Smart Garage Door Opener NZ: 5 Top Picks & Prices
You grab your phone to check if you closed the garage door. The app won't connect. Or maybe you don't have one at all and you're stuck wondering if you left it wide open. Most Kiwi homes still use basic remotes or manual locks, which means no way to check your door status remotely and no alerts when something's off. Smart garage door openers fix this problem, but finding ones that actually work with NZ garage doors and ship here takes time.
This guide covers five smart garage door opener options available in New Zealand right now. You'll see how each one works, which garage door types they fit, what they cost, and who they suit best. Some need full opener replacements while others retrofit your existing setup. We've included pricing and compatibility details so you can pick the right option for your home without second-guessing.
1. DoorsNZ Smart-Ready Opener Kits
DoorsNZ sells automatic garage door openers that you can pair with aftermarket smart controllers to add Wi-Fi control to your roller door. Their standard opener packages include the motor, rail, remote controls, and safety beam sensors. You order the opener with your door or separately, then add a third-party smart controller later if you want app control and notifications. This modular approach keeps your upfront cost lower while leaving the door open for smart upgrades down the track.
How DoorsNZ smart-ready opener kits work
The opener kits use a standard motor with dry contact terminals that accept control signals from external devices. You wire a compatible smart controller (like Grid Connect or similar) into these terminals, which lets the controller trigger the opener remotely. The opener itself handles the physical lifting and lowering while the smart controller adds Wi-Fi connectivity, app control, and monitoring features. You keep your existing remotes and wall button, so the smart controller works alongside them rather than replacing them.
Compatibility with NZ roller doors and installation
DoorsNZ openers fit all their roller door models, including domestic, semi-industrial, and commercial sizes. The kit includes mounting brackets designed for standard NZ roller door tracks. Installation requires basic power tool skills and takes two to three hours for most DIYers. You'll need to mount the motor to the lintel, attach the rail to the door curtain, wire the safety beams, and connect mains power. DoorsNZ provides detailed instruction manuals with each kit, and you can arrange professional installation through local contractors if you prefer.
Who DoorsNZ smart-ready opener kits are for
These kits suit homeowners buying new roller doors who want the option to add smart control later without paying for it upfront. You'll also find them useful if you're replacing a failed opener on an existing DoorsNZ door. The two-step approach (standard opener now, smart controller later) works well when you're budget-conscious or unsure whether you'll actually use app control daily.
"Start with a reliable opener and add smart features when you're ready, rather than paying extra for tech you might not need yet."
DoorsNZ opener and smart upgrade pricing in NZ
DoorsNZ standard opener kits cost $450 to $650 depending on door size and motor strength. Adding a compatible smart controller afterward runs another $70 to $150, bringing your total smart garage door opener NZ setup to around $520 to $800. This staged investment lets you spread costs across months or years while still ending up with full app control and monitoring capability.
2. Orion Grid Connect Smart Garage Door Controller
The Orion Grid Connect turns your existing garage door opener into a smart system without replacing any hardware. You mount a small control unit to your opener, download the app, and connect it to your home Wi-Fi. The controller works as a bridge between your phone and the opener's control terminals, giving you remote access and status monitoring through the Grid Connect app. Bunnings stocks this unit nationwide, which makes it easy to grab one while picking up other hardware.
How Orion Grid Connect smart controller works
The controller wires directly into your opener's wall button terminals and sends trigger signals through the Grid Connect platform. You open or close the door from anywhere using the Grid Connect app on your phone, which also sends notifications when the door opens or closes. The included magnetic sensor sticks to your door track and tells the app whether your door is open, closed, or stuck somewhere in between. Setup takes about 15 minutes once you've mounted the unit and connected it to power.
Compatibility with NZ garage doors and installation
This controller works with most garage door openers that have accessible wall button terminals, including roller doors, sectional doors, and tilt doors. You'll need a standard 240V power outlet near your opener and a stable Wi-Fi signal in your garage. Installation involves mounting the control box near your opener, running two wires to the opener terminals, positioning the door sensor, and connecting to mains power. The unit comes with mounting screws and wire connectors, but you'll need basic tools like a drill and screwdriver.
Who Orion Grid Connect smart controller is for
You'll want this controller if you already own a functioning garage door opener and just need app control without spending on a complete replacement. It suits homeowners who want Grid Connect ecosystem integration, especially if you already use other Grid Connect smart devices around your home. The straightforward installation makes it accessible for DIYers who feel comfortable working with low-voltage wiring.
"Add Wi-Fi control to your existing opener for under $100 rather than replacing the entire system."
Orion Grid Connect controller pricing in NZ
Bunnings sells the Orion Grid Connect Smart Garage Door Controller with sensor for $89.99 to $99.99 depending on current promotions. This price includes the controller unit, door sensor, mounting hardware, and access to the Grid Connect app with no ongoing subscription fees. You'll find this among the most affordable smart garage door opener NZ options when you factor in the cost of keeping your existing opener.
3. GarageAce Wi-Fi Door Opener
GarageAce built their Wi-Fi door opener as a universal retrofit controller that works with any garage door opener brand in New Zealand. You install the control unit near your existing opener, connect it to your home network, and control your door through the GarageAce app. The system supports up to three garage doors from one controller when you add extra sensors, which makes it practical for homes with multiple garages or for landlords managing several properties from a single app.
How GarageAce Wi-Fi door opener works
The controller connects to your opener's dry contact terminals and sends trigger signals through the GarageAce cloud platform. You tap your phone to open or close the door, and the magnetic door sensor reports real-time status back to the app. Push notifications alert you whenever your door moves, which helps you catch unexpected activity or confirm your door closed after you left. Setup requires connecting the controller to your Wi-Fi network and pairing it with the app, which takes roughly 10 minutes once you've mounted everything.
