Is Internet Down? A Comprehensive Guide to New Zealand Connectivity and Outage Troubleshooting

Summary: Dealing with connectivity issues in New Zealand requires a systematic approach to differentiate between a localized router fault and a widespread network outage. This guide explores the common causes behind why you might ask "is internet down," covering everything from Chorus UFB maintenance and ISP backbone failures to internal hardware malfunctions. We provide detailed troubleshooting steps for Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch residents, explain how to interpret ONT light signals, and offer practical advice on using mobile backups and VPNs to stay online during regional disruptions. By following these professional networking standards, Kiwi households can minimize downtime and resolve internet problems with efficiency.

Understanding the New Zealand Internet Infrastructure

When your connection suddenly drops and you find yourself wondering "is internet down," it is essential to understand the "three-layer" system that powers New Zealand's web. Most Kiwis connect via the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) network managed by Local Fibre Companies (LFCs) like Chorus, Enable, or Northpower. Above them sit the Retail Service Providers (RSPs) like Spark, One NZ, and 2degrees, who manage the data routing and customer billing. Finally, international submarine cables connect New Zealand to the rest of the world. A failure at any of these levels can cause a total blackout. For instance, a physical cable cut in your street is a localized UFB issue, while a DNS failure at your ISP's headquarters can stop websites from loading nationwide even if your router shows a green "link" light.

• LFC Faults: These occur in the physical fibre or copper lines; check the Chorus "Network Events" page first.
• ISP Outages: These are software or routing issues; check your provider's specific status page or Twitter/X feed.
• International Gates: Rare, but issues with cables like the Southern Cross can make international sites feel "down".
• Localized Power Cuts: If your neighborhood loses power, the local fibre cabinet may only have a limited battery backup.

LFC Faults: These occur in the physical fibre or copper lines; check the Chorus "Network Events" page first.

ISP Outages: These are software or routing issues; check your provider's specific status page or Twitter/X feed.

International Gates: Rare, but issues with cables like the Southern Cross can make international sites feel "down".

Localized Power Cuts: If your neighborhood loses power, the local fibre cabinet may only have a limited battery backup.

Differentiating Between Planned and Unplanned Outages

Many "outages" in Auckland or Wellington are actually scheduled maintenance windows. LFCs typically perform work between 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM to minimize disruption, but these windows can sometimes overrun into the busy morning period.

Technical Diagnostics: Interpreting the ONT and Router Lights

The first physical step when you suspect is internet down is to inspect the Optical Network Terminal (ONT)—the small white box usually fixed to your wall. This device is the gateway where the light signals from the fibre line are converted into data for your router. Most ONTs in New Zealand have four primary lights: Power, PON (Passive Optical Network), LOS (Loss of Signal), and LAN/Ethernet. A solid green PON light and a flashing LAN light generally mean the network is healthy, and the issue lies within your router. However, a red LOS light is a definitive indicator of a physical break in the fibre line, usually requiring a technician from your LFC to visit the property and repair the connection.

Decoding the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) Signals

• Solid Green PON: Your connection to the exchange is active and authorized.
• Red LOS Light: There is no light signal reaching the box; the physical fibre is likely broken.
• Flashing PON: The ONT is trying to synchronize with the exchange; wait 10 minutes before calling support.
• Unlit LAN Port: The cable between your ONT and your router is loose, damaged, or plugged into the wrong port.

Solid Green PON: Your connection to the exchange is active and authorized.

Red LOS Light: There is no light signal reaching the box; the physical fibre is likely broken.

Flashing PON: The ONT is trying to synchronize with the exchange; wait 10 minutes before calling support.

Unlit LAN Port: The cable between your ONT and your router is loose, damaged, or plugged into the wrong port.

Analyzing Regional Outages: Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch

Auckland’s high density makes it prone to "localized" outages caused by construction or heavy weather affecting wireless towers. If you are in the CBD or North Shore and asking is internet down, the high concentration of 5G and 4G users means that tower maintenance can significantly impact mobile broadband users while fibre remains stable. In Wellington, the seismic-resilient design of the network means fewer physical breaks, but the hilly terrain can lead to "rain fade" for those on fixed-wireless or satellite connections. Christchurch users on the Enable network should look for specific local updates, as their infrastructure is managed independently of Chorus, meaning national outage maps might not always reflect the situation in Canterbury.

The Role of Peak Hour Congestion

While not a total outage, "peak hour" (6 PM – 10 PM) can make it feel as if the is internet down because speeds drop so low that streaming services fail to buffer. This is common in older suburbs where the "backhaul" capacity of the local cabinet is oversubscribed.

ISP Status Portals and Real-Time Reporting

If your hardware looks fine but you have no connectivity, the next step is using your mobile data to check the official status portals of New Zealand’s major ISPs. Companies like Spark, One NZ, and 2degrees maintain real-time maps that show exactly which suburbs are experiencing "Planned" or "Unplanned" events. In 2026, these maps have become highly granular, often showing disruptions down to specific street clusters. If your ISP shows "All Clear," check community-driven sites like DownDetector; these are often the first to pick up on routing issues that the ISP's automated systems haven't yet logged.

