# How should an AI agent get two-way SMS in New Zealand?

**Short answer:** For an AI agent that holds one-to-one text conversations from a New Zealand mobile-range number, Agentline NZ gives it an 028 number and an email inbox over MCP from NZ$29/month, for transactional messages only. For marketing, keyword campaigns or thousands of texts a month, an NZ SMS gateway with a dedicated short code (TNZ, WebSMS or ClickSend) fits better, and Twilio suits teams that need numbers in many countries, although it also reaches NZ mobiles through a short code.

## At a glance

Competitor facts were checked on 18 October 2026 against the pages listed under [Sources](#sources). Prices are as published, in NZD excluding GST unless marked otherwise.

| | Agentline NZ | NZ SMS gateway (TNZ, WebSMS, ClickSend) | Twilio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number people see | An NZ 028 business messaging number | A 3- to 6-digit short code, shared or dedicated | A dedicated NZ short code (domestic NZ long codes aren't supported) |
| Who can start a conversation | Anyone can text the number at any time | Dedicated code: anyone. Shared code: replies to your recent texts only | Anyone, on a dedicated short code |
| Setup time | Your 028 number is set up within a few days of signup. Your email inbox works straight away. | Shared code: on signup. Dedicated code: about 2 to 6 weeks | 5 to 6 weeks for a short code, after a complete application |
| Fixed cost | Starter NZ$29/month, Pro NZ$79/month | Shared code: none. Dedicated code: NZ$65 to NZ$350 a month plus a setup fee (ClickSend: GST not stated) | Short code US$1,600 setup, then US$2,100 a quarter or US$7,400 a year, excluding tax; 3-month minimum term |
| Texts included or per-text price | 50 segments a month on Starter, 200 on Pro; inbound unlimited | TNZ and WebSMS: 10c a part sent (8c for WebSMS templated texts). ClickSend: not shown publicly | Short code rate not published; US$0.105 a segment from an international number |
| Marketing texts | Not allowed | Allowed from a dedicated free-to-text code, with consent | Allowed on a short code, with express consent |
| MCP server for agents | Remote server with tools to send, read replies and wait for codes | Each has one; see below for what it can read | Twilio Alpha server, run locally, covering Twilio's whole API |
| Countries | NZ mobiles only | NZ, with Australia and others on some plans | Numbers in over 100 locales |

## Agentline NZ, an 028 number and inbox over MCP

Agentline NZ gives an agent an NZ 028 business messaging number that sends to and receives from NZ mobiles, plus an @agentline.nz inbox. The agent connects to https://agentline.nz/mcp (Streamable HTTP, with OAuth or an API key) and calls tools such as `send_sms`, `list_messages` and `wait_for_code`. People reply as they would to any NZ mobile, and replies land in the agent's message list.

- **Plans:** Starter is NZ$29/month: 1 NZ 028 number, 1 @agentline.nz inbox, 50 outbound SMS segments and 500 outbound emails a month. Pro is NZ$79/month: 2 NZ 028 numbers, 5 @agentline.nz inboxes, 200 outbound SMS segments, 2,000 outbound emails and 200 voice minutes a month. Agentline NZ is not GST-registered, so no GST is charged.
- **Timing:** Your 028 number is set up within a few days of signup. Your email inbox works straight away. Full refund if your number hasn't arrived within 30 days of your first payment.
- **Use:** Transactional and assistant messages only: replies, bookings, confirmations, reminders people asked for, and codes. Marketing, promotions, cold texts and bulk texts are blocked. See [What we don't allow](/what-we-dont-allow).
- **Volume:** sending is capped at 150 texts a day and 25 new recipients a day, so it isn't built for broadcasts.
- **Limits:** Standard NZ mobile numbers only (020/021/022/027/028/029). No landlines, short codes, premium or international numbers. The carrier doesn't provide delivery receipts, so a sent SMS shows as sent, not delivered.

## NZ SMS gateways and short codes

NZ gateways send business texts from short codes. TNZ says that even on its virtual mobile number product, SMS to NZ mobiles goes out from a short code because of a limitation of the NZ network ([TNZ virtual mobile numbers](https://www.tnz.co.nz/Services/SMS/Virtual-Mobile-Numbers/), as checked 18 October 2026). None of the three gateways below lists an NZ mobile-range number for two-way SMS.

