What's available

HBO Max is not directly available in New Zealand as a standalone service. Instead, HBO content reaches Kiwi viewers through Neon, the local streaming platform that holds the HBO licensing rights. Through Neon, you get access to a solid chunk of HBO's premium catalogue, including:

  • The Last of Us
  • House of the Dragon
  • Succession
  • The White Lotus
  • Euphoria
  • Barry
  • Game of Thrones (full series)
  • True Detective

Neon also carries a selection of Max Originals and Warner Bros. films, giving you reasonable access to HBO's prestige drama output.

What you're missing

Compared to the full US HBO Max library, the New Zealand offering through Neon has notable gaps. You won't find titles like:

  • South Park (exclusive to the US Max library)
  • Sesame Street full catalogue
  • Several DC Universe films and series
  • Certain Warner Bros. theatrical releases available day-and-date in the US
  • Max Originals such as Velma and some animated exclusives
  • Full TCM (Turner Classic Movies) curated collections

The sports and news content available on Max in the US is also completely absent for New Zealand viewers.

How to access other regions

To access the full US HBO Max library from New Zealand, you'll need a VPN. A VPN masks your real IP address and replaces it with one from your chosen country, making streaming services think you're browsing locally.

Steps to get started

  • Subscribe to a reliable VPN — we recommend NordVPN for its fast speeds and reliable unblocking performance
  • Connect to a US server, ideally one in New York or Los Angeles
  • Visit max.com and create or log into your account
  • Stream as normal — you'll now see the full US content library

NordVPN consistently unblocks Max and handles HD and 4K streaming without significant buffering.

Pricing

HBO Max (Max) US plans currently start at around USD $9.99/month for the ad-supported tier, rising to USD $15.99/month for ad-free. You'll likely need a US payment method or a virtual card to subscribe. Neon in New Zealand costs approximately NZD $17.99/month.

Our recommendation

If you're happy with HBO's flagship shows like The Last of Us and House of the Dragon, Neon covers you well and is the easiest option. But if you want the complete Max experience — including exclusive originals, the DC catalogue, and South Park — pairing NordVPN with a direct US Max subscription is absolutely worth it. Connect to a US server, sign up, and you unlock one of the strongest streaming libraries available anywhere.