Services for people from Pacific Island countries

New Zealand citizens living in the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau who visit New Zealand on a temporary basis are fully eligible for publicly funded health and disability services in New Zealand. They may have to wait for some services, and they must pay the part-charges that other New Zealanders pay.

Residents of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau who are not New Zealand citizens are not eligible for publicly-funded health and disability services in New Zealand unless they meet other eligibility criteria. Use the Guide to eligibility for public health services to assess eligibility.

Non-New Zealand citizens, including citizens of other Pacific Island countries, who are living in New Zealand or visiting on a temporary basis, must meet one of the eligibility criteria in order to access publicly funded health and disability services. Use the Guide to eligibility for public health services to assess eligibility.

Some Pacific Island countries, including Fiji, have schemes which cover the cost of treatment in other countries, including New Zealand. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) provide funding for some schemes, although they are managed by the Ministries of Health in those countries.

Information on these schemes, and eligibility, is available directly from the Ministries of Health in those countries.

Eligibility for all publicly funded health and disability services in New Zealand is determined by specific legislation (The New Zealand Public Health and Disability Services Act 2000).

Find out more about our publicly funded health and disability services.