive FAQ section on their own website, which you can browse for the answers to less common questions.

Remember to use your registered Onecard every time you shop with Countdown, either in-store or online, to earn points towards e-vouchers, and take advantage of exclusive offers and competitions.

Happy saving!

With the Flybuys mobile app, you can have your card right at your fingertips, anytime and anywhere.

In this guide, we'll show you how to add your Flybuys card to your phone and start earning rewards at participating retailers.

How to Get Your Flybuys Card Digitally on Your Phone

1. First, download the Flybuys app on your Android or Apple device. You can find the links to the app stores above.

2. Once you have the app installed, open it and login to your account.

3. In the app, select the "Card" icon at the bottom of the screen.

4. Your digital card will appear, with a barcode that can be scanned at participating in-store retailers. You can also see your card number, which can be used for online purchases or if a retailer needs to manually enter your number.

5. To use your digital card in-store, simply open the Flybuys app and show the barcode to the retailer. They will scan the barcode to add your rewards to your account. If the retailer is unable to scan the barcode, they can usually manually enter your card number.
   

If you really need a physical replacement card, you can request one through your account in the Flybuys app.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of the mobile app, you can check out the video below.

Where to Use Your Digital Flybuys Card

You can scan your digital card at most Flybuys partners.

If you have trouble scanning the barcode, try increasing the brightness on your phone's screen.

Note that some retailers may need to manually enter your card number if they are unable to scan the barcode.

This might happen where a retailer does not have a mobile scanner at their check-out.

Conclusion

In this day and age, it is an absolute must that rewards cards are accessible via mobile devices.

No-one wants to carry a horde of plastic in their pocket anymore!

We hope this guide has helped you get your Flybuys card digitally on your phone.

With the Flybuys app, you can easily access your loyalty card and start earning rewards at participating retailers.

Google Play Points is a rewards programme that lets you earn points and rewards with the Google Play Store. While they launched in 2019, they only kicked off their programme in New Zealand in late 2021.

You’ll be familiar with the Google Play Store if you have a mobile or tablet that has Android, or you’re like me and use the Google Play Store to download movies and stream them to your TV via Chromecast.

It costs nothing to join, and if you’re already making purchases, it can over time help you save money through the rewards that you can earn.

With Google Play Points, you can:

• Earn points for purchases of digital content, in-app items, and downloads from the Google Play Store.

• Use points to get discount coupons, in-app items, or Google Play Credit.

• Get more benefits, rewards, and points as your level goes up.

Please note that this guide is specific to New Zealand. The Google Play Points programme is different depending on the country you sign up in, so this guide might not be of use to you if you’re reading from elsewhere.

How to earn Google Play points

You’ll start by earning 1 point for every 1 NZD you spend with Google Play.

For the first week after you join, you'll receive a welcome offer of 3x bonus points on every purchase.

When you collect enough points within a calendar year, you’ll level up, which earns you more points and benefits. The higher your level, the more points you earn.

You can earn points in the following ways:

• Buying apps or games on the Play Store

• Purchasing games on the Stadia Android app

• Subscribing to Google One from Android - extra data for your phone

• Make in-app or in-game purchases and subscriptions

• Buy books, movies, TV shows or episode purchases with Google Play or the Google Play Movies app

Note: You won’t earn points for any YouTube purchases.

Things to know about points

• Even if you’ll only be able to sign up to Play Points on your Android device, you’ll still be able to earn points with Google Play purchases that you’ve made using your computer or smart TV.

• You can’t purchase points or convert points to cash.

• You can’t transfer points between accounts or to someone else, even if they are a part of your family group.

• If you have Google Play Points and change your billing country, your points are lost, and your level isn’t carried over to the new billing country. This is important to note for anyone in New Zealand that plans to leave at some point. Make sure to use your points first!

Points & benefits per level

When you earn points in a calendar year, your points add up to put you at a certain level. The more points you earn, the higher your level becomes. The higher your level is, the more points, perks and benefits you can get.

