Prescription glasses & contact lenses

Prescription glasses and contact lenses in New Zealand

Updated 4 November 2026

Contact lenses in New Zealand cost about NZ$38 to NZ$76 for a standard pack, and multifocal or astigmatism packs run from about NZ$51 to NZ$170. These are approximate prices according to sellers' websites, November 2026. To get current offers for your own prescription, describe what you need on BlaBlaPrice and local sellers reply with their own prices and delivery terms.

Warranty and what the law covers

New Zealand Consumer Law applies to glasses and lenses bought here, and some retailers state that their guarantees cannot be excluded under it. Shop warranties differ a lot. One replaces a faulty frame or lens within a year, another guarantees manufacturing defects for 24 months from purchase, and a third repairs or replaces a like-for-like pair for a year. Read the exclusions, as some terms do not cover damage. Toric contact lens warranty programmes are arranged through your optometrist.

Check the prescription before you order

Spectacle and contact lens prescriptions both include the lens power, so check that figure on your form before you order and match the pack to it. If you need prescription safety glasses for work, the New Zealand standard for prescription safety eyewear is AS/NZS 1337.6, so ask the seller to confirm the product meets it. Pack sizes range from 6 to 30 lenses, so compare the price per lens, not per box.

Season and when to order

November is late spring, and summer runs from December to February, so order a few weeks ahead of holidays and trips. Long, bright summer days are hard on eyes that are not protected, which makes this a sensible time to renew sunglasses that match your prescription. Order a new pack of contact lenses before the last one runs out, so you are never without them.

What to put in your request

Say whether you need glasses, contact lenses or both, and give the power from your prescription. Add the lens type (single vision, multifocal or for astigmatism), the contact lens type, the frame style and brand if you have them, and the quantity. Name your delivery city, which can be Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton or Tauranga, and your budget in NZ$. Ask whether delivery is included in the price. For example: "monthly multifocal contact lenses, 6-pack, Wellington, budget NZ$130."

On BlaBlaPrice you describe what you need in your own words in a chat, and a photo can be added. Buyers pay nothing to use it. BlaBlaPrice's AI asks for missing details, looks through sellers' websites and price lists in New Zealand, then shows the prices and businesses it finds. Registered sellers reply in the chat with their own offer, price and delivery terms, and your contact details stay hidden until you decide to share them. For frames and other eyewear extras, see Accessories.