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students, workers & explorers going to New Zealand & travelling from New Zealand.
Answer our simple questions to get started
InsurancesafeNZ provides three different travel insurance policy categories: Studentsafe, Workersafe and Explorersafe. This means that if you’re travelling to New Zealand, travelling within New Zealand or temporarily leaving New Zealand, we have something to offer you. Use the Policy Finder to narrow your policy search and get a quote. Our website is also packed with great information on how to keep safe, how to make the most of your time abroad and how to understand your travel insurance policy better. If you need further assistance contact one of our friendly staff on our toll-free number 0800 486 004 (within NZ) or +64 9 488 1638 (outside of NZ).
A sudden medical emergency struck, a collapsed lung due to an undiagnosed cyst, Tasbiha's world was turned upside down. Tasbiha is an international PhD student studying Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Otago, she came to New Zealand to pursue her passion in science.
With her family thousands of kilometres away in Pakistan, Tasbiha faced one of the most challenging moments of her life. Thankfully, she had Studentsafe Medical and Travel Insurance when she needed it most, e
Studying in New Zealand is an adventure of a lifetime, which is why a range of unexpected bumps and accidents are covered under Studentsafe policies.
But when it comes to certain medical conditions, you may not be automatically covered. That’s why it’s important to disclose any medical conditions you want cover for.
The term “Pre-existing Medical Conditions” is commonly used when applying for insurance. This refers to your medical history and the full definition can be found on
Being in good health is key to embarking on an exciting study adventure in New Zealand.
Anyone planning to study in New Zealand for more than three months is required to apply for a student visa.
When applying for a new or to renew a visa, you may need to provide New Zealand Immigration with medical information to demonstrate an acceptable level of health.
Studentsafe policies do not cover medical costs for your visa application.
Studentsafe policies are desig
Your wellbeing is important which is why Studentsafe provides cover for medical and related expenses.
But before you make an appointment for check-ups related to your health, it’s important to understand what is and isn’t covered under your policy.
Studentsafe does not provide cover for certain medical tests listed as Exclusions under Section 1: Medical and Related Expenses as set out below:
9. Health screening, medical and dentals reviews or vaccinations.
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Staying healthy plays a vital role in making the most of your study adventure. If you have been prescribed medication and are looking to make a claim, it’s important to understand what is and isn’t covered under your policy.
Just because a certain medication has been prescribed by your doctor, it does not mean that it is automatically covered.
Studentsafe does not provide cover for certain medical tests listed as Exclusions u
Starting a new school is a big change for anyone. It’s an extra big change if your new school is also in a new country! It’s natural to feel nervous and unsure about what school in New Zealand might be like, but the good news is that most schools here are friendly, supportive environments where students of all ages are encouraged to do their best and find subjects that they are interested in.
The most common way that schools
If you’re reading this article, you’ve already made a sensible choice. If you’re in a new relationship, or thinking about starting to date, it’s important to think about how you can ensure that you and your partner stay safe when you’re having a little extra ‘fun’.
So read on to learn more about what steps you should be taking to keep safe. The consequences can range from irritating to life-threatening – and that isn’t a gamble anyone should take.
Unless you’re really into skiing, winter in New Zealand isn’t really the most exciting time of year. It’s not cold enough for there to be pretty snow falling in the cities, but it’s still cold enough that you don’t want to spend time outside unless you have to. Instead of snow, we mostly get rain and wind. It’s certainly not terrible – but it does give you a good excuse to go somewhere sunny if you have the time and budge
Adjusting to a new workplace comes with challenges wherever you are in the world – and if you're in a new country as well as a new workplace, those changes can be even more extreme. New Zealand culture is quite friendly and informal, and this extends to many workplaces. But it can be difficult at times to understand where the limit is – how casual is too casual and what will make you look unprofessional? How formal is too formal and what will make you look too unapproachable?
Some of
A healthy worker is a more productive worker. It seems like an obvious statement to make, but in today’s working world, many workers feel that they have keep pushing and pushing to get results – even at the expense of their health and wellbeing. Workplaces need to be more supportive of their staff to make sure that they feel they are able to take time to get healthy if they are unwell, or to express their concerns if they are overburdened with stress.
In some ways many may find New Zealand airports easier to understand and less stressful than other airports. Our customs agents aren’t armed, and they tend to be friendly unless you give them reason not to be. The airports themselves aren’t huge multi-terminal places where you can get lost just trying to find the right place to check-in.
