This page lists official places to get help with public healthcare eligibility, health costs, health advice lines, complaints, your records and medicines in New Zealand. Every service here is run or funded by government or set up by law; where a service is free, its official page says so. None of it is medical advice, and we don’t recommend any insurer or plan.
Eligibility for publicly funded health and disability services (Health New Zealand)Check whether you are eligible for publicly funded healthcare, what proof to give your healthcare provider, and what is available if you don’t qualify. Changes to who is eligible take effect from 1 December 2026.www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/eligibility-subsidies/publicly-funded-healthcare
Eligibility and subsidies (Health New Zealand)Lists the government health subsidies and schemes, such as the Community Services Card, travel assistance and zero fees for children under 14.www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/eligibility-subsidies
Help with health costs
Community Services Card (Health New Zealand)Helps people and their families with health costs, such as lower cost visits to your general practice, prescription fees and after-hours visits. Work and Income assesses applications.www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/eligibility-subsidies/community-services-card
Zero fees for tamariki under 14 (Health New Zealand)All tamariki aged 13 and under who are eligible for publicly funded health services can get free doctor visits and more.www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/eligibility-subsidies/zero-fees-for-under-14s
National Travel Assistance (Health New Zealand)Helps people who are referred by a specialist and need to travel long distances, or travel often, for treatment or specialist appointments.www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/eligibility-subsidies/national-travel-assistance
Health advice by phone and online
Healthline (Health New Zealand)A free phone health service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, where you can talk to experienced nurses and paramedics about what to do next. Call 0800 611 116.www.healthnz.govt.nz/online-phone-healthcare/healthline
Rural after-hours healthcare: Ka Ora Telecare (Health New Zealand)An after-hours video and phone health service for people living in or visiting rural communities. It is free to speak to a nurse, and all appointments are free for tamariki under 14.www.healthnz.govt.nz/online-phone-healthcare/ka-ora-telecare
Where to get help for mental health (Health New Zealand)Lists helplines and services for mental health and addiction, including 1737, where you can call or text a counsellor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.www.healthnz.govt.nz/health-topics/mental-health/where-to-get-help
Your rights and complaints
Advocacy Service (Health and Disability Commissioner)A free, independent service whose advocates help you understand your rights, talk through your options and make a complaint about a health or disability service. Freephone 0800 555 050.www.hdc.org.nz/advocacy
Making a complaint (Health and Disability Commissioner)If you have concerns about a health or disability service, the options for raising them, from talking to the provider directly to making a complaint to the Commissioner.www.hdc.org.nz/making-a-complaint
Your health records and privacy
Health Information Privacy Code (Office of the Privacy Commissioner)The privacy rules for how health agencies such as doctors, pharmacists, dentists and rest homes collect, use, share and give you access to your health information, with summary factsheets.www.privacy.org.nz/privacy-principles/codes-of-practice/hipc2020
Ask for your information (Office of the Privacy Commissioner)How to ask an organisation for the personal information it holds about you. In most cases you should not be charged, and the agency must respond within 20 working days.www.privacy.org.nz/your-rights/ask-for-your-information
Medicines and their costs
Prescriptions (Health New Zealand)Explains prescription charges, including the standard $5 charge and who is exempt, such as children aged 13 and under and Community Services Card holders, and the prescription subsidy scheme.www.healthnz.govt.nz/health-topics/tests-and-treatments/medicines/prescriptions
PharmacA New Zealand Government agency. Its Pharmaceutical Schedule lists all funded medicines in New Zealand, and you can ask it to fund a medicine.www.pharmac.govt.nz
Report a problem (Medsafe)How to report a suspected side effect from a medicine or vaccine, a medicine defect or a problem with a medical device to Medsafe, the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority.www.medsafe.govt.nz/safety/report-a-problem.asp
Learn it in a session
Free one-hour Reach sessions, each with a take-home sheet for New Zealand.
How coverage works here: Public programs, insurance and what is free at the point of care, explained for the country you are in.
Finding low-cost care: Community health centers, free clinics, sliding-scale fees, and what to ask before an appointment.
Reading a medical bill: What the lines and codes mean, asking for an itemized bill, questioning errors and asking about payment help.
Your health records: Asking to see and copy your records, what the law where you live allows, and keeping them safe.
Portals and video appointments: Setting up a patient portal, joining a video appointment, and avoiding health-related scams.
Medicines and costs: Generic medicines, asking what a prescription will cost, and assistance programs where they exist.
Checked
Every link, opened.
Each page linked here was opened and checked on 20 October 2026. Services change: if a link no longer says what we describe, the official page is right. Tell us at hello@moraph.org.