If TVNZ has stopped working with your VPN, it means TVNZ’s VDS (video distribution service) has blocked the IP address your VPN is using to allow you and other customers to spoof your location to New Zealand.
This has happened because TVNZ blocks VPNs from accessing its service so it doesn’t face potential copyright and licensing breaches.
This is obviously frustrating if you were using a VPN and it suddenly stopped working. But don’t panic just yet. There are a number of fixes you can try to resolve this problem.
Before you go any further, I feel duty-bound to tell you that there’s no silver bullet for unblocking TVNZ outside NZ (yet). This is because the market (aka Kiwi ex-pats) is too small for VPNs to dedicate the resources needed to constantly monitor and provide working connections.
With that in mind, I recommend only signing up for a VPN on a month-by-month basis. All major VPNs offer a generous 30-day money-back guarantee that entitles you to a full refund.
It’s also important to use a VPN that has reliable NZ servers.
See also:
- How to watch TVNZ and Sky Go NZ abroad: The EASY way! (June 2023)
- Watch Sky Sports Now outside New Zealand: The EASY method! (June 2023)
TVNZ not working with VPN: Fixes
Delete Cookies
If you’re VPN is no longer working with TVNZ, the chat website may be accessing your cookies to determine your identity.
Cookies are not malicious files, they’re designed to give you a better online experience but in order to do that, they contain information that identifies your device.
TVNZ can potentially access this information and regardless of whether you’re using a VPN or not, if it identifies you’re using an TVNZ account that has been banned, your VPN will no longer work with TVNZ.
A good place to start when trying to fix TVNZ not working with VPN is deleting your cookies.
Change to a different NZ server
If your VPN is no longer working with TVNZ, try changing to a different server.
The reason you’re suddenly running into errors watching TVNZ with your VPN is because TVNZ is constantly monitoring and trying to block VPN IP addresses. In this case, the streaming service has been successful in doing so.
Changing to a different server will give you a different IP address and if this one hasn’t been blocked by TVNZ, you’ll be able to watch the streaming service again.
The issue here is not many VPNs have multiple NZ servers, most only have one. Changing to a different IP address might be tricky, hence why we recommend potentially subscribing to more than one VPN.
Change to a different protocol
Check to see if your VPN supports multiple VPN protocols.
VPN protocols are rules that determine how your VPN reroutes your online data through its server.
How your data is transferred varies depending on what protocol you’re using. Some prioritise speed, while others prioritise security.
If your VPN has multiple protocols, try one you haven’t used and see if that fixes TVNZ not working with VPN.
Update/reinstall your VPN
If your VPN has suddenly stopped working with TVNZ, you may have inadvertently downloaded an error that’s interrupting the software.
A good way to get rid of these issues is to reinstall your VPN.
This ensures you have the latest version of your VPN, including any bug-fixing updates. It also means you’ll have a fresh installation of the software, so any errors or bugs you may have picked up will be erased.
Upgrade to a VPN that works reliably with TVNZ
If none of the above fixes fixed the problem, then TVNZ has managed to block all of your VPNs IP addresses.
From here, there are a couple of things you can do. First, you can wait for your VPN to release new IP addresses that TVNZ hasn’t blocked. However, there’s no telling how long this will take. Also, seeing as you’ve run into this problem already, your VPN doesn’t have measures in place to stay ahead of TVNZ’ blocks. And inevitably, the new IPs will get blocked as well.
The best way to fix TVNZ not working with VPN is to upgrade to a VPN that’s still compatible with the streaming service.
ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) works well with TVNZ this is because they play a game of cat and mouse with the streaming service.
When TVNZ identifies an IP address provided by ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) it will close that IP address and open a new one.This will prevent you from running into the issues you’ve come across with your current VPN, and it will allow you to watch TVNZ reliably anywhere in the world.
TVNZ VPN error
Incorrect timezone/not in NZ?Error Code: VID-GEO
“This video cannot be watched from your location. If you’re in NZ, please deactivate any VPN or Smart DNS service you may be running, and make sure timezone settings are correct on your device.”
If you’re seeing the above error message, it means TVNZ has detected that you’re using a VPN.
If you want to watch TVNZ, you’ll need to switch to a VPN that’s not blacklisted by the streaming service. At the time of writing ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) is working well for me.
How does TVNZ block VPNs?
Detecting a VPN is difficult. Most VPNs have 256-bit AES encryption, DNS/IPv6 leak protection (military-grade security). Which means TV streaming services have to use more basic methods to detect VPNs.