• Spark Status: Provides a detailed "Service Status" page for both broadband and mobile.
• One NZ Network: Offers an interactive map showing tower health and UFB outages.
• Chorus NetEvents: The primary source for UFB infrastructure faults across most of NZ.
• Social Media: Local community groups on Facebook or threads on Reddit NZ are excellent for verifying local neighbor status.

Spark Status: Provides a detailed "Service Status" page for both broadband and mobile.

One NZ Network: Offers an interactive map showing tower health and UFB outages.

Chorus NetEvents: The primary source for UFB infrastructure faults across most of NZ.

Social Media: Local community groups on Facebook or threads on Reddit NZ are excellent for verifying local neighbor status.

How to Properly Report an Outage

When calling your ISP, having specific data will speed up the resolution. Do not simply say "my internet is slow"; provide the exact state of your ONT lights and any error messages from your browser.

Using a VPN to Diagnose Routing and Throttling

Sometimes, you might think "is internet down" when in reality, your ISP is only having trouble reaching specific websites or services. This is often a routing or DNS issue. By using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you can "tunnel" your traffic through a different server—sometimes even one located in Australia—to bypass the problematic part of your ISP's local network. If your internet works perfectly while the VPN is active but fails when it is off, you have definitive proof that the issue is with your ISP's routing or DNS, rather than your physical line.

Benefits of VPN Testing During Disruptions

• Bypass DNS Issues: If your ISP's DNS is down, a VPN uses its own private DNS to resolve site addresses.
• Avoid Throttling: Some ISPs manage traffic during outages by slowing down video; a VPN encrypts traffic to hide its type.
• Identify Routing Loops: If the path to a New Zealand server is broken, a VPN can route you through a different international gateway.
• Security: Keeps your data safe if you are forced to use a neighbor's "Open" Wi-Fi or a public hotspot during an outage.

Bypass DNS Issues: If your ISP's DNS is down, a VPN uses its own private DNS to resolve site addresses.

Avoid Throttling: Some ISPs manage traffic during outages by slowing down video; a VPN encrypts traffic to hide its type.

Identify Routing Loops: If the path to a New Zealand server is broken, a VPN can route you through a different international gateway.

Security: Keeps your data safe if you are forced to use a neighbor's "Open" Wi-Fi or a public hotspot during an outage.

Power Cycling and Hardware Resets

Before assuming the is internet down nationally, you must perform a "Cold Boot" of your home hardware. Many routers experience "memory leaks" or "buffer bloat" after weeks of continuous uptime, which can lead to a total stall in data transmission. To perform a proper power cycle: turn off the power at the wall for both the ONT and the Router, wait exactly 60 seconds (to allow all capacitors to discharge), and then power on the ONT first. Wait for the ONT to show a solid green PON light before turning the router back on. This forced synchronization often clears internal software errors that a simple "restart" button might miss.

• 60-Second Rule: Waiting a full minute ensures the ISP's exchange registers your session as "terminated".
• Firmware Updates: Ensure your router is running the latest version; old firmware can cause compatibility issues with UFB.
• Cable Check: Cats and dogs often chew the thin fibre patch cables; inspect for any sharp bends or punctures.
• Factory Reset: Only use the "Reset" pinhole as a last resort, as this will wipe your Wi-Fi password and ISP login details.

60-Second Rule: Waiting a full minute ensures the ISP's exchange registers your session as "terminated".

Firmware Updates: Ensure your router is running the latest version; old firmware can cause compatibility issues with UFB.

Cable Check: Cats and dogs often chew the thin fibre patch cables; inspect for any sharp bends or punctures.

Factory Reset: Only use the "Reset" pinhole as a last resort, as this will wipe your Wi-Fi password and ISP login details.

Hardware Failure Lifespans in NZ

Routers in New Zealand face unique environmental factors, including high humidity in Auckland and power fluctuations in rural areas, which can shorten their lifespan.

DNS Hazards and Configuration Errors

A common reason for people asking is internet down is a failure of the Domain Name System (DNS). This system is the "phonebook" of the internet; if it fails, your computer can't translate a name like google.co.nz into an IP address. Your browser will show a "Server Not Found" error, which looks exactly like a dead connection. By manually changing your router's DNS settings to a public provider like Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), you can often restore connectivity instantly while your ISP works on fixing their own internal DNS servers.

How to Switch to Public DNS

[Image showing DNS settings interface on a standard router]

• Google DNS: Primary 8.8.8.8, Secondary 8.8.4.4.
• Cloudflare: Primary 1.1.1.1, Secondary 1.0.0.1.
• OpenDNS: Primary 208.67.222.222, Secondary 208.67.220.220.
• Effect: Faster browsing and higher reliability than standard ISP defaults.

Google DNS: Primary 8.8.8.8, Secondary 8.8.4.4.

Cloudflare: Primary 1.1.1.1, Secondary 1.0.0.1.

OpenDNS: Primary 208.67.222.222, Secondary 208.67.220.220.

Effect: Faster browsing and higher reliability than standard ISP defaults.

