New Zealand is one of many countries which offer a home to refugees and people with high need such as medically disabled, women at risk, and protection cases as identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
This page contains information about refugee health for health care providers.
It's very important for healthcare providers to understand the very different backgrounds and health needs of refugees as most are at risk of significant health issues.
Specific focus on refugee health is required to ensure this vulnerable population receives optimal care and support. Refugee families also need additional support and guidance as they learn to navigate a health system that's often very different to healthcare in their homeland and previous experiences in refugee camps or countries.
A refugee is "any person who, owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country."
"Health issues can arise from offshore and lifestyle changes with the resettlement of refugees. The Handbook emphasises the importance of including former refugees and their ethnic communities in ensuring health services and programmes enable good health outcomes for resettled communities. The Handbook explores emerging trends in the health of former refugee groups, outlines current therapies, and introduces new service providers. It has been written in consultation with health providers, experts in the field and refugees with lived experience. It is designed to support health workers in all health care settings to deliver culturally appropriate and safe health care and to achieve equitable health outcomes for former refugees."
Re-migration experiences may lead to high health needs on arrival.
Very few refugees have emerged from their experiences without having endured or witnessed some form of physical or psychological trauma.
Approximately 40 percent of refugees have experienced severe trauma, such as witnessing killings – often of their own family members.
Long-term physical and psychological suffering are a common feature of the ‘refugee experience’.
After living in Aotearoa New Zealand for a number of years, additional health problems can arise which are associated with lifestyle changes which can result in adverse health patterns eg mental health conditions, uptake of tobacco smoking, increasing obesity, and reduced physical activity.
Refugee groups require tailored and targeted health interventions. In particular, health services which are culturally and linguistically responsive to the refugee groups that they serve will improve access, provide early intervention and reduce avoidable hospitalisations.
Culturally appropriate and safe care may include consideration of a broad range of areas including language, migration history, religious beliefs, cultural values, health beliefs, health seeking behaviours, and non-western models of health more generally. Additionally, the unique ways in which these intersect with other identities such as age, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic position, and visa status, require attention.
Video: Refugees' experiences of NZ healthcare (10 minutes 14 seconds)
(University of Otago, NZ, 2024)
Findings as 5 major themes starts at 2:05 GP system starts at 3:05 Communication with doctors starts at 6:30 Experience of medications and pharmacies starts at 7:28 Request for feedback and next steps starts at 9:28
Video: Refugees' experiences of NZ healthcare – a case study (9 minutes 25 seconds)
This video presents the story of a Syrian refugee. It illustrates the complex barriers refugees face in accessing healthcare and medicines. Raheem's experiences highlight issues such as language difficulties, unfamiliarity with the New Zealand GP system, unclear medical history, and financial constraints. These challenges are compounded by cultural differences, bureaucratic hurdles, and the intertwining of health needs with other aspects of life, such as food security. The case study shows how even simple tasks can become overwhelming for refugees, impacting their overall well-being and access to necessary care.
(University of Otago, NZ, 2025)
There are 3 ways in which refugees arrive in New Zealand:
1. Under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) mandated quota system (‘quota refugees’)
The quota for UNHCR-mandated refugees to enter Aotearoa New Zealand is set annually by Cabinet.
During the 5-week orientation period health screening, assessment and treatment is provided by Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau's Mangere Refugee Health Service (MRHS) which operates as their primary care practice. Once they are settled in new regions, their notes will be sent to receiving practices.
2. As refugee family-sponsored migrants under the Refugee Family Support Category – RFSC (‘family reunification’)
Those entering the country under this category are relatives of refugees already living in Aoteroa New Zealand.
The objective of the RFSC is to help refugees living in Aotearoa New Zealand to settle by allowing the sponsorship of family members for residence in New Zealand who do not qualify for residence under any other immigration policy.
The sponsored relatives may be refugees, but this is not a requirement of the policy.
The application costs and the air travel are generally met by relatives who are themselves often struggling with their own resettlement costs and challenges.
Asylum seekers usually seek refugee status on arrival at our borders, or when their temporary visa or permit expires.
Claims for refugee status are confirmed or rejected by Immigration New Zealand depending on whether their circumstances meet the criteria set out in the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
Those who are successful are then eligible to apply for permanent residence and later, New Zealand citizenship.
In the last 2 decades the largest groups of refugees to Aotearoa New Zealand have come from:
Vietnam
Laos
Cambodia
Burma
Iran
Iraq
Afghanistan.
Refugees have also come from:
Tunisia, Palestine, Syria, Kuwait, Algeria, China, Sri Lanka, Bosnia, former Yugoslavia, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, the Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Sierra Leone, and Colombia. More recently, New Zealand has accepted refugees from Ukraine.
Studies have shown the use of professional interpreters is an important safety and cultural factor for refugee health. Most regions now have access to interpreter services. Contact your local hospital or read more in the languages section.
Refugee and asylum seekers are eligible for publicly funded health and disability services in Aotearoa New Zealand. These services may be fully funded, subsidised or require full payment.
There are dedicated primary health care services for refugees and asylum seekers in certain regions. Participating practices in the Auckland region and in the South Island provide free GP consultations or extended consultations with a subsidised fee, for refugees and asylum seekers and their immediate family if they've been in Aotearoa New Zealand for 10 years of less. See Your Local Doctor(external link) for services in the Auckland region or contact [email protected] for information on GP services available in the South Island. Talk to your PHO if you're considering becoming a participating practice.