Here’s me starting off at Bronze, with a few points earned from a movie rental:

Here’s an example of how your level might change from 2021 to 2022:

• In the calendar year January 1, 2021 - December 31st, 2021, you reach the Gold level. You’ll stay at Gold until the end of the next calendar year (December 31st, 2022), even if you don’t earn any points.

• From January 1st, 2022 to December 31st 2022, if you earn:

  • 150 points, you’ll start January 1st, 2023 at the Silver level.

  • 600 points, you’ll start January 1st, 2023 at the Gold level.

  • 3,000 points, you’ll start January 1st, 2023 at the Platinum level.

Here’s a table showing the points and benefits for each of the Google Play Points status tiers:

If you work your way up to Platinum status, you’ll see that you benefit from what is called “Premium Support”. This means that you can (potentially, with no guarantee from Google):

• Jump ahead of the waiting list for Play issues. When you call or chat with our support team, you’ll automatically be prioritized and get less waiting time.

• Chat with an expert from a dedicated support team. If you have Platinum or Diamond status, you’ll immediately get matched with specially selected agents from a team dedicated to support Platinum or Diamond status users.

How do I know how many points I’ll earn?

To calculate the number of points earned for a purchase, you’ll need to multiply the item’s price by the base earn rate for your status level (which will start off at Bronze for most). The number of points you’ll earn is rounded up or down to the nearest whole number.

You’ll only earn points for the price of the item, not including any taxes paid.

For example, at the Bronze level, you earn 1 point per 1 NZD on all purchases. If you spend 5 NZD, you’ll get 5 points.

When you move up to the Silver level, you earn 1.10 points per 1 NZD. If you spend 5 NZD, you’ll get 6 points, rounded up from 5.50.

Tip: At the start of each calendar year, your level may change based on how many points you earned the year before. The higher your level, the more you earn per 1 NZD on all purchases.

What your points count towards

The points you earn will count towards both Play Points balance and level progress.

• Play Points balance: Use these points to unlock special items in apps and games or exchange them for Google Play Credit. When you use or exchange points, the points will be deducted from this balance. Any points you earn will expire one year after the last time you earned or used points.

• Level progress: Points you’ve earned in a calendar year count as progress towards the next level. Points won’t be deducted from your level progress when you use them. Once you reach a level, you keep that level until the end of the next calendar year.

When you return or cancel a purchase that you earned points on, those points will be deducted from your Play Points balance and level progress.

Earn extra points through promotions

Some promotions will increase your earning rate on select purchases. You can earn points at the highest available earn rate during specified time periods.

There are some key things to know about promotions:

• Multiple promotions can’t be combined on a single purchase.

• Promotions have a set earn rate that they apply.

• Promotions and their expiration dates may vary.

• Some promotions may require an activation.

• Some promotions may have an expiration date. If you make your purchase after the expiration date, you earn points at the regular rate for your level.

• Multi-purchase promotions are currency specific. To qualify, purchases must occur in the same currency shown on the promotion. So, if you somehow stumble across a USD promotion online, bad luck - won’t be available in New Zealand!

Here is an example of some of the special earn rates and bonuses currently shown on my dashboard:

Can I earn Google Play Points on subscriptions?

If you purchase a subscription through an app, you earn points at the regular rate for your status level. The purchase must be made through Google Play, and not on another website or elsewhere.

Other key things to know:

• Some promotions may offer additional points for first time subscribers in select apps and games.

• You can only receive a maximum one time point bonus for being a first-time subscriber to an app or game.

• Select subscriptions in apps and games may offer additional points when you’re billed.

Using points in the Google Play Store

In New Zealand, you can use points to get:

• In-app or in-game items - a full list can be found here.

• Coupons to buy in-app or in-game items at a discounted price

• Google Play credit at a rate of $1 for every 100 points

You can redeem your points either on a computer or on your Android phone. Step-by-step instructions on how to use your points can be found here.

In New Zealand, you’ll be able to redeem your points for Google Play credit at the following rates:

• $1 Google Play Credit = 100 points

• $2 Google Play Credit = 200 points

• $5 Google Play Credit = 500 points

• $10 Google Play Credit = 1000 points

At these rates, you’re effectively earning back a minimum of 1% of your spend.

