By Brett Corlett | Soft Landing Podcast – Episode 9
Introduction
When you immigrate to New Zealand, you leave behind your old life and step into a completely new environment that can be overwhelming. One of the biggest concerns people face is understanding and accessing healthcare. In this post, I want to share my personal journey navigating the New Zealand healthcare system , the ups, the downs, and everything in between. This is not expert advice, just a real-world guide based on what worked for my family and me.
My Background and Medical History
In 2019, back in South Africa, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It was a complete shock. I considered myself healthy, active, no smoking, very little alcohol, gym, cycling. That experience not only changed my health, it changed my perspective. Family became my priority, and that shift played a big role in our decision to move to New Zealand.
Registering with a GP – Your First Step
Your GP is your gateway to the New Zealand public healthcare system. When you arrive and settle in your area, make it a priority to register with a local GP. This gives you an NHI (National Health Index) number, which you’ll use for all healthcare services. Registration is mostly online and involves submitting your visa, proof of address, and ID.
What’s Covered and What’s Not
Children Under 14 – Great News
Once registered, children under 14 can visit the GP at no charge. That’s a big help, especially during those early months when you’re just getting on your feet.
Dental and Optometry
Dental care isn’t covered for adults, but children under 18 can access free basic dental care once registered. Optometry and glasses are not covered either, unless you have private insurance.
Medication and Scripts
Most common medications are subsidized. You’ll usually pay a $5 fee per prescription. But some medications, and all dental work for adults, aren’t covered and may require private insurance or out-of-pocket payment.
Specialist Care – Going Through Your GP
You can’t book a specialist directly. You must first see your GP, who refers you to a public or private specialist. Public referrals can take weeks or months. Private specialists are faster, but more expensive unless you have insurance.
Private Medical Insurance
We use Southern Cross. It’s helped cover dental, optometry, and private specialist costs. If you have pre-existing conditions (like I did with cancer), expect a waiting period, ours was 3 years before full coverage kicked in.
Blood Tests and Results
Blood tests are free and ordered digitally by your doctor. You visit a lab, they draw blood, and results go straight to your doctor and show up in your patient app.
Using ACC – Accident Coverage
ACC is a government-funded accident compensation scheme. It covers injuries from accidents at work, school, or even the gym. We’ve used it for my son’s playground injury and for my gym-related knee issue. It works well.
Prepare Before You Arrive
We brought three months’ worth of prescribed medication from our doctor in South Africa. That buffer really helped in the early months while we were settling in and figuring out the system.
Key Tips and Takeaways
✅ Do This First
– Register with a GP near your rental
– Ensure you meet the criteria for state-funded care
– Register kids under 18 for dental separately
– Locate your nearest emergency clinic or hospital
– Understand your visa’s healthcare entitlements
💡 Bonus Tips
– Bring your own medication and prescriptions for the first 3 months
– Use the patient apps to track appointments, results, and history
– Speak up, Kiwi GPs tend to under-prescribe
– Don’t assume everything is covered, check first
I hope this guide helps you better understand how to get started with healthcare in New Zealand. It’s not perfect, but it does work and you’ll get used to it quickly. If you’ve found this helpful, please share it with others.
🎧 Listen to Episode 9 – Navigating the New Zealand Healthcare System
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