Amazon Prime offers a plethora of movies and TV shows to stream. It even provides more titles than Netflix. Us Kiwis can access the NZ version of the streaming site by simply signing up for the service.
Amazon Prime New Zealand, however, has a limited library compared to the American version.
The American Prime Video isn’t available in New Zealand unless you use a VPN to access geo-restricted content.
In this article, we’ll go through these two options for how to watch Amazon Prime in NZ. We’ll discuss the following points:
- Options for watching Amazon Video New Zealand
- Four steps to watching American Amazon Prime New Zealand
- What are the best VPNs in NZ?
- Amazon Prime NZ FAQs
Options for Watching Amazon Video New Zealand
Your first alternative is to subscribe to Amazon Prime NZ for US$8.99/month, which is a little less than NZ$13.00.
If you’re a new user, you also get a 7-day free trial as well as a reduced price for the first six months using the streaming service. Sometimes, Amazon even offers a 30-day free trial for new customers, so keep an eye out for that offer.
But Amazon streaming NZ has far less content than the US version of Prime Video. Amazon’s American media library has more than 18,000 movies and about 1,500 TV shows, which is way more than the NZ library. Some popular original titles only available on Prime Video include:
- The Boys.
- The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.
- Good Omens.
- The Grand Tour.
- The Man in the High Castle.
- Transparent.
But the US library is geo-blocked in New Zealand, which means that you have to get a VPN to access it and subscribe to Amazon Prime NZ if you don’t already have an account. More on that down below.
4 Steps To Watching American Amazon Prime New Zealand
If you’ve decided you want to watch the US Prime Video library from NZ, follow these four steps.
1. Download a VPN
A VPN (virtual private network) masks your IP address and allows you to access geo-constricted content. By using virtual private servers worldwide, the software routes your internet connection through these, making it appear as if your IP address comes from a different location than the one you’re in.
This way, your VPN provider connects you to different geographical servers, such as one in the US. The websites you proceed to browse will then think you’re located in America because your IP address looks like it is, and you can browse through them as any American user.
For Amazon Prime Video, this means that you can access the US version of the website and proceed to create an account.
What are the Best VPNs in NZ?
To make it easier for you, we’ll mention three VPN providers that work great in New Zealand.
The first one is NordVPN that’s frequently ranked as the best in the industry. They have a vast network of 5400+ servers, very speedy connections, and can access Prime Video in the US with ease. A two-year subscription costs US$3.71 a month paid upfront, and a monthly plan is US$11.95.
Another high-performing alternative is ExpressVPN that has 3000+ servers located across a wide span of countries.
They’re one of the fastest VPNs out there, and the unlimited bandwidth means there’s no limit on how many episodes of The Boys you can stream each month. But the price is rather hefty—you can either pay US$6.67/month for a 1.5-year subscription or pay US$12.95 monthly.
Check out the video below to learn about more features of ExpressVPN.
If you’re looking for a cheaper VPN, go for Surfshark that costs US$2.49 a month if you pay for two years in advance. Otherwise, the monthly price is US$12.95. Note that Surfshark has fewer servers than the other VPN providers we’ve mentioned, and slower connections as well.
What About Free VPNs?
Free VPNs are available, and everyone wants to save money where possible, we get it. But when it comes to streaming TV shows and surfing the web, speedy connections are key. No one likes having to pause their movie every five minutes for buffering, and it can ruin a relaxing movie night.
Many free subscriptions also have limits on how much data you can stream per month, and that makes streaming a whole season of The Grand Tour in one sitting impossible.
For a fast internet connection and unlimited access, your VPN needs to have plenty of servers and continuously try to provide a fast connection. The VPNs you pay for are so much better at this than the free alternatives.
2. Install VPN Extensions and Apps
After you’ve subscribed to your VPN of choice, download the web extension or VPN app to your Amazon Fire device, PC, tablet or mobile phone. Some VPNs will automatically connect when you turn on your computer, but with a web extension, you can turn your VPN on and off at any time with a single click while browsing the net.
NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark all offer browser extensions for most browsers, including Chrome and apps for both iOS and Android devices.
Here are our Top VPN guides to installing their tool on an Amazon Fire device.
3. Create a Prime Video Account
If you already have an Amazon Prime Video account, no need to create a new one. Just log in to your account and then follow step four to start streaming all the TV shows and movies you want. It doesn’t matter if it’s a New Zealand account or an American one since the VPN can access the US library anyways.
