Groceries are most NZers’ largest discretionary spending category after housing. Paying with a rewards card at the supermarket can earn meaningful rewards. Here’s how the numbers compare.
On $800/month of groceries, the Amex Cashback Card (1.5%) returns about $144 a year, and the ANZ Airpoints Visa earns about $96 in Airpoints before its $65 fee. You can pay with a rewards credit card and scan Everyday Rewards at Woolworths, or Club+ at New World, Pak'nSave and Four Square, in the same transaction. At Pak'nSave, Eftpos and cash are common but cards are accepted.
NZ Supermarket Credit Card Compatibility
| Supermarket | Accepts Amex? | Accepts Visa/MC? | Loyalty programme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woolworths NZ | Yes (most stores) | Yes | Everyday Rewards |
| New World | Yes (most stores) | Yes | OneCard |
| Pak’nSave | Most stores — check | Yes | OneCard |
| FreshChoice | Yes | Yes | OneCard (some) |
| SuperValue | Yes | Yes | OneCard (some) |
Amex acceptance varies by store — not all Pak’nSave and FreshChoice locations accept it.
Cards at Woolworths NZ
Providers are listed alphabetically.
Amex Cashback Card
If your Woolworths accepts Amex (most do), the Amex Cashback Card earns 1.5% cashback on eligible purchases, the highest cashback rate of the cards compared here.
On $800/month grocery spend: $800 × 1.5% × 12 = $144/year cashback
Stack with: Scan your Everyday Rewards card at the same transaction — earn cashback on the credit card + loyalty points simultaneously.
ANZ Airpoints Visa or Platinum
For Airpoints:
- ANZ Airpoints Visa: 1 Airpoints Dollar per $100 grocery spend
- ANZ Airpoints Visa Platinum: 1 Airpoints Dollar per $75 spend
On $800/month spend:
- ANZ Airpoints Visa: $800 × 12 ÷ 100 = 96 Airpoints Dollars/year ($96 value) minus $65 fee = $31 net
- ANZ Airpoints Platinum: $800 × 12 ÷ 75 = 128 Airpoints Dollars/year ($128 value) minus $150 fee = -$22 net (less than the fee on groceries alone)
On groceries alone, the ANZ Airpoints Platinum’s Airpoints don’t cover its $150 fee. If the card is used for all spending (not just groceries), the maths changes.
Cards at New World
New World is part of Foodstuffs (same group as Pak’nSave and Four Square). Its loyalty programme is Club+, which replaced New World Clubcard.
Strategy:
- Scan your Club+ card at checkout
- Pay with a rewards credit card
- Earn Club+ dollars + credit card rewards on the same transaction
Club+ fuel discount: Club+ gives a fuel discount on qualifying shops, and the card scans at Z and Caltex. (AA Smartfuel, the old supermarket fuel scheme, ended on 31 January 2024.)
Cards at Pak’nSave
Pak’nSave is traditionally cash-preferred (as part of their cost-cutting model), but most stores accept cards including Visa and Mastercard. Amex acceptance varies — check your local store.
Strategy at Pak’nSave:
- Scan your Club+ card (Club+ dollars are earned at New World and Four Square and can be spent at Pak’nSave)
- Pay with a Visa or Mastercard rewards card if your store doesn’t accept Amex
Worked Example: $800/Month Grocery Spend
Assuming 12 months at $800/month = $9,600/year grocery spend:
| Card | Annual rewards on groceries | Annual fee | Net value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Cashback (1.5%) | $144 | Low | ~$130+ net |
| ANZ Airpoints Visa (1 per $100) | $96 Airpoints | $65 | $31 net |
| ANZ Airpoints Platinum (1 per $75) | $128 Airpoints | $150 | -$22 net |
| BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum | Check current earn rate | $90 | Varies |
| Westpac hotpoints (1 per $1, ~0.5c/pt) | ~$48 | $45 | ~$3 net |
Amex Cashback has the highest net value in this table on groceries alone, but Amex acceptance varies by supermarket.
The Loyalty Programme Stack at Supermarkets
How the stack works:
- Use a credit card with rewards (cashback or Airpoints)
- Scan a loyalty card simultaneously (Everyday Rewards at Woolworths; Club+ at New World, Pak’nSave and Four Square)
- Watch for bonus point events — Woolworths and New World periodically offer double points promotions
- Fuel rewards: Club+ gives a fuel discount on qualifying shops; Everyday Rewards vouchers can be spent at BP
This costs you no extra money — you’re just optimising what you already spend.
Amex Acceptance and Loyalty Card by Store
| Your supermarket | Accepts Amex? | Loyalty card |
|---|---|---|
| Woolworths | Yes (most stores) | Everyday Rewards |
| New World | Yes (most stores) | Club+ |
| Pak’nSave | Most stores, check | Club+ |
Where to check the latest data
Rates, fees and returns change often. Before deciding, check current figures yourself:
- interest.co.nz credit card rates: tables of current credit card interest rates and fees.
- The provider's own website: has its current rates, fees and full terms; these change more often than any comparison page.
- Financial Service Providers Register: shows whether a provider is registered to offer financial services in New Zealand.
Next Steps
- Loyalty programmes NZ guide — stacking multiple reward programmes
- Club+ guide — Foodstuffs’ programme for New World, Pak’nSave and Four Square
- Everyday Rewards guide NZ — Woolworths’ loyalty programme
- Airpoints credit cards NZ: full Airpoints card comparison