Treatment abroad: New Zealand 

New Zealand, renowned for its pristine landscapes and Maori culture, is emerging as a sought-after destination for medical tourism, offering top-notch healthcare services in fields such as orthopaedics, cardiology, and oncology amidst a backdrop of natural beauty and warm hospitality.

New Zealand is an island country, made up of two large islands known as “North Island” and “South Island”, surrounded by numerous smaller islands.

Private healthcare in New Zealand is of a high standard, with costs around 30% cheaper than in the US, with many medical tourism agencies and private hospitals offering surgery packages including flights, treatment, aftercare and accommodation.

The Commonwealth Fund (USA) has consistently ranked New Zealand as having one of the best health care systems in the world.

The hospitals in New Zealandhave the latest equipment in the medical industry, and most specialistshave received training from the top medical schools in the world.

Why choose New Zealand for treatment

Tourism is constantly growing and in recent years international medical patients have been travelling to New Zealand to take advantage of competitively priced private medical treatments in the country’s leading private hospitals. New Zealand has a well advanced medical profession with highly skilled doctors and surgeons, often training in the US, Australia or Europe. International patients can take advantage of an extensive range of surgical operations and medical procedures, like CT and MRI scans, infertility treatment, elective, as well as cosmetic surgery.

The country’s small population (approximately four million) means a smaller economy and a favourable exchange rate enables first class surgery and treatments to be available at lower prices. New Zealand has a well run public health system and its private hospitals are available for patients for non-acute treatments and procedures done privately (through private health insurance, or self-payment).

Private healthcare prices are good in New Zealand, with many medical tourism agencies and private hospitals offering surgery packages (medical holidays)including flights, treatment, aftercare and accommodation.

New Zealand has mild temperatures and the average temperature drops the further south you travel. The north of New Zealand is subtropical and the south is more temperate. The islands experience a fair bit of rain but also plenty of sunshine and the weather can change quickly due to cold fronts or tropical cyclones. The warmest months are December, January and February, and the coldest June, July and August. Average maximum temperatures in summer range between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius and in winter between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius.

English is the national language but many place names are Maori inspired and Te Reo Maori is New Zealand’s second official language. In short, New Zealand offers great value medical holidaysin a stunning environment.

Reasons to choose New Zealand

One of the best healthcare systems in the world

Prices 30% less than the United States

Wide range of treatment including fertility

Hospitals have cutting edge medical equipment

English speaking staff

Incredible scenery famous worldwide

Surgery in New Zealand: Doctor accreditation and qualifications

Medical training in New Zealand is rigorous and of a high quality. The primary qualification to practice as a doctor is a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, (MbcHB), which is equivalent to an MD degree in the US. Specialist qualifications relate to the college that governs them so if a New Zealand surgeon qualified in England they will have a specialist qualification or fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons(FRCS) or theRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons(FRACS) if they qualified in New Zealand or Australia.

Surgery training is undertaken at theRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons, which is accredited by theAustralian Medical Counciland lasts for six years. Prior to committing to surgery in New Zealand check that the Surgeon has the initials; FRACS after his/her name which is the training/qualification recognised by theMedical Council of New Zealand.

FRACS means a Fellow of theRoyal Australasian College of Surgeonsand is the recognised specialist qualification for a surgeon to perform safe, reputable and ethical surgery throughout New Zealand and Australia. It indicates that the minimum of six years of advanced surgical training has been undertaken, post basic medical degree.

You can check a doctor or a cosmetic surgeon’s credentials with theMedical Council of New Zealand, theNew Zealand Foundation for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery(NZFCPS) the surgeon’s office, as well as theRoyal Australasian College of Surgeonswebsite. The New Zealand Foundation for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery has published A Consumer’s Guide to Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in New Zealand – see their website for more details.Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealandis the standards and performance assessment agency.

New Zealand’s Plastic Surgeons haven’t gained an excellent reputation for nothing – it takes around 15 years to qualify; six years spent on the general medical training, two to three years in pre-specialist training plus five years of specialist surgical training, with quite often a further two years of international training. Plastic Surgeons may be members of theNew Zealand Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons(NZAPS) and/or theAustralian Society of Plastic Surgeons(ASPS).

Professional bodies for surgeons include theNew Zealand Association of General Surgeons(NZAGS) and theNew Zealand Orthopaedic Association(NZOA).

Dentists study for a BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) at a reputable medical school and the basic dental degree takes five years. Most dentistry graduates enter general practice on their own or in association with others, and undertake postgraduate clinical qualifications before entering specialist practice.The Dental Council of New Zealandis the regulatory body for the dental profession, appointed by the Ministry of Health and the council lists theprescribed qualificationswhich dentists need in order to register as a dental specialist.The New Zealand Dental Associationis the professional association for dentists in New Zealand.

Before committing to treatment compare services, treatments, costs and credentials of a handful of providers and read some patient testimonials. Check out the medical team’s credentials and qualifications with theNew Zealand Medical Council(all doctors and surgeons must be registered with the council) and find out all you can about a hospital and any international accreditations. Ask about mortality rates, success rates, infection rates and arrangements for follow-up care.

Travel and accommodation in New Zealand

The city of Auckland is located on the north island and is the busiest entry point into New Zealand, along with two other major international airports at Wellington (located south-west of the north island) and Christchurch on the south island. Smaller airports are also located at Hamilton, Queenstown, Dunedin and Palmerston North.

Auckland International Airportis situated 20km south of the city (around 60 minutes to the centre of town by public transport) and is New Zealand’s largest and busiest airport, Wellington International Airportis located 8km from the city centre (around 30 minutes to the centre of town) andChristchurch International Airportis located 11km from the city centre (about quarter of an hour from the centre). There are buses, shuttles and taxis at each of the airports, with free buses between the international and domestic airports at Auckland.

