Area Code 3243 – Tokanui/Lumsden/Te Anau
The phone area code for Tokanui/Lumsden/Te Anau is 3243 (international format +643243). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 3243
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of Tokanui/Lumsden/Te Anau
Geographic Coverage and Administrative Context
The +64 3243 area code is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to a specific region within the Southland district of New Zealand's South Island. This code serves the rural townships of Tokanui, Lumsden, and Te Anau, along with the surrounding settlements. Administratively, these areas fall under the Southland District Council, with Te Anau acting as the gateway to Fiordland National Park and the Milford Sound. The code is part of the broader 03 numbering area, which covers the entire South Island, but the 243 prefix specifically routes calls to the northern and western parts of Southland.
Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions
For local callers within New Zealand, the national significant number is dialed as 03 243 XXXX, where the leading 0 is the trunk prefix and 3 is the geographic area code for the South Island. The 243 exchange code is followed by a four-digit subscriber number, making the total national length 10 digits (including the leading 0). International callers must dial +64 3 243 XXXX, omitting the trunk prefix 0. For example, to call a business in Te Anau from abroad, one would dial +64 3 243 1234. Within the same exchange, local calls may be made using just the seven-digit number (243 XXXX) in some areas, but this is not guaranteed across all exchanges; it is safer to use the full national format.
Overlay and Numbering Plan Considerations
As of the current numbering plan, there is no overlay code for the 03 area, meaning that the 03 243 prefix is unique to this geographic region. However, New Zealand implemented local number portability, allowing subscribers to retain their numbers when moving between service providers, but geographic numbers remain tied to their original exchange area. This means that a number with the 3243 prefix will always be associated with the Tokanui/Lumsden/Te Anau region, even if the subscriber moves to another part of the country, unless they choose to change their number. Callers should be aware that calls to this code are charged at standard national rates, and international rates apply when calling from overseas.
Services and Usage
The region is predominantly rural, with a mix of residential, agricultural, and tourism-related businesses. The number range supports both fixed-line PSTN and VoIP services, but it is not used for mobile services, which have their own non-geographic prefixes (e.g., 021, 022, 027). Emergency services and directory assistance are accessed via three-digit codes (111 and 018, respectively) and are not affected by the area code. For businesses in the region, having a local 03 243 number reinforces their geographic presence and can be important for local customer trust.