New Zealand – Complementary and Alternative Medicine

What types of complementary and alternative medicine are available in New Zealand?

The range of CAM practices accessible in New Zealand is extensive, encompassing acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicine, chiropractic, and naturopathy. You will also encounter traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), osteopathy, massage therapy, reflexology, aromatherapy, spiritual healing, meditation, yoga, and hypnotherapy — all of which are especially well-represented in major urban centres such as Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

TCM draws together numerous treatment modalities, among them Chinese herbal medicine, moxibustion, cupping, tuina, and tai chi. Chinese medicine has particularly deep historical roots in New Zealand, having been introduced by Chinese immigrants during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Today, TCM and acupuncture rank among the most visible and widely used CAM approaches across the country.

Chiropractors use spinal adjustments to address structural problems, osteopaths apply gentle manual techniques to restore balance throughout the body, and massage therapists work to relieve tension and assist with muscular complaints. Naturopathy also has a strong presence; its practitioners may draw on herbal preparations, vitamins, homeopathic remedies, massage, and other natural modalities.

Natural health products used in New Zealand span a variety of traditions, including rongoā Māori, Western herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, naturopathy, and homeopathy. Compared with some countries, Ayurvedic medicine occupies a smaller niche in New Zealand, though it is accessible in cities that host significant South Asian populations. Rongoā Māori — the indigenous healing tradition of the Māori people — holds a culturally distinctive and prominent position that has no direct equivalent elsewhere in the world.

New Zealand’s multicultural character also means that Pacific Island traditional healing practices are present, especially in Auckland, though these typically remain within community settings rather than entering mainstream health service provision. On the whole, the CAM landscape is broad and comparable in variety to that of Australia, although the smaller overall market means that highly specialised therapies can be harder to access outside the larger cities.

Is complementary and alternative medicine regulated in New Zealand?

New Zealand’s framework for regulating CAM is uneven and continues to develop in certain areas. The foundational legislation is the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act 2003, which establishes formal statutory (“responsible authority”) oversight for specific health professions. For many years, chiropractic and osteopathy were the only CAM therapies governed under this Act, but Chinese medicine has since been added.

Since 2021, Chinese medicine (CM) has been formally recognised as a regulated profession under the HPCA Act. CM practitioners are now required to be registered with the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand (CMCNZ) and must hold an Annual Practising Certificate (APC) in order to practise lawfully. Describing oneself as a Chinese medicine practitioner or acupuncturist in Aotearoa New Zealand without being registered is illegal. This development aligns New Zealand broadly with statutory approaches found in countries such as Australia, where Chinese medicine has been regulated at the federal level since 2012.

The CMCNZ is responsible for establishing and upholding professional standards, covering registration criteria, competency requirements, and ethical obligations. The Council also administers complaints and disciplinary processes to protect the integrity of the profession. Practitioners’ registration status can be verified through the public register on the CMCNZ website.

The majority of alternative health disciplines in New Zealand remain unregulated — meaning that, in principle, anyone may practise them regardless of their level of training. Nevertheless, professional organisations exist to maintain standards among their members. Therapies such as naturopathy, herbal medicine, homeopathy, reflexology, and aromatherapy are governed voluntarily through professional associations rather than by the state. This differs from the UK model, where certain therapies such as osteopathy and chiropractic have statutory councils with enforceable legal powers, but resembles the situation for most CAM disciplines across Australia.

There is limited regulation of products or services through any single legislative instrument or oversight body responsible for the safety of all CAM approaches. New Zealand has no dedicated Natural Health Products (NHP) Act; instead, such products are governed under a collection of laws and standards. Medsafe assesses medicines before they may be supplied or promoted in New Zealand and publishes information on adverse effects and interactions associated with herbal products and dietary supplements. Regulatory reform concerning natural health products has been under active government review — consult the Ministry of Health’s natural health products pages and Medsafe for current requirements, as rules in this space are subject to change.

Is CAM covered by health insurance or the public healthcare system in New Zealand?

New Zealand’s publicly funded healthcare system (Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora) does not routinely cover CAM consultations or treatments. However, the country’s distinctive no-fault personal injury insurance scheme — the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) — provides meaningful funding for certain CAM therapies when the treatment is connected to an accident or injury.

