Category

Eligibility criteria requirements

Services provided

New Zealand citizen

New Zealand citizens (including those living in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau who visit New Zealand  on a temporary basis and those born in New Zealand).

All services

Resident in New Zealand

New Zealand permanent residents.

All services

Work Permit Holders

Hold a current work permit which, together with the time the person has already been in New Zealand lawfully, allows for a continuous stay of at least two years.

All services

Australians resident in New Zealand

An Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia who can demonstrate an intention to remain in New Zealand for two years or more.

All services

Overseas students funded by Official Development Assistance Programme

Students funded by the NZAID ODA programme; their partners, and their children under the age of 18 years.

All services

Commonwealth Scholarship students

Students funded by New Zealand universities or NZAID as a postgraduate Commonwealth Scholarship holder.

All services

Foreign Language Teaching Assistants Scheme

Teachers funded by the Ministry of Education's Foreign Language teaching Assistantship Scheme. 

All services

Refugees and applicant refugees

Eligible with proof of refugee/applicant refugee status.

All services

Australian resident on a temporary visit to New Zealand

Hold an Australian passport and have Australian residency.

'Immediately necessary medical treatment' as specified in the New Zealand/Australia Reciprocal Health Agreement 

United Kingdom citizens who are living in the UK and who visit New Zealand on a temporary basis

Hold a United Kingdom passport and be a UK national

Urgent medical treatment as specified in the New Zealand/UK Reciprocal Health Agreement

Children in the care and control of an eligible person

The parent or legal guardian must be eligible as a citizen, resident, Australian,student or visitor and the child(ren) must be lawfully present in New Zealand and be under the age of 18 years. Eligible work permit holders can pass on eligibility to dependant child(ren) 19 years of age and under.

All services

Persons receiving compulsory treatment Compulsory treatment under any of the Tuberculosis Act 1948, Health Act 1956, Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966, and the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992

Only eligible for specified services under the appropriate Act

Prison inmate or individual on remand in prison custody

Passport and/or permit status not relevant. Length of stay not relevant.

Only eligible for services not provided by the prison health system

People who suffer injury through an accident in New Zealand

Injury must happen in New Zealand and be accepted by ACC as falling under the ACC legislation. Level of assistance depends on the type of injury/treatment required.

Accident-related personal health services for a specified injury. May have some ability to receive assistance directly from ACC for other services

Individuals eligible under previous Direction who retain eligibility

Category Eligibility criteria requirements.

All services provided

Student or visitor permit holder eligible under 2000 Eligibility Direction

At 30 October 2003: 

holds a current student or visitor permit which, together with the time the person has already been in New Zealand lawfully, allows for a continuous stay of at least two years; or

holds a student permit of at least 12 months and evidence of enrolment on an New Zealand course of study of at least two years; and is granted consecutive visas to remain or re-enter New Zealand; and 

has been granted consecutive permits to remain or re-enter New Zealand

All services