This is not considering bonus promotions, either for earning or redeeming, so you may sometimes get better value.

Redeeming for weekly prizes

If you’re at Silver level or higher in Google Play Points, you’ll be able to get extra points by claiming your weekly prize. The weekly prizes reset on Friday each week, local time here in New Zealand.

To redeem for weekly prizes, you’ll need to use your Android phone, and follow these steps:

1. Open the Google Play Store app.

2. At the top right, tap the profile icon.

3. Tap Play Points Perks.

   • To claim your prize: Tap Open Claim your Weekly Prize.

   • To check if you already redeemed your weekly prize: Tap More Points history.

Summing up

Google are the first to offer a points programme for app, movie, and book purchases - something that Apple hasn’t done yet, though I wouldn’t be surprised if they follow suit at some stage.

The programme seems fine, particularly if you’re already making purchases for either game play, or for movie rentals for example.

It could be smart to time your movie purchases around any bonus point promotions that might be on offer. Looking to try a new game in your down time? Perhaps opt for one that you can at least earn something back on.

The minimum 1% back on spend is fine, as long as it doesn’t mean that costs will go up to account for the introduction of the programme. The apps that offer bonus points be needing to ‘purchase’ these from Google, so it is yet to be seen whether this cost is absorbed into their current pricing, or whether there will be gradual pricing inflation.

I hope that Google and others will see this simply as a part of an overall marketing spend budget. Points programmes drive consumer behaviour, and people may be more likely to try apps and games where they get a little something back.

Humm is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) service that you can use online or instore through their iPhone and Android apps.

BNPLs are services that operate between retailers and customers. Retailers get their funds upfront, and people receive their purchases straight away while paying off the purchase cost in instalments back to the BNPL.

This won’t be a guide on all the ins-and-outs of BNPL services, but you can imagine them as an alternative to layby, except they function more as a credit card.

What will this guide cover?

This guide will cover the key features of Humm, and frequently asked questions.

I try to avoid offering financial advice on the pros and cons of BNPL. The key takeaway is that you should only use Humm and other BNPLs when you can already afford to pay for the product upfront.

These services should be to help you manage your cashflow only, for example, keeping more money in your mortgage offset account.

On that basis, this guide will not cover aspects like interest and late fees, as I am going to presume you' won’t be incurring those!

Right, so what does Humm offer in New Zealand?

Humm in New Zealand is split into two products:

• Little Things for purchases up to $1000 (everyday shopping, up to a maximum of five transactions at any one time).

• Big Things for purchases over $1000 and up to $10,000 (large purchases, you have to get pre-approved for each purchase).

How much credit you get access to with Humm depends on their approval process, which includes a credit check. In many cases, you may not be able to borrow the maximum amount.

I used to only have access to a limit of $400, but now have access to $1000, despite not having ever used Humm yet.

Applying for Humm

You can use Humm by downloading their app from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). You'll then go through an approval process, and you’ll need your New Zealand driver licence or passport handy.

To be approved you need to:

• Be a permanent resident of New Zealand

• At least 18 years of age.

• Have a permanent job (at least 25 hours a week) or be on a New Zealand Super or Veteran’s Pension.

• Be sure you’re not insolvent (or declared bankrupt)

Once you've been approved you can then spend up to your limit instore and online with retailers who accept Humm.

When shopping online you can select the Humm payment option at checkout for stores that offer the service.

When shopping instore you use the Humm app to create a barcode, which is then scanned at the point of payment.

Using Humm in-store or online

When shopping online at participating stores, choose Humm as your payment method at check-out. You’ll then be prompted to login, confirm a few details, and then your purchase will be processed as it would if you were paying with a debit or credit card.

If you are shopping in-person, you can use the Humm app to create a unique bar code for your purchase. Take the barcode to the checkout and they’ll scan or key in the code. Quite simple!

What cards can I use to repay my Humm account?

When you apply, you will need to nominate a payment method which can be a debit card or credit card. Once nominated, repayments are deducted automatically from the account when due. 

