Hato Hone St John charges patients for some types of ambulance call outs. The amount we charge is a small part of the cost of a call out and is needed to cover our costs. Please read below for an explanation of our ambulance charges:

1. For emergencies and accidents

Do I need to pay a part charge?

  Yes No
If I have a medical emergency If you’re treated by an ambulance officer and/or transported in an ambulance because of a medical emergency, there is a part charge you have to pay – even if someone else calls the ambulance for you. If you have an active Ambulance Membership and are treated by an ambulance officer and/or transported in an ambulance because of a medical emergency, you do not have to pay this part charge. >> Find out how to get an Ambulance Membership
If I have an accident
 

If you have an accident related injury, that is covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) for ambulance transport within 24 hours of the injury and if the injury meets ACC criteria.

If my injury did not occur today If you have an accident related injury that is more than 24 hours old or injuries that do not meet ACC criteria, you need to pay the part charge. If you have an active Ambulance Membership and have an accident related injury that is more than 24 hours old or injuries that do not meet ACC criteria, you do not have to pay this part charge. >> Find out how to get an Ambulance Membership

How much do I pay? 

The ambulance part charges (GST inclusive) is*: $98.00

*Hato Hone St John does not provide emergency ambulance services in Wellington or the Wairarapa.

Do I pay a part charge of $98 if I am from overseas?

  • Yes: If you are from the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau.
  • Yes: If you are a work visa holder eligible to be in NZ for two years or more.
  • Yes: If you are a UK citizen normally living in the UK and visiting NZ.

Please check www.moh.govt.nz/eligibility for full details.

What if my situation doesn’t match one of those options?

If your situation does not match any of the options listed above you’re not eligible for NZ publicly funded ambulance services and so need to pay a higher charge for treatments and/or transport.

Minimum charge for non-eligible visitors (GST inclusive):

$800.00

How do I pay?

We will post you an invoice and details of how to pay it. here’s more information about the payment options available for you

* Please note: charges are correct as of 1 August 2016 and may be subject to increase.

Please see the Ministry of Health website http://www.health.govt.nz or the ACC website www.acc.co.nz for further information.


2. For non-emergencies (private hire) – where you book and use an ambulance

There is a charge for the following non-emergency (private hire) ambulance transports:

  • to or from a private address (including rest homes)
  • to or from a hospital (if not hospital authorised)
  • discharge from hospital.

These transports are not covered by Government funding and incur a full charge. How much you are charged is based on the kilometres travelled.

 

Charges (GST inclusive):

Distance travelled

Charges

35 km or less

$200.00

36 – 100 km

$5.66 per km

101 – 400 km

$6.21 per km

Over 400 km

$7.52 per km

Non-eligible visitors – minimum charge*

$800.00

*additional per km charges apply for journeys of more than 35km


 

3. Hospital transfers

The cost of ambulance transfers between hospitals - where the DHB has ordered the transfer - will be covered by the DHB. For all other ambulance transports (including discharge from hospital) there will be a private hire charge for you to pay (see above).

View the ambulance part charges brochure in English

View the ambulance part charges brochure in Maori

View the ambulance part charges brochure in Samoan

View the ambulance part charges brochure in Tongan

View the ambulance part charges brochure in Mandarin

 

Please note, as of 1 July 2023 the Ministry of Health no longer covers the cost of ambulance services in relation to people with COVID-19.

What an ambulance needs