NZ Health System
New Zealand’s public healthcare system gives access to free or heavily subsidised hospital care as well as emergency treatment. In order to access public healthcare you need to be a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or be on a work visa that has a duration of two years or more. To find out if you are eligible, please click visit the
NB: The government strongly recommends that people in New Zealand who are not eligible for publicly funded health services hold comprehensive travel insurance, including health insurance.
If you qualify for free public healthcare, here is what you can expect from the country's public health system:
- free treatment at a public hospital
- reduced prescription fees
- reduced fees for visits to general practitioners (GPs) (see below about enrolling with a general practice)
- reduced fees for specialist care such as physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths when referred by a GP for an accident
- free or reduced costs for healthcare if you have a serious medical condition
- no charge for most laboratory tests and x-rays, except at privately operated clinics
- no charge for healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth, unless provided by the private medical sector
- apart from the initial consultation fee, no charge for GP referrals to a public hospital for treatment
- reduced or no fees for children under 14 years for visits to the doctor and for prescriptions
- free breast screening for women aged between 45 and 69 years
NZ residents can also choose to take up private medical insurance although many chose not to take out this additional cover.
