Excuse me, is the signal in New Zealand poor? Has anyone ever been in my situation?

New Zealand is a developed country after all. . . The signal won't be that weak. . .

If you choose an ip calling card, it may be that the calling card company is of poor quality. What are the voice prompts after the call?

As for sending him a text message with a domestic mobile phone, he may not receive it. Often encountered.

But it doesn't rule out that he lied. . It's best to listen to the voice prompt on your mobile phone after the call. Also, try to dial directly from the landline. Unless he is turned off or on the phone, it is impossible to dial directly.