And they do. The way TVNZ detects VPNs is pretty simple. TVNZ shares its video distribution service with dozens of other international broadcasters (TVNZ, 9Now, beIN Sports Connect USA). And part of the video distribution service’s job – as well as hosting/serving the content – is to monitor each connection’s IP address.
When the VDS (video distribution service) detects an abnormally high level of activity from the same IP address, it responds by blacklisting the address.
As New Zealand is not a major market, most VPNs only have a handful of servers in New Zealand. Which is a problem, as it creates the potential for thousands of customers to connect to TVNZ at the same time. If/when this happens, the VPN’s IP address becomes blocked and blacklisted for abnormal usage.
This simple, but effective, method captures any VPN that share’s its servers (and IPs) with too many customers.
Why does TVNZ block VPNs?
TVNZ is not alone in blocking VPNs from accessing its content. Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video all do the same. The reason for the blanket ban on VPNs is understandable. It’s all because of licensing.
All TV-streaming services are in competition with each other. This means they’re all bidding to win the rights to broadcast content in certain regions.
Allowing viewers to use VPNs to virtually spoof their location would devalue these licenses. Online streaming services are therefore cracking down on VPNs to protect their borders (and investments in content).
How to fix TVNZ not working with VPN
The workaround is simple. You need to get a VPN that has IP addresses that aren’t blocked by TVNZ.
Unfortunately, this is also where things get less simple. As I said above, New Zealand is not a major market for VPNs. And while high-end VPNs such as ExpressVPN ($6.66/month) employ technicians to monitor and fix their connections with streaming services such and US Netflix, Hulu and BBC iPlayer – TVNZ is not in the same league.
Which means that if TVNZ’s VDS blacklist’s your VPN’s NZ IP address(es) – fixing the problem isn’t a priority.
That said, both ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) are currently unblocking TVNZ (plus BBC iPlayer, US Netflix, Hulu) for me.
The best VPNs for watching TVNZ outside NZ
1. ExpressVPN 🥇
Why You Should Use ExpressVPN? It’s the fastest and MOST reliable VPN of 2022
Pros
- ✅ Fast servers
- ✅ Thousands of IP addresses
- ✅ 10-simultaneous connections
- ✅ 24/7 Live Chat
- ✅ Easy-to-use app
- ✅ 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- ❌ Expensive
Special Offer for you!
Get 3 extra months free when you sign up for a 12-month ExpressVPN plan. That’s 15 months in total for the price of 12.
Number of servers: 3,000+ | Speed: >80% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 160 in 94 countries | Devices supported: 5 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
- $6.66/month for 15 months
- $9.99/month for 6 months
- $12.95/month for 1 month
ExpressVPN ($6.66/month) is still the best VPN. And importantly, it ALWAYS has servers that are open with major streaming sites such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, etc.
ExpressVPN is usually very good at playing Cat and Mouse with online streaming sites. Meaning, whenever one of its servers is blacklisted it creates a new one – giving its users a constant stream of servers that aren’t blocked. Needless to say, this is a valuable attribute if you’re looking for a VPN to unblock streaming sites.
Its app is easy-to-use and free to download on pretty much any device you can think of. Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, FireStick, Android TV, Roku, PS4, Xbox, Linux, even Apple TV (with a workaround). It’s got it all covered.
The app is another main reason this VPN is so good at unblocking TV streaming sites (that claim they block VPNs) is that its software takes a pragmatic approach to user management. While other VPNs tempt customers by promising them access to hundreds/thousands of servers in multiple countries, ExpressVPN does things differently.
With ExpressVPN you only have a handful of server locations to choose from. Once you select your location the app takes care of the rest. Assigning you to the fastest available server that’s not oversubscribed. This simple technique is so important, as it keeps ExpressVPN’s servers operating at lightning-fast speeds and prevents its IPs from getting blacklisted for “abnormal” usage in the first place.
Check out our full ExpressVPN review.
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2. Private Internet Access 🥈
The BEST low-cost 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 for you!
Sign up for a 3-year plan with Private Internet Access and save 83% + 3 months free. That works out at $2.03/month.
Number of servers: 25,000+ | Speed: >75% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 70 in 74 countries | Devices supported: 10 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
- $2.03/month for 3 years
- $7.50/month for 6 months
- $11.99/month for 1 month
Private Internet Access is one of the leading no-log VPN services with over 1-million paying customers.
This VPN is one of the best in the industry at beating streaming sites’ VPN bans. It provides reliable connections with US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+ Amazon Prime Video, etc. It also allows 10 simultaneous devices to be connected to its servers at the same time, so you can share the account with your close friends.