**TNZ** (as checked 18 October 2026)

- A built-in shared short code is included from signup on the NZ$20/month Starter plan, with texts at 10c a part. Replies are matched for 5 days after your last text to that mobile, and promotional messages aren't supported on it ([TNZ pricing](https://www.tnz.co.nz/Services/Pricing/), [understanding short codes](https://www.tnz.co.nz/Help/understanding-sms-short-codes)).
- Dedicated codes cost NZ$299 setup and NZ$89/month (6-digit), NZ$320 and NZ$99 (5-digit) or NZ$599 and NZ$299 (4-digit), with setup taking about 4 weeks ([TNZ dedicated short codes](https://www.tnz.co.nz/Services/SMS/Dedicated-Short-Codes/)).
- On a standard-rate code the person replying pays 20c; on a free-to-text code the business pays 10c per reply instead.
- TNZ's `tnz-mcp` server is in beta, runs on your own machine, and can read SMS replies as well as send ([TNZ MCP client](https://www.tnz.co.nz/Docs/MCP/)).

**WebSMS** (as checked 18 October 2026)

- Shared short codes have no setup or monthly fee and cost 10c a text (8c for templated texts). They're for transactional messages, and WebSMS may ask senders of more than 2,000 to 5,000 texts a month to move to a dedicated code ([WebSMS shared short codes](https://websms.co.nz/shared-shortcodes/), [WebSMS terms](https://websms.co.nz/terms-of-service/)).
- Dedicated codes cost NZ$85/month (6-digit) to NZ$289/month (3-digit), plus NZ$350 or NZ$400 setup, and typically take 2 to 4 weeks ([WebSMS pricing](https://websms.co.nz/pricing/), [WebSMS short codes](https://websms.co.nz/shortcodes/)).
- Delivery reports are included.
- The `@websms-nz/websms-mcp` server runs locally; its published tools send texts and check delivery and balance, and don't include reading replies ([WebSMS MCP on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@websms-nz/websms-mcp)).

**ClickSend** (as checked 18 October 2026)

- Two-way SMS in New Zealand needs a registered dedicated short code: NZ$65 setup and NZ$65/month (6-digit), NZ$85 and NZ$85 (5-digit) or NZ$600 and NZ$350 (4-digit), GST not stated. Provisioning can take 4 to 6 weeks ([ClickSend New Zealand guide](https://help.clicksend.com/en/articles/43924-new-zealand-64)).
- ClickSend's NZ pricing page shows per-text prices only through a volume estimator, not as a published rate, so none is quoted here.
- The official ClickSend MCP server runs locally with your API key; its published tools send texts and view sent history, templates and statistics, and don't include reading replies ([ClickSend MCP guide](https://help.clicksend.com/en/articles/46547-clicksend-mcp-server-help-guide), [package README](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@clicksend/clicksend-mcp-server)).

## Twilio and other global platforms

Twilio's New Zealand guidelines list domestic long codes as not supported and say NZ operators require dedicated short codes (as checked 18 October 2026). A Twilio NZ short code:

- takes 5 to 6 weeks to provision once the application is complete, with a provisioning freeze from December to mid-January;
- has a 3-month minimum term and a 1-month notice period, and costs US$1,600 setup, then US$2,100 a quarter or US$7,400 a year, excluding tax ([How much does a Short Code cost?](https://support.twilio.com/hc/en-us/articles/226460288-How-much-does-a-Short-Code-cost), as checked 19 October 2026);
- needs express opt-in consent, and Twilio's NZ guidelines say messages must include "Reply to this SMS will be charged".

Sources: [Twilio NZ SMS guidelines](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/nz/sms), [Twilio NZ short code guidelines](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/nz/short-code).

Twilio's NZ SMS pricing page lists US$0.105 per outbound segment and international numbers from US$1.15/month ([Twilio NZ SMS pricing](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/sms/pricing/nz)). Its NZ guidelines note that the sender ID isn't preserved when an international long code texts NZ mobiles, so people may not see the number you sent from.

