Your first contact with our health system will probably be a visit to your GP, or general practitioner - we also often call them “family doctors”. You can find names, phone numbers and addresses for the doctors in your area in the front of the telephone book. It’s easy to register with a doctor – just provide your personal details such as name, address and age. And if you have medical records from your country, provide those too.
In New Zealand your family doctor is the first person you visit if you have a medical problem. You go to hospital for emergencies or if your doctor has referred you there.
Dentists are listed in the Yellow Pages of the telephone book. Children receive free dental checks at school. But most families also register with a dentist privately.
There are also private medical facilities available in New Zealand. You normally pay for these through medical insurance.
Read the health section of Living in New Zealand: a Guide for Migrants for comprehensive information about the services available to residents.
