It used to be that one needed to have a 4 digit PIN on one's atm card for use overseas. Do NZ and AUS machines need 4 digit pins? Also, do NZ and Aus machines accept cards with embedded 'chip' technology? I've been searching everywhere for a recent answer and come up snake eyes. Can anyone help?

I'm in Australia & mine has 4 digits.

Some merchants have chip recognition; some don't but they still accept the chipped cards.

New Zealand ATMs use 4 digits. If you use a credit card in NZ with a chip, usually that means that you need a PIN also.

Thanks Bokhara and Susan7. I will change my PIN to 4 digits. I checked and both my credit and ATM cards still have the 'stripes' which means merchants can swipe, if required, in the case of the CC, and I daresay the ATM machines will be similar - I'll be ready for whatever greets me.

Now, how to find the magic ATM machine that will pay all my trip expenses for me, with no debits from my own accounts....

haven't been in a store or cafe in Melbourne that doesn't have pin and no signature for credit cards.They also have sign ones as well.
Some criminal gangs have found skimming an ATM as a way of getting money but I know you were only joking Sue!!!

In Australia, the banks issue 4 digit PINS, but the machines will accept up to 12 digits

Australian customers can go into their own branches or use their ATM machines to change to more digits if they wish.

FYI, there are some machines in the world that accept a minimum of 6 digits and if you have a 4 digit PIN you can in most cases just put 2 leading zeroes with your PIN and it works.

I regularly use my BoA ATM card with 6-digit PIN at Westpac ATMs in Australia.