We know all too well how overwhelming it can be to venture into the big world of dating sites, especially when you don’t even have the slightest idea on what to choose. There are dating websites that cater to those that are only after short-term relationships. And then there are those that encourage its members to get to know each other better first before they schedule a personal meeting for some coffee, or even a few glasses of cocktail drinks. It doesn’t matter if you are just searching for a casual fling, or you want to head straight down the aisle to tie the knot because you can be sure that there is always a service that suits you best out there.
Here, we make your quest easier! We list down some of the best dating sites in New Zealand with the goal of helping all NZ singles to find and meet like-minded matches in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Napier-Hastings, and other places. See the reviews now.
#1 Elite Singles
EliteSingles.co.nz boasts of some of the best services for online dating in New Zealand, with a focus on helping educated singles find the kind of love that lasts for life. The site takes the commitment part rather seriously and they make sure to do exactly just that. As the world’s leading dating site, EliteSingles offers wonderful matchmaking features, outstanding customer service, right from the moment you sent that first message to finally meeting your true love. To make this possible, they provide their members with helpful technical advice to make sure that everything will go smoothly. There are over 20,000+ new users from Australia and New Zealand joining this dating site per month, and they will verify all photos and profiles and remove spam or inactive accounts.
#2 NZ Dating
Launched in 1998, NZ Dating is the leading dating website in New Zealand. As one of the country’s most trusted dating websites, NZDating.com offers a decent and safe environment for all its members. Its main goal is to bring New Zealand singles together and help them find a true companion. The success of the website is reflected by the fact that they have been in service for over two decades, and helped many thousands of Kiwis find their lifetime partner.
The site is where you can look for your ideal match based on life goals, interests, and culture. NZ Dating also takes pride in the fairytale love stories of their members who found each other through the site and are now sharing their lives together.
#3 Be2
Since Be2 was launched way back in 2004, this online dating website has served as a useful source of reference for 30 millions of singles from different parts of the world. Right now, Be2.co.nz has also become one of the fastest-growing sites in New Zealand.
This leading matchmaking dating platform enjoys such remarkable popularity because of the way it uses affinity to connect singles with each other. Two of the key qualities of Be2.co.nz are its extremely powerful algorithm and its accurate personality test. While others think opposites attract, the site strongly believes that the real secret to finding the right partner is for the two of you to have a matching personality. This website offers a “Video Call” feature, that helps you get to know someone quickly, and makes communication without barriers.
#4 Find Someone
If you are single and more than ready to mingle, there are over 500,000 New Zealanders waiting for you in FindSomeone.co.nz, whether you are just looking for a friend or even a partner for life, you will find your perfect match there. The site has been in the industry for 14 years and has been offering some of the best online dating services in New Zealand. There is also no need for you to worry about safety because the team performs background checks and research on users to create a secure environment for everyone.
It is very quick to sign up to the site so you can get started with dating right away. FindSomeone.co.nz is a typical online dating site with some basic features, like, “Search”, “Message board”, “Favourites”, and “Events”.
5. Tinder
Tinder is the No.1 dating app that started the easy-to-use swiping craze, it gives singles fun and alternative way of meeting people online. With 30 billion matches to date, this online dating app lets you search for potential matches according to your location. This eliminates the worries often associated with long-distance relationships.
You can download the Tinder app for free on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It is very easy to set up and get started. The app will look for your location with the use of GPS and your Facebook data to come up with a dating profile that can be viewed by other members. Don’t worry since no information from your Tinder account will be posted on Facebook.
6. Match
Founded On April 21, 1995, by Gary Kremen, Match.com holds the title of being the oldest dating website on the internet. The site enjoys sheer popularity overseas, although the registered number of members from New Zealand is a bit small. Many of the listed members of the site are from outside NZ but they are very much diverse in so many ways. You can find people searching for both short-term and long-term relationships as well as those who are more interested in casual affairs.
The focus here is the people searching for a special someone, with members aged 18 up to 80 years old and an even ratio of female and male members.
7. Bumble
The free dating app Bumble is built on a similar model as Tinder but there is one unique twist time. The ladies are the ones who get to decide when and with whom to start a conversation. The goal of the app is to reduce the number of those sleazy messages that women usually get when using other mobile apps for dating. This is the main reason why male users of the app are not allowed to send the first message.
8. NZ Personals
NZPersonals.com is both a social network and a dating website designed for New Zealanders. Launched in 1999, the site has always been working hard to bring kiwis together and provide them with the best dating environment. Aside from the friendship and dating sections that are meant for those who are serious about making new friends or finding love, there are also optional adult sections made for people who are looking for something a bit different from the usual.
Members can also control the things they see on their screen with lots of options for them to choose from to have self-moderated content. If you are looking for an LGBTQI relationship or casual hookups, NZpersonals.com works for you.
