Do I need a referral to see a physio in NZ?

You can book a physiotherapist directly in New Zealand. Physios are primary providers, which means they can assess and diagnose you without a doctor sending you first. Just book an appointment and come in.

Self-referral simply means you arrange the appointment yourself, rather than waiting for a GP to refer you. It is the normal way most people see a physio here, and it saves you a doctor's visit and the wait that goes with it.

No. If you have an injury, your physio can lodge the ACC claim at your first visit and start treatment the same day. You do not need to see a GP or have a claim number first. See how ACC physio works and what it costs.

A few situations are different. Some private health insurers want a GP referral before they will cover physio fees, so check your policy. Public hospital outpatient physiotherapy needs a medical referral, though a private clinic like ours does not. A medical certificate for time off work has to come from a GP. And if surgery is involved, the surgeon manages that funding pathway separately. For everyday aches, injuries and rehab, none of this applies, you can just book.

Book online or call us on 09 886 4611. If it is an injury we will lodge your ACC claim when you arrive. Not sure where to start? We treat everything from lower back pain and sciatica to general physiotherapy at our Ponsonby clinic.