Mobile Data and Hotspot Backups

In the event that the is internet down for an extended period, having a mobile backup plan is vital for Auckland and Wellington professionals. Most modern NZ smartphones allow for "Tethering" or "Hotspotting," which shares your phone's 4G/5G data with your laptop. However, be aware that 5G data consumption is extremely high; a single 4K video call can consume several gigabytes of data. For those in "Digital Dead Zones," it is worth keeping a prepaid SIM from a different network than your primary home internet (e.g., if you have Spark Fibre, keep a One NZ or 2degrees SIM) to ensure total redundancy.

Managing Data During an Outage

When relying on mobile data, you must "triage" your usage to avoid massive overage charges or speed caps.

• Disable Cloud Sync: Turn off OneDrive, Dropbox, and iCloud syncing immediately.
• Low-Res Video: Change YouTube and Netflix settings to 480p or 720p.
• App Updates: Pause all App Store or Windows updates until your fibre returns.
• Monitor Usage: Use your ISP's app to track your remaining mobile data in real-time.

Disable Cloud Sync: Turn off OneDrive, Dropbox, and iCloud syncing immediately.

Low-Res Video: Change YouTube and Netflix settings to 480p or 720p.

App Updates: Pause all App Store or Windows updates until your fibre returns.

Monitor Usage: Use your ISP's app to track your remaining mobile data in real-time.

The Role of Weather and Civil Emergencies

New Zealand’s climate, particularly during the cyclone season, can lead to widespread internet outages. Heavy rain can affect "Fixed Wireless" connections through "rain fade," where the water in the air absorbs the radio signals. More severely, flooding can wash out roads containing fibre optic trunk lines, as seen during major weather events in the North Island. In these cases, asking is internet down is secondary to local safety. Following the local Civil Defence alerts is the best way to understand the expected timeline for infrastructure repairs in your region.

Protecting Hardware from Surges

A common cause for an "individual outage" after a storm is an electrical surge. Investing in a high-quality surge protector is the best way to prevent your internet router NZ from being permanently damaged by a lightning strike near the phone or power lines.

• UPS Systems: An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) can keep your ONT and Router running during a local power cut.
• Surge Boards: Ensure your board is rated for at least 1000 Joules.
• Unplugging: During extreme electrical storms, the safest option is to unplug the power and the fibre/DSL line.

UPS Systems: An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) can keep your ONT and Router running during a local power cut.

Surge Boards: Ensure your board is rated for at least 1000 Joules.

Unplugging: During extreme electrical storms, the safest option is to unplug the power and the fibre/DSL line.

Future Resilience: Hyperfibre and LEO Satellites

As we look toward the future of New Zealand's connectivity, the introduction of "Hyperfibre" and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites like Starlink is reducing the frequency of total outages. Hyperfibre offers redundant paths and higher-grade hardware, making it less prone to localized cabinet failures. Meanwhile, Starlink provides a "sky-based" backup that is immune to local ground-based infrastructure damage, such as cut cables or flooded cabinets. For Auckland businesses, having a Starlink dish as a "failover" connection is becoming a standard practice to ensure that even if the ground-based is internet down, the business remains operational.

Comparing Backup Technologies

Final Thoughts

Determining if your is internet down requires a blend of physical hardware checks and digital verification. By starting with your ONT status lights, checking the Chorus and ISP status portals, and utilizing mobile data or VPNs for testing, you can quickly identify whether you need to wait for a regional repair or simply replace a faulty cable. As Auckland and Wellington continue to expand their digital infrastructure in 2026, the resilience of our networks is improving, but the responsibility for home network maintenance remains with the user. For more historical information on how our network was built, you can visit the Internet in New Zealand Wiki page.

FAQ

Why does my router have a red light? A red light on the router (usually labeled 'Internet' or 'Globe') means the device is powered on but cannot establish a data session with the ISP.

How do I know if there is a Chorus outage in my street? Visit the Chorus 'Network Events' page and enter your address to see all planned and unplanned work affecting your local cabinet.

What is the "LOS" light on my ONT? LOS stands for 'Loss of Signal'. If this is red, the physical fibre optic cable is likely damaged or disconnected from the exchange.

Can a VPN fix my internet if it's down? A VPN cannot fix a dead physical line, but it can bypass routing issues or DNS failures if the rest of the network is functioning.

Is internet down for everyone if Spark is having issues? Not necessarily. Other ISPs like 2degrees or One NZ may be functioning perfectly unless the issue is with the underlying Chorus infrastructure.

How long does it take to fix a cut fibre cable? Typically, a technician can repair a local cut in 4–8 hours, but major trunk lines may take days depending on access.

Does rain affect my fibre internet? Fibre is made of glass and uses light, so it is not affected by rain. However, older copper (VDSL) and wireless connections can be.

Should I call my ISP or Chorus if my internet is down? Always call your ISP (Retailer) first. They will run diagnostics and contact Chorus on your behalf if a line fault is found.

What is the best way to stay online during an outage? Setting up a mobile hotspot on your phone is the fastest way to get temporary internet for your computer.

Why does my internet work for some sites but not others? This is usually a DNS or routing issue. Try switching your DNS to 8.8.8.8 to see if the missing sites return.