If – for whatever reason – you’re not happy with Private Internet Access, there’s a 24/7 live chat support available to assist you with your problem. PIA also offers the industry-standard 30-day money-back guarantee.
From my tests (from New Zealand) I was able to get download speeds of 70 Mbps while connected to a UK server using the Private Internet Access VPN (my non-VPN speed is 100 Mbps).
Special Offer – Save 83%
(30-day money-back guarantee)
3. NordVPN 🥉
A very quick and trustworthy VPN
Pros
- ✅ 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 for you!
Sign up for a 3-year plan with Private Internet Access and save 83% + 3 months free. That works out at $2.03/month.
Number of servers: 5,000+ | Speeds: >80% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 62 countries | Devices supported: 6 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
- $3.49/month for 2 years
- $6.99/month for 1 year
- $11.95/month for 1 month
NordVPN is the most widely-used VPN in the world. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a polished app that delivers fast connections (more on this later) to a massive network of VPN servers.
It’s the most reliable at unblocking popular streaming services too – US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, etc. This is because NordVPN hired a full-time technical team (that’s responsible for monitoring its servers’ connections with popular TV streaming services) and has been aggressively investing in its network of IP addresses in key locations.
Another interesting thing to note is that NordVPN is an industry leader in its development of Nordlynx technology. Nordlynx is built using the WireGuard, a new VPN tunneling protocol designed to outperform current standards (OpenVPN and IPSec). The benefits, according to NordVPN, are dramatically faster transfer speeds while connected to a VPN. My tests – New Zealand to London – confirm that Nordlynx is currently the fastest VPN on the market. However, the difference isn’t dramatic, a few Mbps is all.
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4. Ivacy
A very quick and trustworthy VPN
Pros
- ✅ Fast servers
- ✅ Thousands of IP addresses
- ✅ Dedicated streaming servers
- ✅ 5-simultaneous connections
- ✅ 30-day money-back guarantee
- ✅ 24/7 Live Chat
Cons
- ❌ Only 5 devices
- ❌ Sometimes runs slow
- ❌ Occasionally block by streaming sites for several days
Special Offer for you!
Sign up for Ivacy and enjoy a 7-day trial with no strings attached
Number of servers: 1,000+ | Speed: >65% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 275 in 100 countries | Devices supported: 5 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
- $1.16/month for 5 years
- $3.50/month for 1 year
- $9.99/month for 1 month
If you’re looking for an excellent VPN, with an even better price tag, Ivacy ($1.16/month) is a great option.
This VPN has all the features you need to stream BBC iPlayer, in HD, from any country in the world. I’ve been testing the app recently on Mac, PC, Android, iOS and FireStick and the results have been impressive – unlocking BBC iPlayer, US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, etc. with ease.
The Ivacy app is a little different in regards to its UX (user experience). Instead of just selecting a UK server, you need to select the specific BBC iPlayer server. Don’t worry, this isn’t a bad thing – by connecting to a dedicated BBC iPlayer server, it simply means that you’re connecting to an IP address that Ivacy knows works with BBC iPlayer.
For an extra $1.99/month (£1.74) you can add-on a dedicated IP. This will buy you sole access to an IP address in a country of your choice, meaning you won’t have to share your IP (and speeds) with any other use. I don’t recommend this though, using the regular Ivacy servers is enough 95 per cent of the time.
Special Offer – 7-day FREE trial!
(30-day money-back guarantee)
5. CyberGhost
A very quick and trustworthy VPN
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
Take advantage of CyberGhost’s 1-day FREE TRIAL!
Number of servers: 1,000+ | Speed: >65% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 275 in 100 countries | Devices supported: 5 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
- $2.75/month for 3 years
- $3.69/month for 2 years
- $5.99/month for 1 year
- $12.99/month for 1 month
CyberGhost is one of the more established VPNs on the market. It has a well-established, and well-tested global network of servers that perform well.
From my tests over the past several months, CyberGhost has no trouble at unblocking major streaming services – US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max etc. This VPN performed well at maintaining download speeds, well above 65 per cent of my regular (non VPN) ISP speed.
That said, there’s nothing really unique about the service. Which forces you to look at its price-point. And there’s nothing special here. Its short-term $12.99/month price tag puts is well above the industry average of $10.10/month. Similarly, its long-term $2.75/month for 3 years deal isn’t much of a “deal” either.
Oddly, CyberGhost’s most unique feature is its a 1-day, no obligations, free trial. This is an appealing offer to customers who are new to VPNs. However, it’s important to remember that most reputable VPNs will offer customers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so try not to be too seduced by the offer.
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(30-day money-back guarantee)