The most expensive time for travel to New Zealand is in their summer months (between December and February) when flight prices will be at their premium. In the low season (winter months) you will probably find that fares are almost fifty percent cheaper, but they may have restrictions, so always read the small print.

Getting to New Zealand from the US, the Americas and Australasia

The national airlineAir New Zealandhas an excellent international network (direct flights and code-share flights) with over 100 countries across the globe. BothAir New ZealandandQantastravel to New Zealand from the US (mostly from the west coast) and Aerolineas Argentinaflies direct from Buenos Aires to Auckland.

Cathay Pacific,Emirates,Singapore Airlines,Malaysia Airlines,Japan AirlinesandKorean Airflies between major Asian hubs and Australia into the major New Zealand airports. The flight time to New Zealand from the east coast of Australia is around three hours and approximately 10 hours from Asian cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Freedom Air and Freedom Air International (the low cost airlines from Air New Zealand) also fly between Australia and New Zealand with budget airfares.

Getting to New Zealand from the UK and Europe

Airlines flying from the UK includeQantas,Cathay Pacific,Air New Zealand,Emirates,Singapore Airlines,Malaysia Airlines,Thai Airways,Royal Brunei, andKorean AirThe flying time from the UK to Auckland is around 25 hours via Asia, and the journey time is longer via the US, adding on another two hours. With an average flight of 25 hours from Europe to New Zealand it is wise to consider a stop-over to break up your journey and reduce the dehydrating effects of flying, and jet lag.

Getting around New Zealand

New Zealand isn’t called the long white cloud for nothing, and the size and shape of the island means that traversing it can be quite lengthy so many visitors opt for domestic flights. Air New ZealandandQantashave extensive national networks and daily domestic connections from Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. The smaller companies;Sounds AirandAir2therefly domestic routes from Wellington.

If you would like to sit back and enjoy the views, there are many scenic coach tours on offer and an excellentIntercitycoach network. There are also some pretty scenic train routes to consider.Tranzscenictrains journeys travel around the coast (Christchurch, through Kaikoura to Picton), the Southern Alps (between Christchurch and Greymouth) and overland from Wellington and Auckland.

The roads are excellent in New Zealand and driving is highly recommended to choose where and what you want to see, and take in some spectacular views and fascinating landscapes along the way. Car rental companies are at the airports, and in cities and towns. Ferries operate between the north and south islands withInterislanderand the Cook Strait ferry,Bluebridge, from Wellington on the north island to Picton on the south island. Public transport is efficient in towns, village and cities.

All visitors need a passport to enter New Zealand (valid for at least three months). UK, Irish, US, Canadian and Australian citizens do not require a visa. Check with the New Zealand Embassy or Consular Office about individual country visa requirements and duration allowances.

In terms of accommodation, New Zealand has plenty to offer the visitor from boutique hotels and cosy motels to traditional farm or home-stays and beach homes. Since the tourism department introduced the Qualmark system you can look out for their official sign of quality and be assured of what quality accommodation to expect, for example, one Qualmark star means acceptable, and five stars means that the hotel is of exceptional quality.

New Zealand farm-stays are a great way to get a feel for the country and many families in New Zealand open their homes to offer tourists a unique style of B&B accommodation. Hotel prices vary, and there are always late deals to take advantage of. A room in a hip hotel in Auckland for example will cost around NZ$125 (circa €75), and a bed and breakfast home-stay style accommodation in the geothermal city of Rotorua from NZ$80 (circa €48).

The currency is the New Zealand dollar, made up of dollars and cents. NZ$1 is equal to approximately €0.6.

The country code for New Zealand is + 64 and the time: GMT + 12 (or +13 between April and September).

New Zealand: Country overview

Located in the Southern Hemisphere, south-east of Australia, New Zealand’s total size is slightly less than the surface of Colorado in the US. The country comprises the North and South Island. According to Maori legend the north Island was named after a fish caught by demi-god, Maui, and the south island after the canoe he was sitting in when he caught it.

New Zealand is perhaps most known internationally for its high-performing rugby team, the All Blacks, and their inimitable pre-game war-dance – the Haka – and the stunning and breathtaking scenery of New Zealand has been brought to living rooms around the globe with The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

This beautiful country offers plenty of sight-seeing diversions for the visitor and every kind of activity is available, from whale and dolphin spotting to jet-boating or sky-diving. Known as the Land of the Long White Cloud because of its long, thin shape New Zealand could also be called the land of adventures. The lakeside town of Queenstown on the south island attracts thousands of visitors each year for the very latest in adrenalin-pumping adventure sports like canyon swinging or heli-skiing.

There are five major cities – Wellington (the capital city located in the south-western tip of the north island), Auckland (North Island), Christchurch (south island), Queenstown (south island) and Dunedin (south island). Both of the islands have extensive mountain ranges, rivers and national parks and in the snow season visitors can ski or snowboard, and in the summer enjoy endless miles of stunning sandy beaches – perfect for surfing, boogie boarding or horse-riding.

Latte-drinking urbanites will enjoy the cosmopolitan cities of Wellington and Auckland, especially as Wellington is believed to have more cafes per capita than New York City, and is the county’s cultural as well as political capital. Auckland (New Zealand’s largest city) is known as the city of sails due to its stunning waterside location.

Wine buffs can tour some of the islands’ award-winning wineries to sample the internationally-acclaimed New Zealand grape and cuisine, and those in search of natural spa healing should visit the geothermal city of Rotoruain the North Island to soak in hot mineral pools and learn more about the fascinating Maori culture.

Tourism is a burgeoning industry, and in recent years New Zealand has been attracting international patients to take advantage of competitively priced private medical treatments in first class hospitals and combining their treatments withmedical holidaysin this dream destination.