If anything goes wrong with your flights or health when you’re in New Zealand, it’ll become costly very quickly - the right travel insurance is a must.
You need worldwide travel insurance, but the exact policy depends on how you plan to spend your time in New Zealand.
If you’re going to do any extreme sports, for example, you’ll need to check policies to what's included and take out additional protection if you need it.
But even before you travel, it’s best to get your policy early. If the airline goes into administration, or you can’t travel for health reasons (excluding pre-existing conditions), you’ll be covered.
If you’ve got more trips planned this year, annual multi-trip insurance will probably work out cheaper than taking out multiple single-trip policies - compare policies to see if you can save.
If you decide to extend your stay, or have a longer trip planned, check how many consecutive days you’ll be covered for on a policy.
Some single-trip policies will cover you for up to and including 62 days. If you’re staying for longer, or backpacking, you’ll probably need to take out annual cover.
New Zealand has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK provided by the Accident Compensation Corporation. It means that UK citizens, on a short-term visit to the country, will receive the same healthcare as New Zealand citizens.
You’ll be able to access emergency healthcare, for example, if you need to go to A&E, and see a GP.
It won’t include treatment for existing illnesses unless they get significantly worse whilst you’re in New Zealand. You’ll need to make sure you have adequate medical cover for any other healthcare costs.
The flight to New Zealand is long, with at least one stop for refuelling. Any delays or cancellations could prove costly, especially if you miss a connecting flight - consider taking out cover in case.
The amount of cover you can get varies between policies, so check that you’ve got enough cover for your possessions, and what excess you’ll have to pay.
If you’ve got any activities in mind check policies for exclusions - you might need to take out additional cover.
You’ll need to tell your insurer if you’re planning on a working holiday. There are specialist policies available too if a standard insurer won’t cover you - whether they’ll cover you or not might depend on your occupation.
Make sure you’ve got a work or resident visa that lets you earn money during your stay in New Zealand. New Zealand Immigration explains the visas you can get to work in New Zealand.
If you don’t plan to work in New Zealand, as a British passport holder you won’t need to apply for a visa to visit the country. Provided you have a return/onward ticket, you can stay for up to six months.
Starting from 1 October 2019, most visitors to New Zealand will need to request an NZETA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) to gain access to the country. For British citizens, the authority means you can stay for up to six months.
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