Private hire bookings and charges

St John operates a Private Ambulance Hire service. These include transfers:

• Travelling to or from a private address (including rest homes).
• Travelling to or from a hospital (if not hospital authorised).
• Discharge transfer from a hospital.

These transports may are not covered by government funding. 

If the ambulance transfer is a private booking (booked by a member of the public), the patient/whanau are responsible for the cost of the service. The cost depends on the number of kilometres travelled, the number of staff required, and whether the distance requires an overnight stay for Hato Hone St John staff. A quote will be provided and must be accepted by the patient/whanau prior to the transfer commencing. When making a booking via the web portal on behalf of a patient, the hospital/booker must ensure the customer is aware of all charges relating to the booking request.

Pricing

• 35km or less - $243.80 
  
• Over 35km - $9.17 per km
• Additional charges may apply for journeys of more than 35km
• Additional charges may apply for complex ambulance transports, including requests for additional staff and airside retrievals from aircraft, ferry transfers, additional staff, staffed delayed waiting for the patient, and accommodation.

Non-eligible visitors

• Minimum charge - $976.00 

Eligible visitors are those from The Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau, work visa holders (eligible to be in NZ for two or more years) and UK citizens normally living in the UK and visiting New Zealand. 

All charges listed are GST inclusive. 

All private hire requests are subject to availability and generally require 48-hours notice. Complex and long haul transfers may require further notice. Please contact the Health Transport Operations Centre to arrange a formal quote if required. 

More details on Ambulance charges can be found here