But in other ways, they can seem very strict for people not familiar with New Zealand and our unique place in the world. Our biosecurity rules in par
Every city has its secrets. When you live somewhere it can be very easy to get caught up in your day-to-day activities and forget about the beauty that surrounds you. However, while travelling it is a completely different story; you’re there to create memories and explore every corner
Flatting doesn’t have to be expensive. There are a number of ways you can set up a flat on a budget without losing out on quality and the occasional treat. To make sure that you get the best experience possible no matter what your income may be, we’ve brought together a few of our favourite tips and t
When you’re planning adventures overseas, there’s so much excitement that it can be easy to forget about the parts of travel that are a little less glamorous. Organising travel insurance may not be as thrilling as planning your routes and researching the major attraction
You’ve booked your flights and accommodation, bought your travel insurance, taken time off work and are just about ready to take off on your holiday!
Regardless of whether you’re a frequent flier or
For many people, the shift from university study to the working world is one of the biggest changes they will ever experience. Life until that point is focused on formal education – sitting in class, doing homework, taking notes… and then all of a sudden, it’s time to step out into
Graduating is an exciting process – it’s time to celebrate the years you’ve spent working hard towards getting your degree! But then it’s time to become a fully-fledged grown-up contributing your part to society.
Everyone has something to offer
Whe
Relocating to a new country for work is hugely exciting. Getting a new job and home and navigating new cultures, practices and languages is an immersive experience and can be incredibly consuming.
An “out with the old, in with the new” approach can be tempting – after all, you’re making a
Your Duty of Disclosure
When you apply for insurance cover, you are required by law to provide complete and up-to-date risk-relevant information – this is sometimes called disclosure of material facts. You must also disc
In general, the younger your children are the easier it will be for them to pick u
For many of us, our pets are part of the family. For expats intending to move overseas with their pet, planning and research before the move is essential. It is crucial to ensure the welfare of your beloved pet during and after transit, and that regulation surrounding the importation and exportation of pets is complied with.
Research animal import regulations for your new country of residence, to determine what conditions must be met for your pet to be allowed en
Reverse culture shock refers to the difficulty sometimes experienced when returning to your home country after studying abroad, and it is a common phenomenon among many international students today. It can result in unexpected difficulty in readjusting to the culture and values of your home country, now that the previou
There is a wide variety of scams that, unfortunately, are specifically targeted at international students preying on the vulnerability of living independently in a foreign country. International students are unaware of the normal local protocols and processes in place, making it hard to spot and identify any scam. Whether you are just starting university or wrapping up a master's, it is more important than ever for you to be cyber conscious.
Scammers are never going to go away, so i
For many people, the shift from university study to the working world is one of the biggest changes they will ever experience. Life until that point is focused on formal education – sitting in class, doing homework, taking notes… and then all of a sudden, it’s time to step out into the working world and take your place.
This kind of big change means there are lots of things to think about in order to live your best life and ensure that you can put your efforts into your work – and get plenty of benefits from your hard work in return. So whether you’ve already studied abroad in New Zealand and now you’re working here, or if you’re heading to New Zealand shores specifically to work, we have brought together some tips on how to work well in New Zealand – so that you and your employer will both be glad you’re here!
Big decisions
When it comes to looking for a job in New Zealand, you will need to think about where you want to live – and where the jobs are in your field. Some industries are very focused around different locations, so you may need to do some research around where you will be most likely to find a job.
As New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland offers the widest range of vacancies – but the cost of living is also substantially more expensive than elsewhere in the country. You’ll need to decide what factors are most important to you, and create your New Zealand working plans from there.
Making sure you’re prepared
An important part of seeking work in any country is ensuring that you have the correct visa in place. For young people heading into New Zealand, usually you’ll be coming on a post- study work visa (for those who have also studied in New Zealand) or on a working holiday visa. You can get more information on which visa you’re eligible for – and what each type permits you to do – on the New Zealand Immigration website.
Job seeking in New Zealand
Before you start looking at possible job opportunities you will want to make sure that you have an up-to-date curriculum vitae or CV. You may be familiar with the alternative name ‘resumé’ – but whatever you call it, it’s a very important part of getting off to a good start when finding the perfect Kiwi job for you.
A CV in New Zealand may be quite different to what you’ve put together back home but luckily there are resources available to help you create the perfect document to make the best first impression possible. Try the Careers NZ website, and if English isn’t your first language, it may be a good idea to find a helpful friend to check over your writing for any mistakes.
Once you’ve got a CV that you’re proud of and that you feel represents you as a worker you can look into different opportunities that may be available. For people at any stage in their career Seek and TradeMe Jobs are popular websites to use to see what vacancies are available across all kinds of different industries and trades.
