Spark New Zealand to phase out public phone booths

Spark New Zealand has announced it will not proceed with a proposal to modernize the country’s public phone booth network. The company had planned to replace existing booths with modern alternatives offering free calling, Wi-Fi, and phone charging, funded through digital advertising. However, Spark stated that the project was not commercially viable without a nationwide rollout, as it was unable to secure necessary agreements with local and central government to progress the plan in Auckland.

As a result, Spark has stopped selling and reordering Spark Phone Cards. The company is currently working with local councils to safely remove existing booths as Chorus retires the copper network. Approximately 90% of the booths have already been disconnected from copper, with physical removal scheduled to take place throughout 2027 and 2028.

Spark Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Leela Ashford noted that phone booths serve as a lifeline for vulnerable populations who lack reliable mobile or internet access, often providing a way to contact emergency services, banks, and social agencies. While the modernization plan has been shelved, the company expressed openness to revisiting the proposal if circumstances change.