Studying In New Zealand: Your Essential Guide To Emergency Phone Numbers And Useful Hotlines

As an international student studying in New Zealand, it’s hard not to get lost in its natural beauty, welcoming people and vibrant culture. However, as you go about your daily life, you might encounter accidents and emergencies that could derail your everyday hustle.

Whether the unforeseen event is a traffic accident or an unexpected fire, it is essential to get prepared and take the right action so that you won’t be caught off-guard.

Get Prepared & Save These Emergency Numbers

In this article, we will be covering six of the most common and essential scenarios you need to be aware of. As long as you keep calm, and get the attention and help of the right authorities, there is nothing to fear.

Be sure to note down these critical hotlines on your phone and consider pinning them on the fridge as well for easy reference!

6 Scenarios When Studying In New Zealand To Be Prepared For (And The Hotlines)

1. Encountering A Robbery, Burglary, Or Crime

While New Zealand is a relatively safe country, the presence of crime is never truly gone. If you happen to be an unfortunate victim of a crime, you must know how to act.

If a crime is in progress and there is an immediate risk to you or someone else’s safety, such as a break-in in progress, you want to immediately dial the emergency number ‘111’ for the police.

This includes incidents such as a robbery, an assault with the offender still on the scene, you are feeling threatened and fear for your safety or if you just witnessed or are a victim of a violent crime.

If you are unsure, just immediately call ‘111’ and the police will help sort it out. Be sure to give them all the details necessary to help with rendering the right assistance.

However, if the incident is non-urgent, you can call ‘105’ for complaints that exclude a real emergency.

For Emergencies: Dial ‘111’

For Non-Emergencies: Dial ‘105’

2. Witnessing Or Encountering A Fire

If you are witnessing a fire in progress that could lead to a loss of life, damaged property or any injury, it is important you take action and call ‘111’ immediately.

If there is a fire on your premises, please immediately evacuate your property and start dialling ‘111’ to connect to the fire department. You will be asked for details of the situation and your immediate location, so do provide the fire department with key details such as how big the fire is, what started it and if there is anyone else in danger.

Once the fire incident is covered, you’d want to contact your insurer if you are covered to handle any potential damages.

If you have any casual enquiries, about fire safety and evacuation plans, you can call ‘04 496 3600’

For Urgent & Emergencies: Dial ‘111’

3. Having A Traffic Accident

Driving around New Zealand itself can be a real adventure, but what if you get a flat tire or worse, get into an accident with another vehicle?

Even if you do get into an accident that doesn’t involve an injury, and isn’t life-threatening, you will still have to call the police within 48 hours with the details of the accident. You will have to dial ‘555 to make the report.

However, in the situation where there is a crime involved or a serious injury is present, you’d want to immediately call ‘111’ to inform both the police and ambulance services.

To help you get on your way and to even tow your vehicle, you can call services such as Ami’s Breakdown Service that will help you get on your way. In this case, you can dial ‘0800 800 802’.

For Urgent & Emergencies: Dial ‘111’

For Non-Emergencies: Dial ‘555’

For Breakdowns: Dial ‘0800 800 802’’

4. Medical Emergency

Sometimes, you might be unfortunate enough to get into a situation that needs immediate medical attention. In this case, you want to immediately dial ‘111’ for New Zealand’s ambulance services.

Be sure to let the operator know the entire situation and relay your condition to them. The paramedics will arrive and provide you or the individual involved with the correct care that could include on-site treatment or taking you directly to the hospital for professional assistance.

Even if you aren’t sure if your condition requires urgent care, you’d still be encouraged to dial ‘111’ where professional nurses and assessors are standing by to quickly diagnose your situation and determine the best course of action.

This could include activating an ambulance or referring you to a medical centre or local clinic for treatment.

​​For Urgent & Emergency (and non-emergencies): Dial ‘111’

5. Mental Health Breakdown

If you are feeling down or depressed for an extended period of time, you mustn’t ignore it. Don’t ignore the warning signs and immediately go get help. As a student, it is essential that you keep your spirits up and talk things through with a caring professional to get you through the tough times.

Do not hesitate to seek help. New Zealand has a wealth of free services 24 hours a day 7 days a week to help you.

Here are some essential hotlines you might want to take down that will help provide support and encouragement to help you get back on track.

Lifeline helps with counselling and suicide prevention: 0800 543 354

Samaritans helps with counselling and support: 0800 726 666

Depression Helpline helps individuals suffering from depression: 0800 111 757

6. Immediate Health Advice Hotline

Sometimes you just don’t know what is wrong with you even though there are various symptoms popping up. Thankfully in New Zealand, there is the Healthline available to help give you general health advice and information.

Just call ‘0800 611 116’ to get general health advice. The team at Healthline are professionals and specialists ready to help assess your condition over the phone.

They will then give you advice on how to proceed. For example, you might be directed to seek emergency help or to head to your local GP to get your condition sorted out.

If you are looking for COVID-19-related health advice, you can contact Healthline here at ‘088 358 5453’.

The Canadian HealthLink Hotline: Dial ‘0800 611 116’.

Beyond An Emergency, IDP Is Here To Help

While the above numbers can help you in an emergency, sometimes, you need more help pertaining to student matters and living in your study destination.

In that case, we can help!

At IDP, we have a team of education counsellors that can offer tailored guidance and assist you throughout your journey. This includes recommendations for accommodations, helping you identify the right scholarships and advice on further post-graduate courses as well.

No worries about the course application process, we can help guide you through every step of the way.

Get started with your free counselling session today.