Auckland

New Zealand / Auckland

OVERVIEW

Contraception (Birth Control)

General Note: There are many types of contraceptives, also known as "birth control," including IUDs, oral contraceptives, patches, shots, and condoms, etc. If you would like to view a full list, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In New Zealand, you need a prescription for the birth control pill by a general practitioner or nurse. While the age of consent is 16 years old, there are no age restrictions and parental consent is not required to receive a prescription. The birth control pill has been available in New Zealand since the 1960s, and it became widely available to NZ women in the 1970s. It is estimated that 71.3% of NZ women use some form of contraceptive and that 67.4% use a modern method.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Check out this helpful breakdown of contraceptive methods available in New Zealand, provided by New Zealand Family Planning. You'll see methods like birth control, IUDs, shots and more. Click here to see if you're covered by New Zealand health care (and to learn more about coverage).

• You can find condoms in grocery stores, pharmacies, dairies, pubs public toilets, petrol stations, nightclubs and sex shops in New Zealand. There are no age restrictions to purchase condoms. They typically cost $12-$20/pack. However, if you get a condom prescription (which is not required), the cost can go down to $5 for 144 condoms. For more details on getting a condom prescription, click here.
• If you want birth control pills, you'll need a prescription from a general practitioner or nurse. If you go to New Zealand Family Planning, the consultation will cost $27 if you're not covered by NZ medical care. If you don't go to NZ Family Planning, you can expect a doctor's appointments to range from $10-$60. Once you have the prescription, you will be able to buy your pills. There are many birth control pill brands available in New Zealand (both progestin-only and combined progestin-estrogen combined). Some brands you can expect to see are Microlut, Microval, Nordiol, Ovral, Levlen ED, Microgynon 30 ED, Microgynon-30, Monofeme 28, Nordette, Loette, Microgynon 20 ED and Miranova.
• The contraceptive ring, like Nuvaring, is available in New Zealand. You can get it at New Zealand Family Planning for about $90.
• If you want an IUD, you can call New Zealand Family Planning to have a consultation and determine next steps. Here's the link to their page on IUDs. If you're a New Zealander, you can get the copper IUD at no cost. If you're a foreigner, there will be some extra costs. If you want a non-hormonal IUD (Mirena), you'll need to pay $333, regardless of whether you're from NZ or not.
• You can get the contraceptive shot (Depo-Provera) at a local medical center. You'll explain that you need a shot and then book an appointment. If you're a foreigner (and potentially if you're an NZ national), you'll have to pay a consultation fee. It normally cost around $80-100 and lasts for 3 months. If you to to the same medical center for the second injection, it will be much cheaper.
• If you want to get the contraceptive implant, you can get Implanon (costs about $270 and lasts for 3 years) or Jadelle (costs about $22 and lasts for 5 years). Jadelle is cheaper because it "is fully funded. However, there is a small dressing and prescription fee. This is $22.00 at Family Planning clinics."
• Sterilization is a fairly common contraceptive practice in New Zealand. Women get tubal ligation and men get vasectomies. According to New Zealand Family Planning, New Zealand has one of the highest vasectomy rates in the world.

Costs

Condoms cost $12-$20/pack (but they're much cheaper if you get a prescription). At New Zealand Family Planning, you can get birth control pills ranging from $5-100 for a 6-month supply, depending on the pills and your status (for example, if you have health care funding). For an IUD, you will pay for the cost of the device (for example, Mirena is $333) but the insertion will be free. They also do Depo-Provera injections for free, which last for 3 months. You may also pay around $80-100 for a Depo-Provera injection at certain medical facilities. The Implanon implant costs $270 and the Jadelle implant costs $22. The contraceptive ring (Nuvaring) is about $90.

Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)

Important Notes: Emergency contraception may prevent pregnancy for three days (72 hours) and sometimes five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Take EC as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If you don't have access to dedicated EC, oral contraceptives can be used as replacement EC, but remember the following: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC 2) Different contraceptives require different dosages and time schedules to work as EC 3) You must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs and 4) They may be less effective than dedicated EC. For general information on emergency contraceptives, click here and here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Note: The longest-lasting EC is currently ellaOne. It lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Check to see if your country carries ellaOne. If your country doesn't carry ellaOne, copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If none of these options are available, and it's been over 3 days since you had unprotected sex, you can still take EC, which may work up to 5 days. Note that EC pills are not 100% effective and should be taken as soon as possible.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)

Important Notes - Learn about PEP and PrEP: If you think that you've been recently exposed to HIV (i.e. within 72 hours), seek out PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a month-long treatment to prevent HIV infection after exposure, and it may be available in your city. Take PEP as soon as possible. For more information, click here. If you are at risk of HIV exposure, seek out PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a daily oral pill that can prevent HIV infection before exposure. To learn more about PrEP, click here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Testing Facilities

• Auckland Sexual Health Service: "We are a specialist service offering free and confidential sexual health care including: diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections and other related conditions including genital skin conditions, genital pain and sexual dysfunction, reproductive health including contraceptive advice, sexual health counselling, adult sexual abuse service including the care of related medical, nursing and social issues, sexual health education, including Peer Sexuality Support programmes for schools." They have four locations in Auckland (Greenlane, Glenfield, Henderson & Mangere). Check out this link to see the locations.

Menstruation

Note: In addition to pads and tampons, you can also use menstrual cups and menstrual underwear for your period. To learn more about menstrual cups, click here. To learn more about menstrual underwear, click here.

Abortion

Important Note: There are two main types of abortions: medical (also known as the "abortion pill") and surgical (also known as "in-clinic"). For medical abortions, you take a pill to induce abortion. For surgical abortions, a procedure is performed to induce abortion. For general information about medical and surgical abortions, click here.

Advocacy & Counseling

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Counselling @ Auckland Sexual Health Service: "Counselling team comprises a male and a female therapist, plus one psychotherapy student. We provide counselling for individuals and couples, for up to 6-10 sessions where necessary. Issues we cover include : sexual functioning, sexuality and gender issues, STI and HIV counselling, non-ACC covered sexual abuse, sexual compulsion. The service is free of charge." They have four locations in Auckland (Greenlane, Glenfield, Henderson & Mangere). Check out this link to see the locations.
• Sexual assault (Pohutukawa) @ Auckland Sexual Health Service: "Pohutukawa is a free specialist medical and forensic service for adult women and men who have been sexually assaulted or abused. We are committed to providing the highest quality health service that is sensitive, appropriate, accessible and that acknowledges social and cultural differences." How to get an appointment: After hours: If your request is urgent, contact the local police, or crisis counselling agencies below: Auckland Sexual Abuse HELP - Tel:(09) 623 1700. Counselling Services Centre - Tel: (09) 277 9324. In hours: Self referral by phone, email, fax or sending a text message and we will ring you back. Referral by your GP, counsellor, Family Planning clinic, HELP, Police etc.