students, workers & explorers going to New Zealand & travelling from New Zealand.
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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).
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
Keeping mentally well is important to make the most of your study adventure.
While studying away from home is an exciting life experience, there are times you may feel overwhelmed or experience loneliness, stress, anxiety and depression.
During these challenging times, it’s important to recognise the pressures you may be under, whether it’s adjusting to a new environment or the added load of assignments and exams.
If you need professional help, you can feel assured knowi
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.
Any new culture will have customs that you will start to learn very quickly as soon as you arrive! To give you a head start on your time in New Zealand, we’ve got a few key bits of information about Kiwi culture – and a whole lot of detail about speaking like a local!
When you’re walking the streets of New Zealand – or even when you’re still at the airport and navigating escalators – it’s good to remember that we drive on the left, not the righ
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
Everyone experiences periods of stress in certain situations – perhaps exams are coming up, or you’ve spent a little more than you intended to at dinner and pay day is still a couple of days away. That’s a normal part of life, and most of the time, it goes away fairly quickly when the source of the stress comes and goes. You pass your exam, you check your bank account and ther
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.
Ask any adult what their student years were like, and there will almost always be two things that everyone has in common – lots of fun, and hardly any money! But if you’re new to a city or even a country, it can be hard to know where to begin when it comes to finding social activities that you can do on a student budget.
To help you out, we’ve rounded up some of our top tips for free and cheap things to do in New Zealand’s main student cities and towns to get you started!
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 away from your family and community that feeling of homesickness can feel very overwhelming. Making friends and keeping busy are the easiest ways to prevent homesickness – but you need to put the effort in. If you sit at your computer looking over your soci
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
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
No matter where you go in the world, someone will tell you to keep safe and often there’s a good reason for it. When travelling or moving somewhere new it can be tempting to step outside of your comfort zone and give everything a go. While this is a great attitude it’s important to explore your new surrou
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
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
Moving to a new country for work can be extremely challenging. Expatriates must navigate new languages, currencies, social practices and workplace cultures and also leave behind their families, friends and support networks which can be an extremely isolating experience. As an adult, making true, dependable friends can be difficult and many people who relocate for work can find themselves lonely and disconnected from their communities and those around them.
Considering how compact modern day life is with many people living in apartment buildings, townhouses and close together in residential streets your neighbours are a great place to start when developing your social networks. After all, they usually only live a few metres away! Our lives are often so busy we don't get to connect with the people who live close to us. This is especially true in big cities where everyone comes and goes at different times and new neighbours move in and out often.
Before the internet and social media took over much of our socialising many people were extremely close with their neighbours. These days our modern, ever-changing society means life is divided for many of us. While we’re able to keep in touch with friends and family worldwide with a click of a mouse many of us don’t know or interact with those living closest to us.
Why be neighbourly?
Research has shown that getting to know your neighbours can help reduce many social issues affecting communities today such as social isolation, depression and substance abuse. For expatriates it’s even more important as moving to a new country often means leaving behind your support networks and making huge changes to your lifestyle.
Getting to know your neighbours is a great way to connect with your community and develop your sense of place, belonging and shared identity in your local area. Knowing your neighbours will help you to feel safe and “at home”, strengthen connections, build trust in your community and contribute to a happier neighbourhood for everyone.
If you need a favour or help during an event like a natural disaster your neighbours are closest so it makes sense that they will be your first point of contact. Knowing your neighbours and having their support makes for a more positive experience when you’re at home. They are also a great resource to have close by when you need help, support or just a friendly chat.
Connecting with your neighbours makes neighbourhoods more friendly, fun and safe, enhancing the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities within them. The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand is a charity that works towards creating a society where everyone enjoys positive mental health and wellbeing. Its research shows that getting to know your neighbours impacts extremely positively on an individual’s mental health and social connectedness. It also helps communities to feel safer and increases resilience.
“We can all make an effort to connect with our local communities,” says Mental Health Foundation Chief Executive Judi Clements. “Connected communities aren’t just stronger and more resilient; they’re healthier – mentally and physically.”
Taking the first step
So how do you get to know your neighbours? You don't have to make big gestures – small things can make a difference too. While it might seem daunting getting to know your neighbours, just start with taking the first step – saying hello. It might take a bit of confidence but the benefits will definitely pay off and the more you connect with people, the easier it becomes!
Here are some ideas to help get you started:
As you can see, there are plenty of things you can to do make an initial connection with your neighbours. “The important thing is that you get out and say hello, whether that means meeting them for the first time or getting to know them better” says Neighbours Day Aotearoa project manager Ashlee Gross. “Feedback from previous Neighbours Day events has shown us that once people take the initial step, they are likely to continue connecting with their neighbours.”
People who practice neighbourliness year round contribute to stronger, healthier and more resilient communities and feel happier and healthier within them. Once you’ve met your neighbours, fostering the connection is easy.
You can invite them over for a hot drink or a meal (especially fun if you can share a delicious recipe from home!). You can also do things like organise a walking group or book club for your street. Do your neighbours have pets? How about organising a dog’s day out at the beach or a walk to your local park, walkway or waterfront? When the weather is nice, picnics, games and sports at your local park are a great way to get outside and enjoy each other’s company. Organising play dates for kids are fun for little ones and adults alike! Street parties and BBQs are also a great way to meet neighbours a little further afield and share something delicious.
No matter where you live; an apartment, a town house, in a residential suburb or rurally, your neighbours are a great resource and you can be a great resource to them too! It might seem strange getting to know them at first, but once you’ve connected with your neighbours you’ll find your home environment a much more comfortable and happy place to be. Getting to know your neighbours will help you become more familiar with your local area – they’ll be able to share tips and insights into living well in your community and getting the most from the area, like where to get the best coffee or which playgrounds are best for kids.