At the national level, ACC delivers compulsory no-fault personal injury cover for all New Zealand residents and visitors, and this extends to acupuncture, chiropractic, and osteopathy. This represents a notable point of difference from comparable systems elsewhere: unlike the NHS in the UK or Medicare in Australia, which fund very little CAM, ACC cover applies across the entire population — including overseas visitors — for eligible injury-related conditions, not only long-term residents.

To access ACC funding for acupuncture delivered by a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provider, you must first consult a registered healthcare professional — such as a GP, nurse, osteopath, physiotherapist, podiatrist, or chiropractor — who can diagnose your injury and submit an initial ACC claim (ACC45 form). Once your claim has been accepted, you may attend a registered acupuncturist for treatment; no ongoing referral is required beyond that point.

ACC subsidises, but does not fully meet, the cost of acupuncture for certain injury-related presentations. The same principle applies to chiropractic and osteopathy — patients generally pay a gap fee on top of the ACC contribution. For conditions that have no injury-related cause, ACC funding does not apply. Always confirm current subsidy rates directly with ACC, as contribution levels are subject to revision.

Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) may also subsidise particular alternative treatments for individuals receiving a disability allowance, where the treatment is considered beneficial to the recipient. Some private health insurance plans extend cover to acupuncture, though inclusions vary by provider and policy. Other therapies — such as naturopathy, massage, and homeopathy — may also feature under extras or “specialist consultation” cover with certain insurers. Check directly with your insurer for current coverage details, exclusions, and annual limits.

How much does complementary and alternative medicine cost in New Zealand?

The cost of CAM consultations and treatments in New Zealand differs considerably depending on the therapy, the practitioner’s training and experience, and the location. As with most private health services, fees in Auckland are typically higher than those in smaller centres or rural areas. The figures below are indicative of 2024–2025 pricing; always confirm current charges directly with practitioners or their professional associations before booking.

• Acupuncture: Initial consultations for traditional Chinese acupuncture generally fall in the range of NZ$80–$130, with follow-up sessions costing approximately NZ$60–$100. Where an ACC claim is accepted, patients are responsible only for the gap (co-payment) rather than the full fee, which can substantially reduce out-of-pocket costs (as of 2024).
• Chiropractic: Initial assessments typically cost NZ$80–$150, with subsequent sessions around NZ$60–$90. ACC-registered chiropractors can submit claims for injury-related conditions, reducing the patient’s share of the cost (as of 2024).
• Osteopathy: Initial consultation fees are broadly comparable to chiropractic, in the NZ$80–$150 range, with ACC cover available for qualifying injuries (as of 2024).
• Naturopathy: Initial appointments, which often run for 60–90 minutes, can cost NZ$100–$200, with follow-up visits priced at NZ$60–$120. Supplements recommended during the consultation represent an additional expense (as of 2024).
• Homeopathy and herbal medicine: Consultations tend to fall within the NZ$80–$150 range; herbal preparations are charged separately (as of 2024).
• Massage therapy: A standard 60-minute session costs roughly NZ$80–$120 depending on the modality (relaxation, remedial, or deep tissue). ACC may contribute to treatment massage for injury-related conditions where the provider holds ACC registration (as of 2024).

Fees across all therapies can vary considerably. For the most accurate and current figures, contact practitioners directly or reach out to the relevant professional association (see the section below on locating a qualified practitioner).

How do I find a qualified CAM practitioner in New Zealand?

For formally regulated therapies, the most reliable starting point is the relevant statutory register. You can confirm whether a Chinese medicine practitioner or acupuncturist holds current registration by consulting the public register on the CMCNZ website. Chiropractic and osteopathy each have their own statutory bodies that maintain searchable public registers.

