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).
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
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
When you’re studying most of your time is spent with people on courses similar to yours who are generally of a similar age and experience. In the workplace you will most likely come into contact with a much wider group of people. Some may not have qualifications but have been in the industry for many years and know everything about the business from the inside out. Others may have extensive professional and academic experience but have never worked in the industry.
Take the time to observe and see how people in the workplace interact with each other. You may find that those older than you work in a different way than you. And if you work for a large company there may be geographical differences between you and your colleagues which can require changes to how you interact and get the most valuable information from them. Everyone in an organisation tends to have something to offer, it just may require taking a step backwards and the time to get to know someone in a different way.
9 to 5
The first couple of months can be hard as you adjust to a full day of working. No longer can you pick and choose what you do throughout your day, you are now being paid to work from 9–5 (or longer). You need to make sure that you get what needs to be done sorted out when it is due. There’s no begging your lecturer for an extension in the business world! A good mantra to have is ‘under-promise and over-deliver’ because if you can tell someone you will do a task by the end of the week, but you get it through to them by midweek, you will be in a good place, whereas the other way round will cause some tension.
Having a regular routine can also help to adjusting to the 9 to 5 lifestyle, as you’ll have an action plan for each day. This can include scheduled walks to keep your brain fresh and dedicated times of the day to do administration tasks.
Focus on solutions
At university it can be enough to just get a job done and the same may be true of some companies. However, if you are able to be solutions-focused at work you will stand out. If there is a manual task that can be done in a more automated fashion, speak up! You’ll always stand out in a positive way if you can show you’ve got initiative – it’s a great trait to have when it’s time for a review or appraisal.
Being solutions-focused can also be helpful for stress. Looking at the causes and assessing what you can do about them (and sometimes seeing what is out of your control) can make your problems seem more manageable. This attitude can also be useful in a team environment where you have to be able to look at things from someone else’s perspective.

Self-awareness and self-belief
When you enter the workforce, you will no longer have someone telling you what to do. Now is the time to take charge of your own life and embrace your failings as much as your successes.
When you enrol, you pick a course based upon what you’re good at, what your parents want you to do or simply to get a degree to show that you have achieved some level of higher education. On the other hand, when you enter the workforce it’s important to understand who you are and what you value in order to get a job that will satisfy you and challenge you at the same time.
Keep challenging yourself
Depending on the organisation you’re working for you may or may not find yourself challenged enough. If not, it’s worth looking for opportunities to challenge yourself further not only because it will keep your mind active but also because it can demonstrate what a good worker you are.
Build bridges, don’t burn them
When you’re in the working world you need think continuously about your next step. Networking is a valuable skill and it’s important to keep on good terms with your employers, clients and colleagues as you never know who may be able to help you later on in your working life.
In smaller countries like New Zealand, people can be very well connected. So taking the time to get to know the people around you can be very valuable. Something as simple as remembering someone’s name after you have met them can have a lasting impression which might lead to a future job.
Ask for help

If you don’t usually ask for help then this is the time to start! Asking questions or admitting that you don’t know how to do something can work in your favour as opposed to just pretending you know what to do or what is being talked about. There is a time and a place for ‘faking it until you make it’ and that tends to be when you have a bit of spare time to go and research a solution. Asking for help does not make you a failure. Often people will feel valued that you asked them and will respect you more for being honest.
Learn how to budget
Not everyone is in the same boat as you and it may be hard to budget when you first start earning but it is well worth it in the future. When you’re a student almost everyone is on a budget and it’s a lot easier to manage your money when you aren’t being put into situations where extreme spending is expected. However, when you start working it can be very easy to get caught in a situation where you are buying lunch with your colleagues every day and then find yourself low on funds at the weekend when there is something you really want to do.

Invest in your relationships
At university you are surrounded by young people who are all in the same situation. It’s a great environment for making friends who will last a lifetime. But when you move into the workforce maintaining these relationships can be a lot harder as everyone goes off in different directions. It may be a little more challenging but it is worth investing time in those relationships that are most important. It can be as simple as catching up for coffee with a friend once a month.
Learn your triggers
Learn what stresses you out, what makes you happy and what motivates you. Taking a bit of time for yourself each month can really help identify these concepts. Once you know what motivates you and what you value, you are better able to help your manager manage you and you are better able to understand what kind of company you need to be in and people you need to be around in order to get the most out of life.
Similarly, if you know what triggers your stress then you can work on managing your stress levels and come up with ways to deal with it so that it doesn’t impact on your performance in the workplace.
Upgrade your insurance
After your studies are completed, you will no longer be eligible for the Studentsafe policy. If you decide to stay in New Zealand to work on a work visa, you will be eligible to apply for the Workersafe policy. Moreover, when you start working you earn more money, which means you’ll probably invest in some more expensive items. Other aspects of your life will change too, so it’s worth looking at your insurance policies to see what they cover.
The future is unpredictable and it can be hard to know what to do and what is expected of you. When you are transitioning from study to work the most important thing to do could be to take a bit of time to get to know yourself in order to head out in a direction that suits you best.