What to Do After a Serious Diagnosis in New Zealand

A serious diagnosis lands with a long list of worries attached — work, money, family, the future. Almost none of it has to be sorted today. This guide lays out the practical steps in the order they tend to matter, so you can take them one at a time rather than all at once. If you'd rather have a plan built around your situation, answer a few questions and we'll build one around you →

First, get the information clear

Before any decisions, make sure you understand what you've actually been told. Ask your specialist or GP to write down the diagnosis, the proposed treatment, and the likely timeline. Ask who is coordinating your care and how to reach them — many conditions have a specialist nurse who becomes your main point of contact.

You're entitled to a second opinion; asking for one is normal and won't offend anyone. Where you can, take someone with you to appointments. A second set of ears, and a written list of questions beforehand, makes a big difference when you're taking in hard news.

Your work

You decide what you tell your employer and when. You're generally not required to disclose the diagnosis itself — only that you have a health condition affecting your work, if and when you need leave or adjustments.

By law you have a minimum of 10 days' paid sick leave a year, and it can build up over time, so you may have more banked than you think. Many employers offer more than the minimum — check your employment agreement. If you need reduced hours, time off for treatment, or other adjustments, you can ask; reasonable requests are worth putting in writing so there's a clear record.

If you can't work for a while

If you need to stop or reduce work, Work and Income may be able to help — you don't have to have lost your job to qualify.

• Jobseeker Support is a weekly payment if a health condition means you can't work right now but are expected to recover. You'll need a medical certificate from your doctor.
• Supported Living Payment is for people who can't work long-term or permanently because of a health condition or disability.

Call Work and Income on 0800 559 009 (Mon–Fri 7am–6pm, Sat 8am–1pm). To see what you might be eligible for before you call, the official checker at check.msd.govt.nz runs through everything in a few minutes.

Your KiwiSaver

If a serious illness permanently affects your ability to work — or poses a serious and imminent risk to your life — you may be able to make an early serious illness withdrawal from your KiwiSaver. This is arranged through your KiwiSaver provider, and you'll need a medical certificate. If you're too unwell to keep contributing from your wages, you can also apply for a savings suspension to pause contributions. Contact your provider to start either.

Check your insurance

This is the moment policies you may have forgotten about can matter most. Check for:

• Income protection — replaces part of your income if illness stops you working.
• Trauma or critical illness cover — pays a lump sum on diagnosis of certain conditions.
• Mortgage repayment cover — meets your home-loan payments while you can't work.

Look beyond standalone policies: cover is often bundled into a mortgage, a KiwiSaver provider's offering, or a workplace scheme, so check those too. Contact each insurer to ask how to claim — and don't cancel any cover while you work out what you hold, even if money is tight.

Help with the costs of being unwell

• Disability Allowance is a weekly Work and Income payment for the regular, ongoing extra costs of a health condition — doctor visits, medicines, travel to treatment. You don't have to be on a benefit to get it. Apply via 0800 559 009; your doctor completes a short certificate.
• Prescriptions — fully subsidised prescriptions from public providers are free. If you're charged for unsubsidised items, the Disability Allowance may help; and once you've paid for 20 subsidised items in a year, the rest of that year is free. Using one pharmacy makes this easier to track.
• National Travel Assistance helps with travel and accommodation when you're referred a long way, or frequently, to see a specialist. Ask the hospital travel coordinator or your specialist to help you register — they handle the paperwork.

Sort the practical paperwork while you're well

This part isn't about expecting the worst — it's about keeping control in your own hands. While you're well enough to make decisions, it's worth putting two things in place:

• Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) — there are two: one for property (money and assets) and one for personal care and welfare (health and living decisions). An EPA lets someone you trust act for you only if you're ever unable to, and it's far simpler to set up now than to arrange later. A lawyer or Community Law can help.
• A will, if you don't have one or it's out of date.

You might also write an advance care plan — a record of what matters to you about your future care, so your wishes are known. Your GP or specialist nurse can point you to the forms.

Support beyond the medical

• Healthline — free health advice any time on 0800 611 116.
• Condition-specific charities offer information, practical help and people who understand — for example the Cancer Society (0800 226 237). Most major conditions have a national organisation.
• Counselling can help you and your family; the Disability Allowance can contribute to ongoing counselling costs.
• Citizens Advice Bureau — free, confidential help with almost anything, on 0800 367 222. Community Law offers free legal advice, including help with EPAs.

Keep one folder — paper or a phone note — with every person and agency you speak to, the date, and any reference numbers. When you're tired and stretched, having it all in one place saves you repeating yourself and chasing details twice.