🇳🇿 New Zealand · Healthcare

How the New Zealand healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.

New Zealand has a publicly funded health system (Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora) that covers citizens, permanent residents and people on work visas valid for two years or more; eligible residents get free or subsidised public hospital and many primary-care services. Everyone in New Zealand — including visitors — is covered by ACC for treatment of accidental injuries. Others should hold health insurance.

  • The public system (Health NZ / Te Whatu Ora) covers citizens, PRs and 2-year+ work-visa holders.
  • ACC covers everyone (including visitors) for treatment of accidental injuries.
  • Those not eligible for public care should hold health insurance.

Official authorities

Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.

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