Compatibility with NZ garage doors and installation
This opener works with all major NZ garage door brands including B&D, ATA, Dominator, Merlin, and Steel-Line. You need accessible wall button terminals on your existing opener and a power outlet within two metres of your mounting location. Installation involves fixing the control box near your opener, running two wires to the terminal block, positioning the door sensor on your track, and plugging into mains power. GarageAce provides detailed wiring diagrams for common NZ opener models on their website.
Who GarageAce Wi-Fi door opener is for
You'll find this smart garage door opener NZ option useful when you manage multiple garage doors and want one controller to handle all of them. Property investors and multi-car households benefit from the three-door capacity, which spreads the cost across multiple installations.
"Control up to three garage doors from one unit rather than buying separate controllers for each door."
GarageAce Wi-Fi opener pricing in NZ
GarageAce sells their universal Wi-Fi opener for $99.00 through their website at garageace.co.nz. This price includes the controller unit and one door sensor, with additional sensors available separately for your second and third doors. You pay no subscription fees for the app or cloud service.
4. Remootio Smart Garage Door Opener
Remootio ships a European-designed smart controller directly to New Zealand customers through their international online store. This unit combines Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity in one package, giving you both local control when you're nearby and remote access from anywhere through their cloud platform. The controller works with most NZ garage door opener brands and integrates with major smart home systems including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit through Siri Shortcuts. You order directly from remootio.com and they handle international shipping to your door.
How Remootio smart garage door opener works
The controller connects to your opener's control terminals and communicates through both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi protocols. You trigger the door using the Remootio app on your phone or through voice commands via your smart home assistant. The included magnetic sensor monitors door position and sends push notifications whenever your door opens or closes. You can set up automations to close your door automatically at specific times or trigger it to open when you arrive home using geofencing. Security runs through 256-bit end-to-end encryption, which keeps your door commands protected from interception.
Compatibility with NZ garage doors and installation
Remootio works with most NZ garage door opener brands including ATA, B&D, Dominator, Steel-Line, and Merlin. You need accessible dry contact terminals on your existing opener and a stable Wi-Fi signal in your garage. Installation requires mounting the control unit near your opener, connecting two wires to the terminal block, positioning the magnetic sensor, and plugging the unit into a standard power outlet using the included AUS-type power adapter. Remootio provides wiring diagrams for common NZ opener models on their website, and their support team will check compatibility if you send them your opener's model number.
Who Remootio smart garage door opener is for
This smart garage door opener NZ option suits tech-focused homeowners who want deep integration with existing smart home ecosystems. You'll benefit from Remootio if you already use Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit and want voice control alongside app access.
"Connect your garage door to your whole smart home setup rather than managing it through a separate standalone app."
Remootio smart opener pricing in NZ
Remootio costs approximately $150 to $180 NZD depending on current exchange rates when you order from remootio.com. The company provides free FedEx Priority shipping to New Zealand, which takes three to six business days from order to delivery. You pay no subscription fees for app access or cloud services after your initial purchase.
5. Dominator Smartphone Kit
Dominator supplies a smartphone control kit that works specifically with their range of garage door openers already installed in thousands of NZ homes. You add this kit to your existing Dominator opener rather than replacing the entire system, which keeps your costs down while adding Wi-Fi control and monitoring. The kit includes a control module, magnetic door sensor, and access to the Dominator app. You purchase the kit directly from Dominator dealers or through their website, then install it yourself or arrange professional fitting.
How Dominator smartphone kit works
The control module connects to your Dominator opener's circuit board through dedicated smartphone kit terminals built into newer models. You control your door through the Dominator app on your phone, which sends commands through secure cloud servers to the module in your garage. The magnetic sensor tracks whether your door sits open or closed, feeding that status back to your app in real time. Push notifications alert you whenever your door moves, and you can set up scheduled automations to close your door at specific times each day.
Compatibility with NZ garage doors and installation
This smartphone kit works exclusively with Dominator tilt and sectional door openers that have the smartphone kit connector installed. Dominator added this connector to most openers manufactured after 2018, but older units need a circuit board upgrade before you can fit the kit. Installation takes roughly 20 minutes when you have a compatible opener. You mount the control module inside the opener housing, plug it into the smartphone kit port, position the door sensor on your track, and connect the module to your Wi-Fi network through the app setup wizard.
Who Dominator smartphone kit is for
You'll want this kit if you already own a recent Dominator opener and need to add smart control without changing anything else about your setup. Property managers who maintain multiple homes with Dominator systems benefit from monitoring all doors through one app dashboard.
"Keep your existing Dominator opener and add smartphone control for under $200 rather than replacing the entire system."
Dominator smartphone kit pricing in NZ
Dominator dealers sell the smartphone kit for approximately $180 to $220 depending on your location and whether you purchase it with professional installation. This price includes the control module, door sensor, mounting hardware, and lifetime access to the Dominator app with no subscription fees.
Final thoughts
You've now seen five smart garage door opener NZ options that work with existing setups or come as complete systems. The DoorsNZ smart-ready approach lets you start with a reliable opener and add Wi-Fi control when your budget allows, while retrofit controllers like Orion Grid Connect and GarageAce transform your current opener into a connected system for under $100. Remootio suits tech enthusiasts who want deep smart home integration, and Dominator's kit works perfectly if you already own their openers.
Pick your option based on what you own now and how you want to control your garage. Retrofit controllers save money when your opener works fine, while new opener packages give you warranty coverage and fresh hardware. Most installations take less than an hour, and you'll get instant access to door status alerts and remote control from anywhere. Browse DoorsNZ garage door openers to see complete opener kits that accept smart controllers, or grab a retrofit unit from your nearest hardware store this week.