9. Hinge
Hinge claims to be the kind of dating meant to be deleted. While it is only a form of marketing, this confronts an interesting paradox when it comes to dating apps. An app that does its job is an app that you won’t need to use for a long time. Hinge stands by their bold claim with the enticing interplay between visuals and text, robust profiles, and a lot of flirty and fun ways for members to interact. But you have to brace yourself because things tend to move a bit slow here, not to mention the restrictions on free members.
10. Seeking
Seeking.com, known as SeekingArrangement, is no doubt the most popular sugar daddy sugar baby dating site that matches rich & successful men, young attractive women, and everything in between from different parts of the world. The platform is the perfect example of talking the talk and its media publicity backs up its claims.
For the longest time, Seeking has been the favorite go-to place for people who are ready and willing to enter into certain secret arrangements when it comes to their relationships. It doesn’t matter if you are on the receiving or giving end of the spectrum because all New Zealanders can expect some great and hot results from using the platform.
11. Christian Connection
It was back in 2000 when Christian Connection was first launched in the UK and today, it has also found its way to New Zealand where it also rose to popularity thanks to the positive TV and print media coverage it received early on. Christian Connection started growing bigger in 2012 when it also started to cater to the US, Australia, Canada, and other English-speaking nations, with NZ included. For the past few years, Christian Connection also brought home several independent awards, including those for customer service and for online Christian dating services as well.
12. Match Finder
MatchFinder.co.nz is a dating website that is completely made for New Zealand and is under independent management. This is an online dating service that is specifically designed for real New Zealanders who are hoping to find and meet real partners who are ready to embark on real relationships. This dating website caters to those who are really serious when it comes to dating. The platform provides a fast navigation with an uncomplicated and easy-to-use interface that is perfect for users of all ages. You can try it for free to finally meet the potential partner of your dreams.
13. Sugar Daddy Meet
SugarDaddyMeet.com is the perfect spot to be for all young ladies who are hoping to meet and find a wealthy benefactor, a millionaire, or even a potential sugar daddy to start a relationship that benefits both parties involved. There are no restrictions for signing up although members can choose to obtain optional verification of details on their profile including their assets, photos, and income.
The main purpose of this website is to connect attractive young women with wealthy men. The site caters exclusively to a particular type of relationship. It also has extensive matching and searching capabilities, as well as privacy and access settings that keep you in full control.
14. Mingle2
Mingle2.com was launched in 2008 as a completely free dating website that used to be called JustSayHi. With more than 3 million website visitors on a daily basis, Mingle2 has now grown into a huge online dating community. Signing up to the site will only take 30 seconds with no tedious steps and those personality tests that are common in similar dating sites. The interface is also simple enough to use that people of all ages can get used to the site in no time so they can get started in meeting other users right away.
15. Adult Friend Finder
AdultFriendFinder.com is the world’s largest adult dating website. What sets it apart from others, however, is that it is more focused on sex instead of relationships. Some of you might not be familiar with the site but it has actually been around for some time already. The site also knows exactly what it is about. Adult Friend Finder doesn’t make any pretense to attract people who are looking for long-term romantic commitments. Instead, the site is all about fulfilling first the sexual fantasies of its members. If you are looking for swinger, threesome, or hookup relationships, this is the right place for you.
16. Zoosk
Zoosk.com was once named as the best dating app. It is a matchmaking site that has been recognized for personalization. This will also connect you with your optimal match with the use of an algorithm that is believed to provide more desirable real-time matches. The website is also accessible in a total of 80 different countries, which is also the reason why it has already been interpreted in 80 foreign languages. This means that if you believe that you have a soul mate somewhere out there in the world, you can expect to find your perfect match in no time.
17. Singles 50
Singles50.co.nz is a special matchmaking service that caters to singles in New Zealand who are already at their prime age of 40 years old and above. This is a streamlined website that focuses only on helping its members to find their long-term partners. The website has a scientific personality test that will give you quality matches. Deleting your profile is the only way for you to cancel your premium membership. There are also compatibility meters every time you visit the profiles of other members. The senior dating website is also available to use for free.
18. Dating NZ Singles
DatingNZSingles.co.nz is a premium dating website in New Zealand that focuses on offering a fun environment for all singles who hope to date. There are thousands of members that you can choose from with the use of their advanced search system to make it a breeze for you to find and meet someone. The website makes sure that all of its new members fill out the necessary fields before they can join the site. As a result, this boosts the satisfaction of all the members and improves the overall functionality of the site.
19. Speed Date
SpeedDate.co.nz takes dating in New Zealand on a whole new level as it lets you meet new people through different events, adventures, and soirees. The company is based in Auckland and organizes an extensive array of exciting events perfect for all age categories. There are complimentary foods served during these events for you to enjoy while you are busy getting to know other members. It is a lively and fun social event that is ideal for successful single professionals who hope to meet new friends, partners, or if you are lucky, you might even meet the person you will spend the rest of your life with.
