Helplines

The following helplines are free to call/text:

• Healthline (health.govt.nz) – Call 0800 611 116, anytime 24/7, for free health advice, information and treatment from professional healthcare providers. Māori clinicians, interpreters and NZ Relay services are available.
• Disability Helpline – Call 0800 11 12 13 or text 8988, support for the disability community with any general health concerns, COVID testing, face mask exemptions, and managing COVID at home. Available 8.30am - 5pm, weekdays. Outside of that, calls are answered by a trained member of the Healthline team.
• Vaccination Healthline – Call 0800 28 29 26, for support with COVID, flu, MMR (measles) and Boostrix (whooping cough) vaccines. Available 8am - 6pm, weekdays.
• Poisons advice (poisons.co.nz) – Call 0800 764 766 (0800 POISON), anytime 24/7, for professional and timely advice during poisoning incidents.

The following helplines are free to call/text:

• Te Hā - Waitaha (tehawaitaha.nz) - Call 0800 425 700, for face-to-face stop smoking support for anyone in Canterbury. You can also email: smokefree@cdhb.health.nz or submit this self-referral form.
• Quitline (quit.org.nz) – Call 0800 778 778 or text 4006, anytime 24/7, for support to quit smoking or vaping.
• Alcohol Drug Helpline (alcoholdrughelp.org.nz) – Call 0800 787 797 or text 8681, anytime 24/7, for confidential advice, information and support about drinking or other drug use. Online chat is also available.
• Gambling Helpline (gamblinghelpline.co.nz) – Call 0800 654 655 or text 8006, anytime 24/7, for confidential support by a trained counsellor, if you are affected by or worried about gambling or the gambling of someone else.
• RecoveRing – Call 0800 678 789. A dedicated helpline for offenders and prisoners (and their whānau and families who are helping them) who need support with their alcohol or drug use.

The following helplines are confidential, and free to call/text:

• Need to talk? (1737.org.nz) – Call or text 1737, anytime 24/7, if you’re feeling out-of-sorts, overwhelmed, anxious, a bit down or just need someone to talk to. You’ll talk or text with a trained counsellor.
• Depression Helpline (depression.org.nz) – Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202, anytime 24/7, to talk to a trained counsellor about how you’re feeling or to ask any questions.
• Lifeline (lifeline.org.nz) – Call 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or text 4357 (HELP), anytime 24/7, for support from qualified counsellors and trained volunteers about a range of issues. This could include psychological and emotional distress, financial and work issues, marriage and family problems and with callers who are lonely, ill, depressed or the victims of violence or abuse.
• Suicide Crisis Helpline (lifeline.org.nz) – Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO), anytime 24/7, for support from a trained counsellor, if you think you, or someone you know, may be thinking about suicide.
• Anxiety phone line (anxiety.org.nz) – Call 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY), anytime 24/7, if you’re feeling anxious and would like to talk to someone about anxiety relief.
• Samaritans (samaritans.org.nz) – Call 0800 726 666, anytime 24/7, for support if you’re feeling worried, stressed, lonely, depressed, or suicidal.
• OutLine NZ (outline.org.nz) – Call 0800 688 5463, 10am – 9pm weekdays and 6pm – 9pm weekends, for support with sexuality or gender identity.
• MusicHelps (nzmusicfoundation.org.nz) – Call 0508 MUSICHELPS, anytime 24/7, for on the phone and in-person counselling service fully funded by the NZ Music Foundation and provided free of charge to those in the Kiwi music community who can’t access the help they need due to hardship and other circumstances.

The following helplines are free to call/text:

• The Lowdown (thelowdown.co.nz) – Call 0800 111 757 or text 5626, anytime 24/7, if you’re feeling down or anxious aren’t sure what support you need. You’ll talk to a trained counsellor who can find the best way to help you. All calls/texts are confidential. You can also email the Lowdown team: team@thelowdown.co.nz
• Youthline (youthline.co.nz) – Call 0800 376 633 or text 234, anytime 24/7, if you’re having difficult experiences or feelings. Youthline can listen to you concerns and help you figure out what’s right for you. All calls/texts are confidential. You can also email Youthline: talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat.
• What’s Up (whatsup.co.nz) – Call 0800 942 8787 0800 What’s Up is run by Barnardos New Zealand. We’re a free, nationally-available counselling helpline and webchat service for children and teenagers. All calls/chats are confidential.
• SPARX.org.nz (sparx.org.nz) – online e-therapy tool that helps young people and rangatahi learn skills through gameplay to deal with feeling down, depressed or stressed.

The following helplines are free and confidential:

• Elder Abuse Support Service (superseniors.msd.govt.nz) – Call 0800 32 668 65 (0800 EA NOT OK), anytime of the day 24/7. Registered nurses can provide you with information and support about elder abuse.
• Seniorline (seniorline.org.nz) – Call 0800 725 463. A free information service for older people.

The following helplines are free to call/text:

• Are You OK (areyouok.org.nz) – Call 0800 456 450, 9am – 11pm daily. Family violence helpline that can provide information and put you in touch with services in your region. All calls are confidential.
• Women’s Refuge Crisisline (womensrefuge.org.nz) – Call 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE), anytime 24/7, for information, advice and support about domestic violence as well as help in a crisis. All calls are confidential.
• Shine (2shine.org.nz) – Call 0508 744 633, 9am – 11pm daily, if you’re experiencing domestic abuse or concerned about someone you know. All calls are confidential.
• Shakti Crisis Line (shakti-international.org) – Call 0800 742 584, anytime 24/7, for migrant or refugee women living with family violence. All calls are confidential.
• Vagus Line – Call 0800 56 76 666, 12pm – 2pm Mon, Wed, Fri. Vagus Line promotes family harmony among Chinese, enhance parenting skills, decrease conflict among family members (couple, parent-child, in-laws) and stop family violence.
• Parent Help (parenthelp.org.nz) – Call 0800 568 856, 9am – 9pm daily, for parents/whānau seeking support, advice and practical strategies on all parenting concerns. Calls are anonymous, non-judgemental and confidential.
• Skylight (skylight.org.nz) – Call 0800 299 100, 9am – 5pm daily, for support through trauma, loss and grief.
• Yellow Brick Road (yellowbrickroad.org.nz) – Call 0800 876 682 for families and whānau supporting a loved one who has a mental illness.
• Family Services 211 Helpline (familyservices.govt.nz) – Call 0800 211 211 for help finding (and direct transfer to) community-based health and social support services in your area. From 1 December 2024, the 211 line will no longer be available. For any queries related to the decommissioning of the 211 Helpline email MSD at family_violence_CPP@msd.govt.nz