1. Check statutory registers: For Chinese medicine and acupuncture, use the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand (CMCNZ) public register. For chiropractic, consult the Chiropractic Board of New Zealand. For osteopathy, refer to the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand.
2. Use professional association directories: For therapies that operate under voluntary self-regulation, a relevant professional body’s member directory is generally the most useful guide. Key associations include the New Zealand Acupuncture Standards Authority (NZASA), the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association (NZCA), the Osteopathic Society of New Zealand, the New Zealand Society of Naturopaths (NZSN), and the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (NZAMH).
3. Use practitioner directories: Websites such as Natural Therapy Pages New Zealand list providers across a broad range of disciplines throughout the country.
4. Ask your GP or primary care provider: Approximately 84.7% of New Zealand GPs are familiar with local CAM practitioners, so your family doctor may be well placed to suggest a recommendation or referral, particularly for regulated therapies.
5. Verify ACC provider status: If you plan to use ACC cover, confirm that your chosen practitioner is registered with ACC before your first visit. Practitioners without ACC registration are unable to lodge claims on your behalf.

Many CAM practitioners belong to professional organisations that have developed their own codes of conduct and practice standards. When selecting a practitioner — particularly for unregulated therapies — look for membership of a recognised professional body, evidence of formal training and qualifications, professional indemnity insurance, and a transparent complaints process. Exercise caution with practitioners who discourage continued conventional medical treatment, make sweeping claims of cure, or are reluctant to disclose their credentials. New Zealand’s Health and Disability Commissioner provides guidance on your rights as a consumer of health services; see hdc.org.nz.

Are there traditional or indigenous medicine systems practised in New Zealand?

Rongoā Māori is the healing tradition of the Māori people of Aotearoa New Zealand, and it holds a distinctive and respected place within the country’s health landscape that has no real equivalent in the nations from which many expats have come.

Rongoā is a holistic healing system drawing on native plant remedies (rongoā rākau), massage techniques (mirimiri), and prayer (karakia). Illness is understood and addressed across multiple dimensions of health — spiritual, emotional, cultural, social, environmental, familial, and physical. This integrated understanding of wellbeing, in which physical health cannot be separated from spiritual and communal dimensions, is fundamental to the Māori health worldview.

Certain traditional Māori healing practices receive funding through Māori health provider organisations. Rongoā Māori services are offered by a number of iwi (tribal) and community-based Māori health providers, and government funding for rongoā programmes forms part of the country’s broader commitments to Māori health equity. However, rongoā Māori is not formally governed under the HPCA Act in the same manner as chiropractic or Chinese medicine; it is primarily guided by tikanga Māori — the customary values and protocols upheld by practitioners and their communities.

A significant proportion of GPs have reported limited familiarity with rongoā Māori and traditional Pacific Island medicine, highlighting that these systems function somewhat separately from mainstream healthcare pathways. For expats, this means that while rongoā Māori is culturally significant and government-acknowledged, it is most readily accessed through Māori community health networks rather than via conventional referral routes. For further information or to locate rongoā services, your local Māori health provider or Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora can serve as a starting point.

Traditional Pacific Island healing practices are also present within communities — particularly in Auckland, which is home to one of the world’s largest Polynesian populations — but these operate almost entirely outside formal health system structures and are not subject to state regulation.

What should expats know about using CAM alongside conventional medicine in New Zealand?

New Zealand healthcare professionals are broadly open to CAM use, yet many hold reservations regarding the quality of scientific evidence, the current regulatory framework, safety considerations, and the financial burden CAM can place on patients. In general, they advocate an evidence-informed approach to CAM and support stronger oversight. In practical terms, most GPs are willing to engage in conversations about CAM with their patients, even where they cannot endorse specific therapies.

Around 38% of doctors reported feeling at ease discussing CAM with patients, and more than 90% indicated that they enquire about CAM use during consultations — though the thoroughness of those conversations varies. It is well worth informing your GP of any CAM therapies or supplements you are using, particularly in the lead-up to surgery or when commencing new prescription medications.

Certain CAM therapies — herbal medicines in particular — can interact adversely with prescription drugs or meaningfully affect anaesthesia. Working with your healthcare provider, you can weigh the potential benefits of CAM, identify interactions with conventional treatments, and address any safety concerns — for instance, some plant-based preparations can interfere with pharmaceutical medicines. Safety warnings and interaction data for natural and herbal products can be found via the Medsafe website, which publishes alerts and relevant guidance.