20. Academic Singles
AcademicSingles.co.nz is a great place to be if you are searching for your ideal match. With the use of their scientifically designed questionnaire, the website matches you with authentic and educated singles in your area. You can get your personality assessment, questionnaire, and all your potential matches for free without any obligation. You can also be sure that your private details and all communications exchanged between you are your matches won’t be accessible to third parties.
Are Online Dating Sites and Apps Safe?
The truth is that no one can really tell if online dating sites and apps are safe. This is because this area still lacks scientific data. Official statistics are not yet properly collected, there is a low number of reporting, and there are just plenty of gaps overall.
But while online dating comes with its own risk, people are still giving it a try and they will continue to do. You don’t need to completely avoid dating sites and apps or be too scared of using them. The best thing you can do is to make sure that all of your experiences will be as safe and secure as possible and that the most reliable and trustworthy dating sites and apps also value and protect your safety.
To keep yourself safer when dating online, there are a few tips you need to remember at all times. The first and most important one is to never provide any personal or financial information to the people you meet online. With the rising number of scammers and frauds out there, the last thing you want is to become their prey without you knowing it.
Your safety during online dating online lies in your hands so be extra careful and wary to have the best experience.
I Don’t Live in New Zealand, How Can I Meet NZ Singles?
You no longer have to limit your options by just dating people who share the same zip code as yours or those that you only meet through your mutual friends and acquaintances.
Now more than ever, you can easily meet NZ singles even if you don’t live in New Zealand yourself. There are now many international dating sites and apps such as Match.com and Tinder to find NZ singles who can become your new friends or even potential life partners.
Once you sign up to these international dating sites and apps, your profile will be available for all NZ singles to view. The truth is that many couples who found and met each other online don’t even live in the same country, state, or city.
Long-distance relationships are now on the rise and one of the biggest benefits of international dating apps and sites and that you can meet someone outside your current social circle.
If you are hoping to meet more NZ singles, you might want to broaden your search, especially today when conversations are taking place all over the world. With people spending more time at home, you no longer need to leave the comforts of your home to find the right one for you.
Should I Upgrade to Premium Membership?
While many dating sites and apps let you use their services for free, you can almost always expect that this can put a limit on the things that you can and are allowed to do. This is why it would be better to consider upgrading to premium membership.
Paid subscriptions often grant much better search facilities. Experts also say that it is better to buy into a premium service. Although it is absolutely possible that you can use free services to meet your ideal match, if you are really serious regarding this substantial part of your life, investing in online dating is like an act of commitment that shows others that you are at your highest level.
Paid subscriptions also tend to grant much better search facilities that can help you save time along the way. For example, if you are serious about married, there is simply no point to scroll through thousands of people who are not even interested in the idea.
It always takes time to get to know someone, so rushing to commit to just one person is not recommended. Therefore, it makes sense that if you are satisfied with the site or app, you can upgrade to a longer subscription so you can have more time to date until you meet the right person.
Dating Rules You Must Follow When Dating a New Zealander
If you are hoping to date a New Zealander, there are several critical dating rules you need to follow and remember:
- Try to always look your best and arrive early during dates.
- Have fun during dates. While love is a fun topic, dating is also fun so try keeping things this way.
- Compliment and flatter your date with the clothes they wear and the way they look. People often exert effort when going on dates so being told that they look good is always a pleasant thing to hear.
- Be interesting and interested. You will never feel bored if you are never boring yourself.
- If you are not really interested to date the person again, be sure to tell them so. Hopes kept alive and being lied to is a malicious and evil thing to do. If you don’t wish to see someone again, tell them this in the nicest way you can.
- Date only those that are attracted to and people you truly like regardless of what your friends say. Your peers’ approval never proves a thing at all.
- Always be positive even if your dates don’t end that well. Along the way, you can still meet nice people and make good contacts.
Tips for Creating the Best Dating Profile
Your dating profile is the first thing that people see, so it is important to make a good first impression right from the get-go.
For starters, make sure that your profile photo is always centered and clear, vibrant enough, and represents you best in one image. Your first photo must be a close-up and try including one full-body photo as well.
Max out the number of photos in your profile, too. Show off as many as you are allowed to do so. Use different photos that show you in different situations. But as much as possible, never use group photos. Your dating profile must only be about you and no one else.
You don’t need to tell your entire life story either. Remember that dating profiles must only be a snapshot of who you are and what keeps you busy at the moment. While you can tell them where you came from, such as your country, state, or hometown, better stop right there. Leave enough room for conversations and spark people’s genuine interest in you.
Finally, be honest and upfront. You wouldn’t want to tell people that you are this and that when you are not. Honesty can go a long way when it comes to online dating.