If you work in a more specialised field there may be other places that are worth looking into. The New Zealand Government’s New Zealand Now website has lots of useful links to look at if you work in industries such as healthcare, education or engineering.
Finding a place to call home
If everything works out the way that you hope and you find the perfect job, congratulations! If you haven’t already organised housing, you’re certainly going to need to do so now. There are many factors to consider when looking for a home, but these are the two really important ones to think about.
Location. Consider where your workplace is and how you’re going to get there. If you work in the middle of Auckland many locations will be easily accessible by public transport – but you’ll have to consider the time it may take to get all the way into the city from some of the more affordable areas. A forty-minute commute in each direction can quickly make your work day a whole lot longer! An inner city apartment may suit you best if you don’t like commuting – but it will come at a price.
Size and set-up. Are you looking to live by yourself or with flatmates? Living with other people can be a great experience giving you a chance to get to know some people while usually paying less for rent than you would if you lived by yourself. However, there are also reasons to look for a flat to call your own – perhaps you work shifts and keep unusual sleeping schedules or you just like some peace and quiet when you get home. Think about what you need from your home life and make decisions from there.
Working in New Zealand
Much like the fact that CVs are a little different in New Zealand than in other places, working also has its differences compared to other nations. New Zealanders are usually a friendly group of people and it’s common for each week to start up with a conversation among colleagues about how everyone’s weekend has been. Don’t be afraid to share your own stories – people love to get to know the people that they work with. After all, you’ll usually be spending 40 hours a week with them so it’s important to have a friendly relationship.
Businesses in New Zealand tend to be reasonably small compared with other countries. The average Kiwi firm has 13.7 employees – half that of the average firm in the USA. Smaller businesses often mean more opportunities. There are fewer levels between new recruits and senior staff members, giving you a chance to really get ahead in your career if you show your passion and initiative. New Zealanders are very proud of their ‘Kiwi ingenuity’ and that applies to work in a business just as much as it does out on a farm. Working for a smaller company means you’ll need to be more flexible because there will generally be less specialisation giving you a chance to show just how well you can work as part of your team.
Workplace diversity
New Zealand is an incredibly diverse country. Auckland has the largest population of Pacific Island people of any city in the world and growing relationships with Asia mean that we have a large population of immigrants from places like China, Korea and India. What this means for the workplace is that not only will you have New Zealand culture to come to terms with, you may also find yourself learning a lot about other cultures too!
New Zealand’s traditional Māori culture is also a deeply engrained part of some aspects of Kiwi life. If you’ve already studied at a New Zealand university or tertiary institution you may have already experienced Māori culture through a pōwhiri or welcoming ceremony at the start of your studies. Depending on your work environment you may pick up a little te reo Māori – the Māori language. Some words and phrases such as ‘kia ora’ (hello) and ‘whānau’ (family) are increasingly used by New Zealanders of all kinds of backgrounds, so brush up on your language skills and people will appreciate that you’ve put in the effort!
Work/life balance
While working hard is very important here in New Zealand it’s equally important to have your own time to yourself. People who can go home happy and come back to work reinvigorated are always going to make the best employees so don’t be afraid to make use of holiday leave you have owing.
Full time employees in New Zealand are entitled to four weeks of paid Annual Leave. Sometimes this will be built up through the year and at other companies the amount may be made available a year after your start date. However, many workplaces are willing to be flexible even if you haven’t quite hit that first anniversary yet – so if a chance arises to take a trip after you’ve been there nine months, it’s worth asking for the leave! If you’ve been a good worker, your management team might be happy to let you take leave in advance.
Ultimately, much of Kiwi working culture comes down to two main principles: work hard and respect others. Easy! You’ll be fitting in before you know it.
InsurancesafeNZ Medical and Travel Insurance is issued and managed by AWP Services New Zealand Limited trading as Allianz Partners (NZBN 9429035270157) under binder with and on behalf of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited (NZBN 9429039809810, FSP Number 20661) (Incorporated in Japan) as the underwriter.
You should read the Policy Wording and consider obtaining independent legal or financial advice before making any decisions about this insurance. Terms, conditions, limits, sub-limits and exclusions apply.
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited - Financial Strength Rating.
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited has a financial strength rating of A+ (Stable) given by S&P Global Ratings. The S&P Global rating scale* in summary form is:
The rating may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
Further information on the S&P Global ratings is available here: https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/products-benefits/products/financial-strength-rating.