But if you don’t have an account, sign up for a new one by clicking create an account or try the 7-day free trial if available.
Fill in the necessary information such as credit card number, address, etc., and create your Prime Video account. It doesn’t matter if you write your address in New Zealand or somewhere else, you’ll still be able to access the US site using a VPN.
4. Start Streaming!
After creating your Prime Video account, sign in to your VPN account with your chosen credentials, typically your username (or email) and password through your VPN app or web extension.
Now, choose the US or North American server that you want to connect to and click on it. Many VPN providers such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN automatically connect you to the best server in your chosen country at that exact moment to maximize internet speed.
Then, go to the Amazon Prime Video homepage, and you should see the US version of the site. Log into your Prime Video account that you created in the previous step and start streaming all the TV shows and movies you want. Congratulations, you now have access to the US Amazon library!
Amazon Prime NZ FAQs
Do you have other questions regarding Amazon streaming NZ? Here are the answers to some frequently asked ones.
Is Amazon Prime Better Than Netflix?
Compared to industry-leading Netflix, Prime Video offers more titles and has an extensive library of both original series and other popular shows and movies.
Prime Video is typically faster on licensing shows and also provides access to several HBO series. However, Netflix tends to have newer movies and more original titles than Amazon.
Both Netflix and Prime Video are compatible with almost any device. You can connect six devices simultaneously to your Amazon Video subscription while Netflix basic allows one, standard allows two, and premium allows four. So Prime definitely wins in this aspect.
As for pricing, Amazon Prime Video is cheaper than many of its top competitors. While a basic Netflix subscription costs US$9.00, a standard US$14, and a premium US$18 per month, Prime Video gives all benefits such as HD-streaming for US$8.99 a month. Therefore, it’s also a greater value than Netflix.
How Do I Get Amazon Prime on My TV?
An Amazon Fire device is the easy solution, just plug it into the HDMI port on your TV and set it up. They cost from NZ$75, and are available to buy on the Amazon website.
If you don’t want to buy one of those, you can download the Amazon Prime Video app on most Smart TVs under brands such as Samsung, Sony, LG, Panasonic, and many more. Simply download it from your TVs app store and log into your Prime Video account.
If you use AppleTV, Chromecast, or other streaming sticks, make sure your phone is connected to the same WiFi as the stick. Then, log into the Amazon Prime Video app on your phone and start playing the TV show or movie of your choice and click on the casting icon. Then, begin streaming the film on your TV.
Several set-top boxes have an Amazon Prime Video app either pre-installed or available to install.
Note that you need to use a VPN on your TV or phone to access US Amazon Prime from New Zealand.
Are VPNs Legal in NZ?
The answer is yes. While some countries prohibit the use of VPNs, it’s completely legal in New Zealand. Using a VPN, you can increase your privacy online by masking your IP address, which protects against third parties monitoring your every move on the web.
Also, note that torrenting copyrighted content is illegal in New Zealand even if you use a VPN to do so. However, ExpresssVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark allow you to torrent through their services, and by encrypting your online activity, it’s unlikely that this can be traced back to you.
How Do I Find Out Where Something Is Streaming?
Curious to see if your favourite shows and movies are available on Amazon Prime Video? By browsing through dedicated sites such as Reelgood or JustWatch, you can quickly figure out where to find your favourite content.
These websites track where TV shows and movies are available to stream, buy, or rent. Simply create an account on their website and limit the search results to Amazon Prime Video to see what shows and movies you can access on the streaming site.
What Can I Watch On Amazon Prime?
As already stated, the US Prime Video has over 18.000 movies and 1500 TV series. As for the Amazon Prime NZ content, choices are more limited. However, there are many older American movies available in the New Zealand library, such as:
- Superbad
- No Country for Old Men
- Forrest Gump
- Indiana Jones 1-4
- Jaws
- Gleason
- American Beauty
- There Will Be Blood
In total, subscribers to Amazon Prime Video New Zealand have access to more than 8000 movies and 500+ TV shows.
Conclusion
If you’ve followed our guide, now you know how to watch Amazon Prime in NZ.
If you want to access Amazon Video New Zealand content, you can simply sign up on the Prime Video homepage and start streaming.
But we recommend you use a subscription VPN to access the vast US library that has almost three times the amount of content. Remember that you still need an Amazon Video Prime subscription to watch the American Amazon library.
Note: All prices are correct at time of writing.