Your payment method will either need to be a Visa or Mastercard. Alas, American Express cardholders miss out again.

Do I have to pay anything upfront when making a purchase?

You need to pay a deposit upfront when making a purchase. In New Zealand, the deposit is 20%, regardless of whether you are using Humm Little Things or Big Things.

Humm repayments and fees

Humm repayments are spread out over 5 fortnightly or 10 weekly repayments for Little Things.

For Big Things, the payment frequent depends on where you shop and what you buy. Frequency could be 6, 9, 12 months all the way up to 24 months.

If you have multiple purchases, the repayments may not be due on the same day – it depends on when the purchase was made. The schedule of repayments will appear in your Humm app. 

The monthly fee for Big Things is due on the first business day of the month, with the $20 establishment fee charged at time of purchase. There is also $2.50 monthly fee.

There are no interest charges on either Humm Little Things or Humm Big Things.

Can you shop anywhere with Humm?

Humm is not available to use everywhere, but it is available in plenty of major stores across New Zealand including Farmers, Briscoes, Rebel Sport, PB Tech, and Flight Centre.

You can find a full list of stores here: https://www.shophumm.com/nz

Once you’ve chosen the category of retailer you’re looking for, you can search by brand or suburb name. Be sure to also search for surrounding suburbs.

They add new stores all the time, and they email frequently with offers and competitions that they run (too frequently I might add).

How to cancel a Humm account

You can cancel your Humm account at any time by calling Humm on 0800 189 236. However, they'll only close your account once you've repaid your balance in full.

Does Humm have a rewards programme?

Nope, there is no rewards programme for Humm in New Zealand. There might be one day - it took Afterpay a while to introduce theirs - and I’ll update this guide if and when it happens!

Summing up

I personally love BNPL services as they allow me to shop now and spread my payments onto different monthly credit card statements, which I then go on to pay in full anyway.

For those who are financially savvy, they can be an effective way of managing your cash flow and keeping your money in the bank for longer.

Humm is not a product that I have used, as most places I shop tend to accept Afterpay (which have a reward program and discounts off purchases).

I might reconsider this if they launch something in New Zealand in the future.

Airpoints Mall is Air New Zealand’s version of an online shopping portal, allowing Airpoints members to earn Airpoints Dollars on purchases from a range of online partner retailers.

These ‘online malls’ work by getting you to click through to a partner retailer, then tracking your purchases to award bonus points to your loyalty account. The mall makes a cut of the commission and then shares the rest with you.

The Air New Zealand Airpoints Mall is New Zealand’s largest, with around 140 retailers.

You can access the Airpoints mall at airnewzealand.co.nz/airpoints-mall.

How do I earn Airpoints with the Airpoints Mall?

The main way to enter the shopping portal is to head to the Airpoints Mall website on a desktop, laptop or tablet.

The Airpoints online mall works by tracking the purchases you make at participating retailers, so it can credit you with Airpoints for each dollar you spend.

You’ll earn an average of 1-3% back on your spend in the form of Airpoints Dollars.

1. To start, head to the Airpoints Mall home page and log in to your Airpoints account.

2. Click on the retailer you wish to shop at. The page will tell you how many Airpoints you can earn per dollar, plus any applicable promo codes you can use.

3. Complete your purchase on the retailer’s website. Do not visit other websites during this time, or your purchase might not track

4. When you have checked out, that’s it! Sit tight and wait for the points to credit. You will usually receive an email like the one below showing that the tracking was successful:

From my experience, the tracking and deposit of the Airpoints Dollars into your account is much quicker than it is with other cashback sites. However the trade-off for this is the lower return than you can find using sites like Cashrewards or Kiwiwallet for example.

Which retailers let you earn Airpoints Dollars with Airpoints Mall?

You can see the full list of retailers and their current earn rate on the Airpoints Mall website.

Vouchers and Special Offers

The Airpoints Mall provides a list of vouchers that can be used to save money at some of the different retailers. Be wary using promo codes not provided on this page, as this could preclude any Airpoints Dollars earn due to the way the affiliate arrangements work between Airpoints and the retailers.

