COVID-19 Guidance & Information

 

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For Updates & information Regarding the latest Alert Levels and COVID Guidelines

See official COVID-19 information from the New Zealand Government.

For the most recent COVID-19 update from Education NZ.

See official information for international students from Education New Zealand’s NauMai NZ.

See information and advice on COVID-19 from the Ministry of Health.

See information on COVID-19 from the Ministry of Education.

For the most recent COVID-19 update from Immigration NZ.

Support Services

Essential Supplies and Services
  • CDEM 0800 numbers – for if you are out of supplies and struggling to get basic food. For more information on essential services, see here.
Education
Employment
Racism & discrimination
  • Human Rights Commission – toll-free InfoLine for lodging complaints regarding discrimination or racism. Phone 0800496877. Alternatively, fill in an online form here.
Health & wellbeing
  • Diversity Counselling New Zealand (DCNZ) is offering free culturally responsive counselling and psychological services by ethnic, registered professional counsellors and clinical psychologists for migrants and former refugees from Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, African, and Continental European backgrounds (all age groups, all genders). Call/text on 021-0262-5587 between 9am-5pm to access the service or email [email protected].
  • Asian Family Services – free, professional and confidential support for people who speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai and Hindi languages. If you would like to speak with a qualified counsellor, you can contact the Asian Helpline, 0800 862 342 (available Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).
  • Healthline – free 24-hour phone service for health advice and information from a trusted registered nurse. Phone 0800 611 116. For health-related calls about COVID-19, call 0800 358 5453.
  • 1737, need to talk? – free 24–hour phone or text counselling service with trained counsellors for anyone feeling down, anxious, overwhelmed, or depressed. Text or call 1737. If you’re having trouble calling with this number, call 0800 1737 1737.
  • The Low Down – free 24-hour counselling for anyone feeling down, stuck, anxious or depressed. Phone 0800 111 757 or text 5626. You can also email or webchat.
  • Anxiety New Zealand – free 24-hour phone counselling for people with anxiety or anyone feeling anxious. Phone 0800 269 4389.
  • Samaritans – free 24-hour phone counselling for anyone feeling lonely, stressed at work or study, sad or depressed, or having relationship or family problems, or thinking about suicide. Phone 0800 726 666.
  • Lifeline – free 24-hour phone counselling with qualified counsellors and trained volunteers for anyone who is feeling lonely, sad or bullied, having relationship or work problems, or thinking about suicide. Phone 0800 111 777 or text ‘ Help’ to 4357.

Insurance & health care

International students are eligible for publicly funded health services if suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19. This means you are covered for any health care costs (e.g. testing, hospitalisation, etc.) if you are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19.

According to NauMai NZ (under ‘Student eligibility for health care’), the National Health Coordination Centre, which is part of the Ministry of Health, has confirmed that “people who have or who are suspected of having an infectious and/or quarantinable disease are eligible for publicly funded health services to address the risks to other people.” Further information is available on the Ministry’s website.

StudentSafe insurance

Most international students have health insurance under Allianz’s StudentSafe Inbound insurance. Please note that StudentSafe is only processing claims in relation to COVID-19 on a case-by-case basis and may not accept your claim as general exclusions apply (see the insurance policy wording here, page 14 clause 22(c)). This means any travel expenses incurred due to COVID-19 (e.g. cancelled flights) may not be covered by StudentSafe insurance after 28th February 2020. Any health care costs incurred due to COVID-19, such as testing or hospitalisation, will be public funded and not covered by insurance.

If you are unwell

Monitor your symptoms. Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to a range of other illnesses such as influenza and do not necessarily mean that you have COVID-19. Symptoms include:

  • a cough;
  • a high temperature (at least 38°C);
  • shortness of breath;
  • sore throat;
  • sneezing and runny nose;
  • temporary loss of smell.

If you have these symptoms please call Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453 or you can call your doctor immediately. If you’re outside New Zealand call +64 9 358 5453 or your doctor. Call your doctor before visiting. Healthline or your doctor will advise if testing is required and will give further instructions. If testing is required, please ensure you have an appointment for testing booked either through Healthline or your doctor.

 

FAQs

What should I do if I am being discriminated against?

If you are experiencing any issues with discrimination, please contact the Human Rights Commission at 0800 496 877 or make a complaint using their online complaint form.

How do I deal with a discriminatory landlord or accommodation provider?

If you are needing help finding accommodation or dealing with discriminatory landlords, please contact the Tertiary Education Commission helpline at 0800 123 797.

Who should I contact about visa or accommodation issues?

If you are facing visa issues or accommodation issues due to the travel ban, please inform your education provider. As the situation develops, education providers may not be aware of certain arising issues and need to be kept up-to-date.

For specific COVID-19 related immigration queries, contact the Immigration Contact Centre on 0508 225 288 (within NZ) or +64 9 952 1679 (outside NZ).

What is NZISA doing to support students affected by the travel ban?

NZISA is in contact with the Ministry of Education and Immigration New Zealand regarding any issues arising due to the travel ban. NZISA is also working with ISANA NZ and members of our Representative Council to monitor support provisions and progress on an institutional-level.

* Please note that any information provided to us may be shared with the Ministry of Education and Immigration New Zealand. This is so they are informed on issues faced by international students due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We do not share any private or personal information pertaining to students.

Any other issues related to education

For any other information that your tertiary education provider is unable to help with, call the Tertiary Education Commission on 0800 123 797.