Best credit cards for points and miles - Providers, earn rate, fees, and more

If you manage your spending with a credit card it makes sense to choose a card which can help you accumulate rewards as you go. Different banks and card networks in New Zealand have their own credit cards which are optimised for reward earning. This may give you options to earn air miles, cash back, or points to convert to gifts, vouchers and more.

This guide examines some of the best credit cards for points and miles in New Zealand to help you decide. You can also learn more about the Wise card, an easy way to stretch your dollars when paying in foreign currencies.

Things to consider when choosing a credit card for points and miles

Before applying for a points or miles credit card, you’ll need to do some thinking. Picking a card that’s easy to use and that will be widely accepted is important, but here are some other considerations too:

• Annual fees - fees can cost hundreds of dollars every year. Weigh up the costs against the value of rewards you expect to get when you decide on the card for you
• Earn rate - if you want a card specifically to get rewards you’ll need to look at the mechanic for reward points, which usually means you get a certain number of points per dollar spent. The higher the earn rate, the faster you can start to cash in the rewards
• Benefits - rewards aren’t the only offer from most credit cards. Look out for travel insurance, concierge services, credit on your statement, emergency assistance and other perks to find the best card for your needs
• Foreign transaction fees - if you use your card to spend in foreign currencies, either when you travel or when you shop online, foreign transaction fees can push up costs by 2% or more. Consider getting a Wise card instead for your overseas spending, to keep costs down.

Best credit card for points and miles - Main comparison

To give an idea of the card options that might work for you, we’ll start with a head to head comparison on some popular points and miles credit cards in New Zealand.

*Details correct at time of writing - 26th May 2025

American Express Airpoints Platinum overview

The American Express Airpoints Platinum credit card¹ claims to be the fastest earning Airpoints Dollar Platinum card on the market. You can earn rewards to trade in later for flights and other travel benefits, plus the card has some handy features like free or discounted airport lounge access and travel insurance.

Key features and fees:

• Earn Airpoints Dollars to redeem on flights and upgrades
• Get free travel insurance when you book travel with your card
• Some free lounge access available
• Apple Pay compatible
• 195 NZD annual fee
• 2.5% foreign transaction fee on overseas spending²

Westpac Hotpoints Platinum MasterCard overview

You can use your Westpac Hotpoints Platinum MasterCard Credit Card³ to redeem points as credit against your statement, which means you can cover spending using points. You can also pay directly in stores with points, or use the points on your account to redeem gifts from the Hotpoints catalogue.

Key features and fees:

• Earn up to 1.5 points per dollar spent
• Pay with points, redeem points for credit against your account statement, or get gifts
• Travel insurance and extended warranty cover may be included
• Extra Mastercard lifestyle perks available
• 70 NZD annual fee
• 1.95% foreign transaction fee

ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum overview

You can earn one Airpoints Dollar for every 110 NZD you spend with the ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum card⁴, with no limit to the earning opportunity. Points do not expire as long as you remain a customer, so you can accumulate rewards to cash in whenever you want to.

Key features and fees:

• Get one Airpoints Dollar for every 110 NZD you spend
• Cash in points on flights or from the Airpoints store
• Earn 50% bonus Status Points on top of those you earn when you fly
• Some options for free international travel insurance
• 150 NZD annual fee
• 1.3% foreign transaction fee⁵

American Express Gold Rewards overview

The American Express Gold Rewards Card⁶ lets customers earn 2 points per dollar which can then be claimed as credit against a purchase on the card, or for gifts and vouchers. You can also transfer Membership Rewards points into an airline partner programme such as Emirates Skywards. This gives a lot of flexibility to redeem in the best way for your needs.

Key features and fees:

• 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent
• Flexible redemption options including travel perks
• 200 NZD of dining credit annually
• Some travel insurance is included in the annual fee
• 200 NZD annual fee
• 2.5% foreign transaction fee

BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum overview

The BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum card⁷ lets you earn rewards as you spend and also comes with a strong range of other perks like travel insurance and vehicle rental excess insurance. The rewards you collect can be converted to cash, for vouchers or gifts or added to your preferred airline or hotel partner scheme.

Key features and fees:

• 1.67 BNZ Points per dollar spend
• Points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and rental cars, or converted to airline and partner schemes
• 90 days of travel insurance and rental vehicle excess insurance
• Google and Apple Pay compatible
• 90 NZD annual fee
• 2.25% foreign transaction fee⁸

Summary - Choosing the best credit card for points and miles

There’s no single best credit card for points and miles; the right choice depends on your spending habits and reward preferences. To make an informed choice, consider the overall value of the card by looking at factors such as annual fees, earn rates, and additional benefits like travel insurance or lounge access. It's important to ensure that the rewards you earn outweigh any costs and that the card offers flexible redemption options that align with your lifestyle. By thoughtfully evaluating these elements, you can find a card that effectively maximizes the rewards you’re seeking.

Spending abroad? Use the Wise card to save on foreign transaction fees

Many credit cards in New Zealand have great travel benefits - but the foreign transaction fee that applies on overseas spending can mean they’re not the best way to pay when you’re actually on an overseas trip. The Wise card is a simple way to save up to 8x when you're spending internationally. You can spend in 150+ countries at mid-market rate — basically the rate you see on Google. With no foreign transaction fees and low, transparent pricing, Wise usually gives you the best value for your money.

Simply create a Wise account for free, order a card and top-up NZD to get started. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as make some free ATM withdrawals each month for when you're abroad. You can get digital cards and add to your Google or Apple Pay wallet for instant use. Spend directly with the Wise account in NZD and let auto-conversion do the trick or convert in advance to your desired currency. You can hold and exchange 40+ currencies in your Wise account and spend the currencies you hold for free.

Wherever your travel takes you, the Wise card makes spending money abroad cheaper and easier.

🚀 Get your Wise card

Savings claim based on our rates vs. selected New Zealand banks and other similar providers in Jan 2025. To learn more, please visit https://growth-layer.live/nz/compare%3C/a%3E%3C/small%3E%3C/p%3E%3Csmall%3E

Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.