What else do I need to know when using the Airpoints Mall?

Some retailers may have exclusions on products that won’t earn Airpoints Dollars, such as buying gift cards or when a transaction is paid using gift cards. These conditions can be found on the retailer’s offer page and apply in addition to the overall Airpoints Mall Terms and Conditions.

The Airpoints Mall relies on digital cookies to track your purchases. That means you should ensure nothing is blocking cookies or ads on the pages you wish to visit.

To ensure successful tracking of purchases, make sure you click through the retailer on the Airpoints Mall while logged in to your Airpoints account. It’s best not to visit any other web pages on that device until the transaction is completed.

I often recommend using a computer for purchases instead of mobile, as this more often than not ensures that tracking will be successful.

If you do visit other pages or fail to make a transaction, make sure to click back through the Airpoints Mall website on your next attempt, to ensure the transaction is tracked correctly.

Summing up

The Airpoints Mall is an easy option if you’re looking to earn more Airpoints Dollars from your general online spending in New Zealand — so make sure to get across the full list of partners on the mall portal to maximise your points earning potential.

If you can understand how online malls work and how important it is to click out to a retailer through the Airpoints Mall before making a transaction, then earning bonus points on purchases will become second-nature, and not an inconvenience.

Though I’m frequently having to remind people in my family when they make purchases that they should always check with me first as to where they can get cashback from.

Don’t forget to double-dip by paying with a points-earning rewards credit card — it doesn’t necessarily need to be affiliated with Airpoints!

American Express card members can get a $5 credit on their account each time they spend $10 or more at up to ten different participating small businesses in New Zealand until 30 November 2021.

The concept

First, register your card if you haven’t already. You may find that your principal card has automatically been registered (as it was for me).

Then, if you spend $10 or more in one transaction at a participating business in New Zealand, you will receive a $5 credit to your account.

This offer can be used up to ten times per card. This means if you have multiple cards, make sure to register each of them. This includes any supplementary cards that your family may have.

The range of included retailers is reasonably broad, so you should be able to find somewhere close to you that would fit within your normal spend patterns.

The small print

There are a few important terms to know of for this promotion:

• Corporate and business travel Cards are not eligible.

• If you are issued a replacement card with a new card number after registration, your participation in this offer will end & you will need to save the offer to the new eligible card.

• Credit may take up to 90 days to appear on your account upon completion of an eligible transaction. In my experience it’s much quicker, but this covers American Express if there are delays.

• A full PDF of all eligible merchants (as of the start date of the offer on 1 August) can be found here.

Summing up

These American Express offers can easily help offset a portion of your annual fee each year. I have the Platinum Charge card, which is expensive, but each year I easily recoup the value paid in terms of points earned and other benefits.

This offer lets you shop at your usual retail or dining establishments without breaking your normal spending habits. Alternatively, you can always try somewhere new.

Plus, you are helping out small businesses, which is good for the New Zealand economy, especially with the reintroduced border controls on Trans-Tasman travel.

You can find more information at the Shop Small page.

Note: Lovin’Local has closed, with their effort to build a new dining rewards programme stymied by the COVID lockdown in late 2021. We’ve kept this article on the off chance they make a return at some point.

Lovin’Local is a new online platform created to fill the gap left by Zomato when they exited the New Zealand market in 2020.

Their focus is on Auckland however I am sure they will grow to the other major New Zealand cities if they are successful here.

Cafes and restaurants can register their business on the site for free (for a limited time), and put offers in front of those savvy enough to be searching the internet for a good deal on food or drinks.

They don’t have an app that you can download just yet, but their web app is more than sufficient at this point. The Lovin’Local website says that Apple and Google Play Store apps are coming soon.

This post serves as a quick guide to Lovin’Local and will be updated over time as their product evolves.

Searching for offers

It is very easy to search for nearby offers. You can either share your location or manually input your address.

The cards for each partner give a hint as to what offers are available.

When you click through, all offers are displayed at the bottom of the page.

Just like the discount offers that used to get offered on Zomato, you pay via the app, which automatically calculates the discount.

From my experience there are still plenty of businesses that have signed up but then have never had a customer use the app, so they don’t quite recognise it or understand how it is used. Hopefully over time staff training improves - this is likely as a result of being so easy for businesses to join, but not have had any one-on-one onboarding.

Lovin’Local currently only accept Mastercard and Visa - which is a bummer because I love to pay with American Express.

Earning Points

You can earn Lovin’Local points for every $1 you spend with any of their partners. You’ll also earn 50 points each time you leave a review after a purchase.

Eventually you can earn enough points to redeem for vouchers that can be used with any of their partners.

Coffee Pass

This is an ingenious idea. You can buy a coffee pass for $19.99, and get five large coffees at hundreds of different cafe partners. I managed to snag one at the low price of $9.99 as a join offer, which worked out to be $1.99 per coffee - incredibly cheap for Auckland!

I’ve been using mine at Yun, who make a great Ginger Latte.

Lovin’Local are smart and have also integrated an ‘auto-renew’ feature so that the coffee pass tops up as soon as you’ve used your five. You can turn this off manually.

Lovin’Local Premium

While not offered at launch, they have introduced a new Premium membership option. After a 14 day free trial, your credit card is billed $89.95 annually for Premium Access.

Personally I feel that this price is a bit steep considering you can buy the Entertainment Book annually for about $65 and this is also an app version now.

Signing up for Premium is said to include:

• Deals and discounts (up to 75% off) at some businesses

• Invites to exclusive Premium experiences

• Private access to Premium Only Offers that are available every single day of the year

I’ve signed up for the trial, and I’ll keep an eye on what my savings are over time to determine whether it’s worth it for others.

Summing Up

There are so many ways you get a great deal on dining these days, whether it’s web apps like Lovin’Local, using the Entertainment Book, or making a booking on First Table.

There is really no excuse to not be saving when eating out, or at least picking places to eat and drink based on the offers available.

The Coffee Pass is a particularly good idea, especially for those who love to try new cafes and don’t always visit the same one.

First Table is one of my favourite websites to book restaurant dining through.

You can get 50% off food at thousands of restaurants in over 50 cities around the world, for between 2-4 diners.

If I want to eat out, I will prioritise trying new restaurants that are available on this site.

This post provides a quick overview of the website.

What is the concept?

First Table lets you book the ‘first’ table of a particular dining session, whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner. There are also ‘last’ table options, for where you book a table later within a dining session.

You can book up to seven days in advance. You must arrive within 15 minutes of your reservation time, which is common courtesy anyway.

Note that there are no discounts on drinks - food only!

How much do I pay for a booking?

You pay NZ$10 to make a booking. However if you make your first booking via this link, you’ll get NZ$5 free credit (and so will I).

Are there any constraints?

Some restaurants will have specific terms and conditions, e.g. specific menu items that are not eligible for a discount. Some also require you to purchase at least one drink per person (does not need to be alcoholic).

Final word

I met Mat Weir (the founder) a few years ago. He’s a great guy who has built a fantastic business supporting restaurantuers from around the world. You can read more about the story of First Table.

It’s important to support dining establishments at this time, so if you’re looking to eat out and try somewhere new, start by looking at First Table.

Reason for our stay

I’ve been excited for a few years knowing that the Hyatt brand was making a return to New Zealand. Being Auckland-based, it made sense for my wife and I to sneak in a night on a long weekend, especially while prices are lower because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

About the property

Here is some background to the property:

• Park Hyatt Auckland opened in 2020.

• The property is located on the water’s edge in Wynyard Quarter, which is a historical industrial district just a short walk from the Auckland CBD.

• The property offers expansive views across Wynyard Quarter's Lighter Basin and out to the Waitematā Harbour. 

• There are 195 guestrooms (including 23 suites), event spaces, a day spa (not open as at time of our visit), a 25-metre infinity pool, and a 24/7 fitness centre.

• With four restaurant and bar areas - Onemata, The Living Room, The Pantry Café and Captain’s Bar - you are spoilt for choice.

