What Is ACC? Understanding New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Scheme
Accidents can happen to anyone — at home, at work, on the road, or even while you're on holiday. In many countries, if you're injured, you'd need to figure out who caused the accident before you can claim compensation. In New Zealand things are different. That’s where ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) comes in.
ACC is a unique system that takes the stress out of injury cover. It means that no matter how your accident happened (or whose fault it was) you’re still eligible for support. Whether you sprain your ankle, break a bone, or suffer a more serious injury, ACC helps cover the costs to get you back on your feet.
Let’s take a closer look at how it works, what it covers, and how to access it if you need it.
A No-Fault Scheme: What That Really Means
ACC is a no-fault accident compensation scheme. This means you don’t need to go to court, prove who caused the accident, or assign blame to receive help. You’re covered whether someone else caused your injury or even if you accidentally injured yourself.
This means a lot of stress and delays are removed. It allows you to focus on recovery instead of navigating complex legal processes. For example, if you trip over a step at home, or fall off your bike, or get hurt at work, ACC steps in to help - no questions asked about fault.
Who Is Covered?
ACC provides cover for everyone in New Zealand. This includes residents, visitors, workers, students, and even tourists. If you get injured during your stay in the country you’re likely to be eligible for ACC support.
It doesn’t matter where the accident happens — at work, on the sports field, in your garden, or even in a car. As long as the injury is the result of an accident ACC can step in.
What Does ACC Cover?
ACC helps with a wide range of accident-related support, including:
Medical treatment: like doctor visits, x-rays, and surgery
Rehabilitation: such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or home support
Weekly compensation for lost income: if you can’t work because of your injury
Support with returning to work or daily life
In serious cases ACC can also help with permanent injury support, long-term care, or home modifications to help with mobility.
ACC assistance is designed to ease the financial pressure while you recover and ensure you get the help you need to get back to your everyday activities.
What Doesn’t ACC Cover?
ACC is focused specifically on accidents. These are determined as sudden physical events that cause injury. That means it doesn’t cover:
Illnesses: like flu, cancer, or heart conditions
Mental health conditions: not directly caused by a physical injury (although there are some exceptions)
Gradual wear and tear: or conditions related to ageing
Travel costs or accommodation: unless required for treatment and approved
Because of this, many people still take out private health insurance or travel insurance to cover the gaps ACC doesn’t include.
How Is ACC Funded?
ACC is publicly funded through a system of levies. If you’re employed a portion of your earnings goes towards ACC automatically. Employers and businesses also pay levies to fund workplace injury cover.
If you’re self-employed you’ll pay your own ACC levy based on your income. Vehicle owners also contribute through their car registration which helps fund road accident cover.
This shared system means that when someone gets hurt there’s already funding in place to help them recover.
How Do You Make an ACC Claim?
If you get injured and think ACC might apply the first step is to visit a medical provider. This could be your GP, urgent care, or a physiotherapist. They’ll help you complete the ACC forms and lodge the claim on your behalf.
Once your claim is accepted ACC will get in touch with you to confirm what support you’re eligible for. They’ll explain how to access treatment, claim lost income if needed, and what to expect next.
You can also register and track your claim online making it easier to manage everything while you recover.
Why ACC Is Important to Understand
ACC is one of New Zealand’s most valuable public support systems. It helps make sure that if something goes wrong you’re not left to figure it out alone. You can get treatment quickly, access rehab, and still receive some income while you’re unable to work.
However, it’s not a full replacement for private insurance. If you’re travelling overseas or want cover for illness, mental health care, or faster access to elective treatments, it’s worth considering additional insurance options. Remember, ACC is there to protect you after an accident and not when wider health and wellbeing situations arise.
Know Your Rights Before You Need Them
Understanding how ACC works means you’re better prepared if an accident ever happens. You’ll know what to expect, what’s covered, and what steps to take.
No one plans to get injured. But if you do it’s good to know that ACC is there, ready to help you recover and get back to living your life.