About the New Zealand public healthcare system
New Zealand’s public healthcare system provides high-quality healthcare to people who are eligible for publicly funded healthcare, often at low cost or free of charge.
If you need emergency medical help or acute care, it will be provided through the public healthcare system. Whether this care is publicly funded depends on your eligibility.
Accidents and injuries are covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), a government agency which acts as a no-fault personal injury insurer.
Non-emergency health conditions are classified as ‘elective’ treatments. This means you’ll go through an assessment process to find out if you qualify for treatment, and in most cases, you’ll go on a waiting list to receive treatment. This is why some New Zealanders choose to get private health insurance.
Common elective treatments include hip or knee replacements, heart surgery, hysterectomy, cataract removal, cancerous tumour removal and diagnostic services such as endoscopy, laparoscopy, MRI scans, tonsillectomy, and grommets surgery.