ACC funding for regulated CAM therapies has led to growing numbers of patients combining CAM with mainstream medical care, and has fostered closer working relationships between CAM practitioners and a range of conventional health professionals in New Zealand. Integrative health clinics — where conventional medicine and CAM approaches such as acupuncture, physiotherapy, and naturopathy are offered under one roof — are becoming more common in cities, making coordinated care increasingly accessible.

Herbal and natural products and dietary supplements can carry safety risks, in part because oversight of their safety, efficacy, and quality remains limited. When buying natural health products, opt for reputable brands and check the Medsafe database for any relevant alerts or recalls. The Ministry of Health and Healthify (Health Navigator) both offer reliable consumer information on CAM safety in New Zealand. If you have concerns about the conduct of any health practitioner — including CAM providers — the Health and Disability Commissioner can provide assistance.

Frequently asked questions about CAM in New Zealand

Do I need a referral from a doctor to see a CAM practitioner in New Zealand?

In most cases, no referral is needed — you can make an appointment directly with a CAM practitioner of your choice. However, if you wish to access ACC funding for acupuncture provided by a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, you must first consult a registered healthcare professional (such as a GP or physiotherapist) to have your injury formally assessed and an ACC claim lodged on your behalf. Once your claim is accepted, you may attend your acupuncturist directly without needing further referrals.

How can I check that a CAM practitioner in New Zealand is properly qualified?

For Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists, search the public register available on the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand (CMCNZ) website. For chiropractors, check the Chiropractic Board of New Zealand; for osteopaths, consult the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand. For therapies that are not statutorily regulated, look for membership of a recognised professional association and request evidence of formal qualifications and professional indemnity insurance.

Are all CAM therapies legal in New Zealand?

Yes, CAM practice is generally lawful in New Zealand. No person may be found guilty of a disciplinary offence under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 solely on the basis of having adopted and practised a particular theory of medicine or healing, provided they have done so honestly and in good faith. However, practitioners of the regulated professions — Chinese medicine, chiropractic, and osteopathy — must hold current registration, and anyone making false therapeutic claims about products can face action under consumer protection and medicines legislation.

Is homeopathy widely available in New Zealand?

Homeopathy is practised in New Zealand, with practitioners operating in most main cities. It is not governed by statute and receives no funding from ACC or the public health system. Practitioners generally work as members of voluntary professional bodies. As with any unregulated therapy, it is advisable to verify a practitioner’s training and professional membership before making an appointment.

Can I bring my own herbal medicines or supplements to New Zealand?

Personal-use quantities of herbal medicines and dietary supplements can generally be brought into New Zealand, but they must be declared on your arrival card. Certain products — particularly those containing plant or animal material — may be subject to biosecurity screening or restrictions. Consult the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Medsafe websites for up-to-date import rules before you travel.

How does New Zealand’s CAM regulation compare to other countries?

New Zealand operates a hybrid regulatory model. Chiropractic, osteopathy, and — since 2021 — Chinese medicine are subject to statutory regulation under the HPCA Act, placing them on a similar footing to these professions in the UK or Australia. The majority of other CAM therapies are governed voluntarily through professional associations, which is less stringent than the UK’s statutory council model but broadly consistent with the regulatory approach to most CAM disciplines across Australia and many other countries.

Will my doctor be open to discussing CAM with me in New Zealand?

The Medical Council of New Zealand accepts the use of CAM where it is widely regarded as beneficial, carries minimal risk for the patient, and where the patient has made an informed decision and given their informed consent. Most New Zealand GPs will engage with questions about CAM and can help you think through potential benefits and risks, though individual comfort levels vary. Being transparent with your doctor about all CAM therapies and supplements you use is important, particularly with regard to possible drug interactions or planned procedures.

Is rongoā Māori accessible to non-Māori people living in New Zealand?

Rongoā Māori is primarily practised within Māori communities and is most readily accessed through Māori health provider organisations. While it is not generally restricted to Māori patients, it is essential to approach it with genuine cultural respect and sensitivity. Your local Māori health provider or Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora can offer guidance on services available in your area. The Ministry of Health’s pages on Māori health also provide helpful background information.