• Well-equipped digitally, the Park Hyatt Auckland offers advance app check-in, check-out, and the room folio and in-room dining menu are all accessible on your phone via a QR scan code in the room.

• All guests receive complimentary Wi-Fi regardless of how they book.

• Don’t want to park your car? You can use the 24/7 valet parking, at a charge.

Booking experience

When travelling with a toddler, you tend to look for space, which usually means looking past standard room options at suites. However, space comes at a premium, and a Park Suite at the Park Hyatt Auckland is no exception, costing on average anything between NZ$900 and $1,100 per night.

However, you can book into this suite for less than NZ$700 per night if you opt for points upgrade on a paid rate.

Here’s what I did:

1. Purchased 6,000 World of Hyatt points. These usually cost US$144 (~ NZ$215). However, as of time of writing, these was a 30% bonus points sale on, so you could buy 5,000 points and receive 6,500 for only US$120 (~ NZ$180).
   Note that unless you use a credit card that incurs no international transaction fees, you’ll usually be stung with a 2.5% surcharge on these rates. You can ‘get this back’ by using a cashback site like TopCashback.

2. Used the World of Hyatt app to book the ‘Lp Suite Pts Upgr’ rate (shown in first image below). For the night of our stay, this rate was NZ$475, which is the same price as a standard room. The 6,000 points gets you the upgrade into the Park Suite (second image below).

Following the two steps above, the upgraded reservation is confirmed instantly. Voila, a Park Suite is yours for between NZ$655-$690.

This is a fair price for a suite of this size, and regardless of your World of Hyatt status, comes with breakfast, which is a further saving of at least $20 per person.

The rate is also fully flexible, so while you won’t get a refund on your points purchase, if you need to change dates, you can just cancel at least 24 hours before your stay, get your points back, and then book for another night.

If you have a specific night that you’d like to stay, make sure you check availability of the above upgrade rate before you purchase points.

Stay experience

Arrival

There was plenty of free parking on the streets around Wynyard Quarter (our arrival day was a Sunday, with the day of departure a public holiday), so we just parked the car, and walked for a few minutes to the hotel, arriving at around 4pm.

Numerous staff welcomed us as we arrived, and we had our bags taken from us before we even walked in the front door.

I had used the World of Hyatt app to check-in before arrival, so most of the usual procedures had already been completed. I ticked on the check-in form for a newspaper to be brought to the room the next day. This was done with no issue, which was surprising as so many hotels offer this to their guests and then never actually follow through.

My wife sat down with our son while I was at the front desk. She was welcomed and brought a bottle of cooled water, which was a nice touch.

We were walked up to Room 525 on Level 5, and introduced to the suite, its features, how the blinds and lighting system worked etc.

The Room

The Park Suite is a premium 71 sqm corner suite. The room offers one king bed, a dining area, spacious marble bathroom with rain shower and separate soaking tub, walk-in wardrobe, a separate toilet room, and a private 8 sqm furnished balcony.

Amenities include:

• Full daily breakfast at Onemata for all registered guests. Each guest has a choice of pastry or fresh fruit dish to start, one main dish from their menu, and beverages of choice including unlimited coffee, tea, juices, and smoothies.

• Two 55” TVs

• Robes and slippers

• Mini bar

• Nespresso coffee machine

• STAYCAST / Google Chromecast for both TVs. We did have an issue accessing the Chromecast function on the living room TV, but we’re unsure if that was the fault of our own device or the hotel’s set up.

• Le Labo bath amenities

• Opening windows

The room is thoughtfully designed, and comfortably sized.

For me, it was the attention to detail. For example, the bottom of the shower glass is elevated a little above the floor, which means that the door passes clear over the top of the mat that you lay down to keep the floor dry. This is something that seems so logical, but most hotels miss this out, even those that are brand new. The tap is also located away from the shower head which means you can adjust the temperature before getting wet.

While the suite is described as open plan, each area of the suite can be closed off with solid wooden slider doors, giving privacy and flexibility of use.

