OMG, trying to call Los Angeles from the land of the Long White Cloud (that’s New Zealand, by the way) can feel like launching a rocket to the moon! But trust me, it’s not rocket science. It’s just... a lot of numbers. You’re basically translating a Kiwi phone language into an American one, and we need the secret decoder ring. Let's get this done so you can tell your LA mates all about your epic fish and chips.
The full number you're aiming for is a mega-string of digits that looks something like this: 00 1 (Area Code) XXX-XXXX. We're going to break that down into easy-peasy steps. Get ready to dial like a boss!
Step 1: The Great Escape (Dialling the Exit Code)
You're in New Zealand, and you need your phone system to know you are outta here. This is the International Exit Code, and it's your virtual passport stamp out of Aotearoa.
1.1. The Magic Digits From a New Zealand landline or mobile, the exit code is simply 00. See, told you it was simple!
1.2. Pro-Tip for the Mobile Squad If you're using a cell phone (a mobile), you can actually be super cool and use the plus sign () instead of the 00. Hold down the '0' button on your mobile keypad, and it should turn into a . So, you can start with or 00. Either way, you've just told your phone, "Aloha, world, I'm making an international call!"
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| How To Call Los Angeles From Nz |
Step 2: Hitting the USA Highway (The Country Code)
Now that your call is on the international airwaves, it needs a GPS coordinate for the right country. We're heading to the United States of America, and every country has its own special code.
2.1. Hello, Uncle Sam The Country Code for the USA is 1. Yes, just the number one. Super easy to remember, right?
2.2. The Running Tally So far, you should have dialled: 00 1 (or if you're rocking the mobile). You’re smashing it!
QuickTip: Highlight useful points as you read.
Step 3: Landing in LA (The Area Code Quest)
Los Angeles is huge, sprawling, and has more area codes than a typical phone book has pages (okay, maybe not that many, but a few!). The area code is a three-digit number that narrows your call down to a specific region or part of the city. You NEED this to make the call connect.
3.1. The LA Area Code Crew There are a few main area codes for the general Los Angeles area. You'll need to know which one your friend's 7-digit number belongs to. Some of the common ones are:
213 (Mostly Downtown Los Angeles)
310 (Westside and South Bay areas, think Hollywood vibes)
323 (Central Los Angeles and surrounding suburbs)
424 (Overlays the 310 region)
818 (San Fernando Valley, epic movie studio central)
3.2. Choosing Wisely Ask your contact what their specific area code is! For this step, let's pretend your friend lives in Downtown LA, so you're using 213.
3.3. The Number So Far If you’re dialling a landline in Downtown LA, you should have: 00 1 213 (or on your mobile).
Step 4: The Final Destination (The Local Number)
This is the home stretch! You just need the specific, unique phone number of your mate in Los Angeles.
4.1. The Seven Sweet Digits In the USA, the local phone number is always seven digits long. It usually looks like XXX-XXXX. You just dial those seven numbers straight after the area code. No spaces, no hyphens, just numbers!
4.2. Putting the Puzzle Together Let’s imagine your friend's local number is 555-1234.
Your full dialing sequence from New Zealand to Los Angeles will be:
QuickTip: Don’t just scroll — process what you see.
00 1 213 555 1234
(or from a mobile)
That's it! You’ve built the digital bridge from Auckland to LA.
Step 5: Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself (The Final Vibe Check)
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Calling internationally isn't free, so do a quick check to make sure your call goes through without any drama, and you don't get a bill that makes you weep.
5.1. Time Zone Terror Seriously, bro, check the time difference! Los Angeles uses Pacific Time (PT). New Zealand is way ahead. When it’s midday in NZ, it’s the middle of the previous night in LA. You don't want to wake your mate up at 3 AM just to talk about the weather. Be a good Kiwi and check the time first!
5.2. Money, Money, Money International calls can cost a heap of cash on a standard phone plan. Before you press 'Send', check with your phone company (Spark, Vodafone, 2degrees, or whoever you use) about their international rates. You might be better off using a cheaper method like a VoIP service (like Skype, WhatsApp, or Google Voice) which just uses your data or Wi-Fi. This can save you major coinage!
5.3. Speak Clearly and Not Too Fast The call quality might not be perfect. Speak a little slower and clearer than you might usually, and try to avoid too much loud slang—your LA friend might not know what you mean by “Sweet as, cuz!” when you’re trying to have a serious chat.
How to use a sign on my mobile phone?
Hold down the zero key () on your mobile dial pad until the zero changes to a . This is the universal sign for an international call and automatically replaces your country's exit code ().
Tip: Stop when confused — clarity comes with patience.
How to check the time in Los Angeles?
Type "time in Los Angeles" into Google. It will show you the current time difference. Remember, New Zealand is one of the first countries to see the sunrise, so LA is many hours behind!
How to call a Los Angeles mobile number?
The process is the same as calling a landline: Exit Code (), US Country Code (), LA Area Code (e.g., ), and then the 7-digit mobile number.
How to avoid huge international phone charges?
Use a Voice over IP (VoIP) app like WhatsApp, Skype, or FaceTime/iMessage. These services use your internet data or Wi-Fi, making the call much cheaper or even free if you’re on Wi-Fi.
How to find the correct area code for a US number?
If you have the 10-digit US number (XXX-XXX-XXXX), the first three digits are the area code. If you only have the local number, ask the person for their 3-digit area code.
QuickTip: A quick skim can reveal the main idea fast.
How to call a toll-free number in Los Angeles?
US toll-free numbers start with , , , , , or . However, these numbers often do not work when dialled from outside the US, or they may incur a charge.
How to dial on a landline phone from NZ?
Use the sequence: followed by the 3-digit LA Area Code and the 7-digit local number. Your landline carrier will charge you international rates.
How to call if I am using a calling card?
Dial the access number on the back of the card, follow the voice prompts, enter your card PIN, and then dial the full international number: Area Code Local Number.
How to know if my call is connecting?
You will usually hear a different ringing sound than a local NZ call. If the connection fails, a pre-recorded message will typically tell you that the number is 'not valid' or 'not reachable'.
How to make the call sound less awkward?
Start with a friendly, “Kia ora, are you awake?” (after you’ve checked the time, of course!). Just be yourself—they’re probably excited to hear from you!
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