Available Sender IDs

You can send with a registered short code in New Zealand.

Registration and fees apply.

Short codes

You must register your own short code before sending any messages. Each short code can only be used for one use case (e.g. marketing, appointment reminders). If you have multiple use cases, you’ll need to register multiple short codes.

Short code setup can take up to 4–6 weeks and requires a 6-month commitment.

Short code options

Standard Rate Dedicated Short codes

Used for service-based messages such as appointment reminders. Recipients are charged standard SMS rates to reply.

Zero-Rated Dedicated Short codes

Used for marketing messages, where the opt-out must be free of charge to the recipient. The outbound SMS rate varies depending on top-up amount

How to register a short code in New Zealand

To register a dedicated short code:

Create a ClickSend account
Select New Zealand as a sending country
Go to the top-right corner of the dashboard → Global Sending
From the dropdown, select “Registration needed to send messages”
Choose Register New Zealand
Complete the Jotform

Once submitted, someone from our Sales team will be in touch to discuss your short code options and the associated fees.

Rules and best practices

Sender and timing requirements

Only send messages during the recipient’s local daytime hours, unless urgent. Do not send messages to users on do-not-call or do-not-disturb registries.

The sender must be clearly identified at the beginning of the message.

If the message includes a call to action that incurs charges (e.g. replies), the user must be clearly informed.

Opt-in

Text messages cannot be sent to handsets that have not opted in to receive messages.

You must be able to demonstrate proof of customer opt-in, in the event of an operator audit or a user complaint.

Opt-out

All marketing messages must include a free opt-out at the end of the message, using the same contact method (e.g. SMS reply).

Include clear keywords like HELP or STOP in the recipient’s local language.

Once a user unsubscribes, you are responsible for removing them from your database.

Important regulation information

The TCF

The New Zealand Telecommunications Forum (TCF) is a member organisation, representing the majority of telecommunications providers in New Zealand (over 95% by revenue share). You can read TCF regulation here.

Their members pay for their services, which include public good initiatives, disputes resolution services, logistical processes, and consumer education, so consumers can access them for free.

The forum provides neutral, independent information about New Zealand telecommunications products and services and how the industry works in New Zealand.

The DIA

The Department of Internal Affairs serves and connects people, communities, and government to build a safe, prosperous,

and respected nation. You can read about SMS spam on the DIA’s website, both here and here.

The UEMA

The Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act (UEMA), also called the anti-spam law, makes it illegal to send spam to, from or within New Zealand, or using harvesting software to create address lists to send unsolicited commercial electronic messages, eg emails or text messages. You can read more about this here.

On September 5th 2007, the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007 came into force. The Act prohibits the sending of unsolicited commercial electronic messages with a NZ link. It also requires all commercial electronic messages to include information about who authorised the message and to provide a functional unsubscribe facility. Finally, it prohibits address harvesting for the purpose of unsolicited commercial messages.

Content guidelines

Before you start sending, carefully review our sending guidelines to understand the types of messages you can't send. Additionally, you must adhere to the specific local regulations outlined below: