Maternity Questions

I have a friend whos not a NZ citizen..
Does she have to pay for her maternity care here in NZ?
She is having real problems getting citizenship as shes currently married and trying to get divorced but the guy is in th US military and is in IRAQ so he wont sign the papers because he gets more money from them being married. Long story..

Anyways would she have to pay? Shes working so what would happen with maternity leave?

Does she have permanent residency? If yes and she's working she should qualify for the usual health treatment and paid parental leave.

DH's mum is englsh and isn't a NZ citizen, and she's been here 33 years, and qualifies for all the usual entitlements. 

As MrsG said it depends on whether she has permanent residency or not. Like Tracey I'm an Aussie so am automatically a permanent resident so we are eligible for pretty much everything. If she's not she will have to pay. But in saying that if she goes back to the US and doesn't have health insurance she will have to pay anyway. I know of another woman who had her baby here and it was cheaper to have it here than in the US (from memory I think it was around $16k here and $30k there)

The fingerprint thing seems a bit silly but hey what do I know.

I think baby becomes a citizen if born here??? someone correct me if i'm wrong?

Danaj wrote: I think baby becomes a citizen if born here??? someone correct me if i'm wrong?

That used to be the way but they changed it, I think last year?

What work visa is she on? If she is on a work to residence one which is over 2 years then she is classified as a tax resident and entitled to free maternity care.

However if she is on her first work visa of less than 2 years she doesnt qualify. If she is on her second one and already worked for 2 years here she is classified as tax resident.