Our son’s crib was originally set up in the bedroom, though we moved it to the walk-in wardrobe, as it was darker, quieter, and allowed us to enjoy the use of the bedroom with the lights on.

The balcony is very safe for children to play on, requiring only basic supervision. It can be accessed from both the bedroom and the living space.

Our room faced towards the restaurants and bars along the waterfront, which meant that it was a little noisy late at night. The hotel has done the best it can to provide noise-proofing, it’s just the nature of the property being low-rise in a popular area of the city. Some may be disturbed by it, but we found that we could fall asleep fine.

Onto the pictures, which will speak for themselves:

Food and Beverage

First up - the welcome amenity! The scones with manuka honeycomb dip were delicious, and not too sweet thanks to the blue cheese topping.

The rooms come with a well-stocked mini bar, with a mixture of sweet and savoury snacks, and a fridge stocked with drinks.

We enjoyed dinner in the room, ordering from the hotel’s in-room dining menu. We also ordered a kid’s meal for our son, which we thought was terrific value for its price (only NZ$12). We asked for no added salt on his meal, which was followed through without issue.

Staff also brought a highchair to the room for us to use, which made feeding our son much easier.

We ordered dessert for ourselves late at night, once our son was asleep. We asked whether the person bringing the food to our room could keep quiet when knocking. They did, and they brought the food in and took dinner dishes out without making any noise. It was so respectful - I simply cannot fault the customer service at this hotel in any way.

Breakfast was served à la carte style in Onemata - I cannot tell whether this is a permanent arrangement, or temporary during COVID-19.

At time of ordering, we were not told what the breakfast ‘inclusions’ were, but we had emailed to check beforehand so had some idea of what to select from the breakfast menu. One recommendation would be for staff to introduce what the inclusions are at time of taking the order, as we did mistakenly ask for a pastry basket, and were later told that we could only choose one type of pastry.

The hotel was happy to make some plain porridge for our son and added a side dish of strawberries. There was no additional charge for this, which was appreciated.

Activities

The heated infinity pool on Level 2 is a big plus. At 25m, it is very spacious with enough width for a couple of people to do some lap swimming. There are plenty of deck chairs, complete with towels and bottles of water.

As the pool is on the north face of the building, facing the harbour, it gets some strong southerly winds. This can make it a tad cool, but I enjoyed it, nonetheless.

The 24/7 fitness centre is one of the largest that I’ve seen in New Zealand, with an open exercise area, free weights, and state-of-the-art machines and equipment. The apples and fridge with cold bottled water are nice added touches.

The hotel will eventually include a spa, but it wasn’t open as of the date of our stay.

Departure

Easy, thanks to the convenience of the World of Hyatt app. We just dropped the room keys at the front desk and walked out the front door. The stay invoice was emailed to me directly later (you can check the charges on the app beforehand).

Things to know

Location

99 Halsey Street
Auckland, 1010
New Zealand

Contact

auckland.park@hyatt.com

Facts

Check-In Time: 3:00 PM
Check-Out Time: 11:00 AM
Children: Cots are free for bubs up to age two and each room can accommodate one child. Property also willing to help with extras, like a high-chair and meals.

How to Book

• Direct with the property (this is how we booked). You can sometimes find offers unique to the Park Hyatt Auckland.

• American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, which is exclusive to Platinum and Centurion cardholders (benefits include space-available upgrade on arrival - though not to a suite - noon check-in when available, guaranteed 4pm late check-out, daily breakfast for two, and a US$100 property credit).

• Hyatt Privé, which anyone can access by emailing Katie Schmit (benefits include space-available upgrade confirmed within 24 hours of booking - though not to a suite - early check-in and late check-out subject to availability, daily breakfast for two, a welcome amenity, and a US$100 property credit).

Summing up

There is much to be said for an international hotel chain that has over 60 years of hospitality experience. Although the Park Hyatt Auckland has only recently opened, the staff are incredibly well-trained, which is exceptionally endearing for a property in Auckland which has long been underserved by luxury hotels.

The property is well-designed, reflects the history and heritage of Auckland’s waterfront, and

There is little to fault from our stay, and we cannot wait to visit again.