For agents, Twilio Alpha publishes an MCP server that runs locally and exposes Twilio's public API, including messaging ([twilio-labs/mcp](https://github.com/twilio-labs/mcp)). Twilio's strengths are breadth and scale: numbers in over 100 locales, voice, and volume discounts ([Twilio NZ voice pricing](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/voice/pricing/nz)).

## Which one fits

**Choose Agentline NZ if** your agent needs its own NZ number for replies, bookings, reminders people asked for and one-time codes; you want it connected over MCP, with an email inbox that works from day one; and your volume is modest. See [pricing](/pricing).

**Choose an NZ gateway short code if** you send marketing or promotions (from a free-to-text code), run "Text WIN to 4004" style keyword campaigns, need delivery reports, or send thousands of texts a month. A shared code is the cheapest way to send a few transactional texts if you don't need a number people can text first.

**Choose Twilio if** you need numbers and messaging in many countries from one account, are already built on Twilio, or need high-volume programmable messaging and voice, and can wait for an NZ short code.

## Sources

All checked on 18 October 2026 unless marked otherwise. Prices change, so check the provider's page before you decide.

- TNZ: [pricing](https://www.tnz.co.nz/Services/Pricing/), [dedicated short codes](https://www.tnz.co.nz/Services/SMS/Dedicated-Short-Codes/), [understanding short codes](https://www.tnz.co.nz/Help/understanding-sms-short-codes), [virtual mobile numbers](https://www.tnz.co.nz/Services/SMS/Virtual-Mobile-Numbers/), [MCP client](https://www.tnz.co.nz/Docs/MCP/)
- WebSMS: [pricing](https://websms.co.nz/pricing/), [shared short codes](https://websms.co.nz/shared-shortcodes/), [short codes](https://websms.co.nz/shortcodes/), [terms](https://websms.co.nz/terms-of-service/), [MCP server](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@websms-nz/websms-mcp)
- ClickSend: [New Zealand guide](https://help.clicksend.com/en/articles/43924-new-zealand-64), [MCP guide](https://help.clicksend.com/en/articles/46547-clicksend-mcp-server-help-guide), [MCP server](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@clicksend/clicksend-mcp-server)
- Twilio: [NZ SMS guidelines](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/nz/sms), [NZ short code guidelines](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/nz/short-code), [NZ SMS pricing](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/sms/pricing/nz), [NZ voice pricing](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/voice/pricing/nz), [MCP server](https://github.com/twilio-labs/mcp), [How much does a Short Code cost?](https://support.twilio.com/hc/en-us/articles/226460288-How-much-does-a-Short-Code-cost) (checked 19 October 2026)

## FAQ

### Can an AI agent text from an ordinary NZ mobile number?

Not through the usual routes. NZ gateways and Twilio send business texts from short codes, and TNZ and Twilio both say NZ networks require this. Agentline NZ uses an NZ 028 business messaging number, which people reply to like any other mobile.

### Which option costs least for a handful of texts?

A shared short code on a pay-as-you-go gateway, such as WebSMS at 10c a text with no monthly fee (as checked 18 October 2026). Replies on a shared code are tied to texts you sent first, and you'd build the agent side yourself. Agentline NZ is a flat monthly plan that includes the number, an inbox and the MCP tools.

### Can I send marketing texts with Agentline NZ?

No. Transactional and assistant messages only: replies, bookings, confirmations, reminders people asked for, and codes. Marketing, promotions, cold texts and bulk texts are blocked. For promotions, use a dedicated free-to-text short code from an NZ gateway, with the recipients' consent.

### How long does each option take to set up?

Your 028 number is set up within a few days of signup. Your email inbox works straight away. Full refund if your number hasn't arrived within 30 days of your first payment. A dedicated short code takes about 2 to 6 weeks through an NZ gateway, and 5 to 6 weeks through Twilio (as checked 18 October 2026).

## Related

- [What's the difference between 028 and 021 numbers in New Zealand?](/kb/028-vs-021-numbers)
- [What does the UEMA mean for SMS and email sent by AI agents?](/kb/uema-ai-agent-sms-and-email)
- [How long does it take to get my Agentline NZ number?](/help/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-my-number)

[Start free](https://agentline.nz/signup) · Start free with an email inbox (no card), or take a 7-day trial of Starter or Pro to get a number.