If you’re trying to watch HBO Max in NZ, the streaming service won’t work. You’ll run into an error saying, “HBO Max is not available in your region.” Don’t worry, there’s a simple way to get around this issue.
All you need to do is trick HBO Max into thinking you’re watching the service from inside the US. It sounds complicated, however, it’s very simple. All you need is a US IP address.
The best way to get a US IP address is by using a reliable VPN.
This article will explain how you can get a VPN that works with HBO Max and I’ll explain you how you can use it to watch HBO Max in NZ.
See also:
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- How to stream Mortal Kombat in NZ
- How to watch Nomadland in NZ
How to watch HBO Max in NZ: Quick Guide
To get a US IP address and watch HBO Max in NZ, all you need to do is follow the simple steps below:
Total Time: 3 minutes
Create a new account with NordVPN ($3.49/month) or Ivacy ($1.33/month)
Download and install the new VPN app
Open your new app and connect to a server in the US
Go to HBO Max
Create an HBO Max account (see more below)
Watch HBO Max in NZ
How to create an HBO Max account in NZ
Using a reliable VPN like NordVPN ($3.49/month) or Ivacy ($1.33/month) will remove the “HBO Max is not available in your region” error that you’re coming across. However, if you don’t already have an HBO Max account, there is another hurdle you’ll have to get over before you can watch HBO Max in NZ.
To create an HBO Max account, HBO only accepts US forms of payment. Fortunately this isn’t a problem, there’s a couple of methods you can try to create an HBO Max account:
- You can ask a friend or family member in the US to create an HBO Max account for you
- You can use an American Express card
- You can purchase an HBO Max gift card from mygiftcardsupply.com and create an account from anywhere in the world. (Mygiftcardsupply is a trusted and reliable website where you can purchase a variety of gift cards from anywhere in the world.)
Realistically, the first two options won’t work for everyone. The easiest way to create an HBO Max account in NZ is using gift cards.
To create an HBO Max account with gift cards, follow the simple steps below:
- Go to mygiftcardsupply.com
- Search for HBO Max cards
- Choose between a USD$25, USD$30, USD$50 gift card (note that standard HBO Max costs USD$14.99/month)
- Select if you want to make a one-off purchase or a repeat purchase every few months
- Proceed to checkout and confirm your purchase with your email address
- You’ll receive an email with a link. Click on that link, and that will give you access to your HBO Max gift card
- Connect to a US server on NordVPN ($3.49/month) or Ivacy ($1.33/month)
- Create an account at www.hbomax.com
- Go to HBONOW.com/gift and enter the 10 or 12 digit code from the back of your gift card.
- Choose your State or Territory, enter your ZIP Code (you can do this by googling) and then choose Continue.
- Click I have an account: Choose the Sign in link. Enter your account email and password. Then, choose Sign In and Redeem
- Return to www.hbomax.com
- Enjoy watching HBO Max in New Zealand
Why isn’t HBO Max available in NZ?
HBO Max is only available in the US. It only has the rights to broadcast its content in the States. It doesn’t have international broadcast rights.
Similar to other streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Paramount+, HBO Max is subject to its licensing agreements. If it made itself available to customers in NZ, it could face severe copyright and licensing repercussions.
To prevent these issues from arising, HBO Max uses geo-blocking technology that prevents anyone outside of the US from accessing its content. These geo-blocks are the reason you’re running into errors when trying to connect to HBO Max.

How does HBO Max block my connection?
The way HBO Max blocks your connection is all to do with your location and your IP address.
Whenever you connect to the internet, you’re given a unique IP address. This IP contains information that discloses your location. When you go online in NZ, you’re given an NZ-based IP.
When you connect to HBO Max, the service scans your IP address. If the IP isn’t from the US, HBO Max blocks it.
How do I get around HBO Max’s geo-blocks?
It’s actually quite simple. All you need to do is trick HBO Max into thinking you’re connecting to its service from within the US.
To do that, you need a US IP address. This is where the VPN comes in. A VPN makes it very easy to change your IP address and unblock HBO Max.
How do VPNs work?
VPNs are able to provide you with an anonymous internet connection and an IP address in a location of your choice.
They do this by encrypting all of your internet data, and rerouting it through one of their servers. Once the data gets to the server, it’s decrypted and sent to a local internet service provider.
The best thing about VPNs is you can select the server the data is sent to. To unblock HBO Max, all you need to do is select a US server, giving you a US IP address.
When you connect to HBO Max, it will scan your IP, see that is based in the US, and you’ll be able to access its content.
It’s that simple.
Does HBO Max block VPNs?
Yes, it does. HBO Max, like Netflix, Hulu and Paramount+, tries to block VPN connections.
It does this by monitoring for an abnormal amount of connections coming from the same IP address. For lesser VPNs, this can be a problem. Lesser VPNs have more customers than IP addresses, and this means customers often have to share IP’s.
When HBO Max sees hundreds of connections coming from the same IP, it knows that that’s an IP provided by a VPN, and it blocks it.

Will any VPN work with HBO Max?
Unfortunately, there are VPNs out there that aren’t trustworthy. Some VPNs are malicious and track your internet usage. Some are cons that don’t provide the service they say they will, and some don’t work with HBO Max.
The good news is, there are VPNs that are trustworthy, like NordVPN ($3.49/month) or Ivacy ($1.33/month), and they work reliably with HBO Max.
NordVPN ($3.49/month) or Ivacy ($1.33/month) are able to work reliably with HBO Max because they have measures in place to get around the streaming services blocks. Neither of these VPNs can guarantee that an IP address they provide won’t get identified and blocked by HBO Max. However, they can guarantee their service will consistently work with HBO Max.
This is because they play a game of cat and mouse with HBO Max. When HBO blocks an IP address provided by NordVPN ($3.49/month) or Ivacy ($1.33/month), these VPNs will close that IP address and open a new one. This means that they stay ahead of HBO’s blocks, and it allows you to reliably watch HBO Max in NZ or anywhere in the world.
The best VPNs to watch HBO Max
1. NordVPN
The BEST VPN of 2022

Pro
- Fast servers
- No logs
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 6-simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- No refunds for purchases from iTunes/App store
SPECIAL OFFER – $3.49/month
2. Ivacy
The BEST low-cost VPN

Pros
- Fast servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- Dedicated streaming servers
- 5-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 5 devices
- Sometimes runs slow
- Occasionally blocked by streaming sites
SPECIAL OFFER: 7-DAY TRIAL ($0.99)
3. ExpressVPN
A very reliable and fast VPN

Pros
- Fast servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 10-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Expensive
SPECIAL OFFER – 3-MONTHS FREE!
4. Private Internet Access
The BEST mid-range VPN for streaming!
Pros
- Fast and reliable servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 10-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 48 server locations
SPECIAL OFFER – SAVE 82%!
30-day money-back guarantee
5. CyberGhost

Pros
- 1-day free trial
- Reliable servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 7-simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Expensive
- Average speed scores
SPECIAL OFFER – 1-DAY FREE TRIAL
30-day money-back guarantee