The principal testing method nationally is now a RAT (Rapid Antigen Test), which come in kits - usually five to a pack - designed to be used at home by people who either have symptoms, or are a household contact of someone with COVID-19. For this reason, our test sites are largely geared up for drive-through collection of RATs. RAT kits are free at DHB testing centres, General Practices and some pharmacies (see list below).
PCR tests can still be carried out by a trained health professional at our Orchard Road, Wigram, Whānau Ora and Ashburton sites, but only for people who have been referred for that kind of test (by their GP for example) or people who are immunocompromised and therefore need the added reassurance of a PCR test, which is more accurate.
To help speed things up at all our RAT collection sites please remember to place your order for RATs before heading to a collection site – and have your order number at the ready.
Orders can be made via the online system at https://requestrats.covid19.health.nz
or by free calling 0800 222 478 to request your RAT tests.
As staffing resources allow, further RAT Collection sites will be set up in other areas.
Note that you may need to wait if it’s busy. Our staff are doing their very best to provide RATs to everyone who needs them as quickly as possible. They deserve respect and kindness while they do their work.
No on-demand or walk-in COVID-19 testing is being carried out at Christchurch Hospital.
It’s important that you report every RAT result – negative and positive - on My Covid Record website: https://mycovidrecord.health.nz/ as this helps the Ministry of Health understand the size and trends of the outbreak.
If you need a hand or would prefer to record your result over the phone, you can call 0800 222 478. Parents and caregivers can report the results for tamariki/children via the 0800 numbers. You can ask questions about the process of recording your results by emailing help@mycovidrecord.min.health.nz
The Ministry of Health has produced a video which outlines the process.
Do you know your NHI number?
If heading to one of the testing centres, please take your NHI number with you, as it will help speed things up.
Tip// A handy place to store your NHI number is in your phone contacts – useful for future reference.
174 Orchard Road, (Off Harewood Road), Christchurch.
Hours: 9am-4pm, 7 days a week until further notice.
Location: 250 Pages Road, Wainoni, Christchurch.
Hours: 9am – 3:30pm, 7 days a week.
Please note: The Wigram RAT collection site closed down on Friday 8 April 2022.
Location: 35 Mustang Avenue, old Wigram Fire Station on the corner of Mustang and Sioux Avenues
Hours: This collection centre is now closed until further notice.
Location: 55 Jack Hinton Drive, Addington.
Hours: This collection centre is now closed until further notice.
Location: The testing centre at Ashburton Hospital has closed and relocated to the former ACL Building, at 48 South Street, Ashburton - entry off Cass Street).
Hours: 10am-2pm, 7 days a week.
Please note: This is not a drive-through site, there is car parking available on site for people to walk up and collect their pre-ordered RATs from the marquee. Car parking can be in high demand between 2.45-3.15pm due to school pick-ups.
Location: Northern end of the Selwyn Health Hub - Norman Kirk Drive, Rolleston.
Hours: 1pm-5pm Monday to Friday only. *These hours may be subject to change at short notice
Location: Waimakariri Hockey Turf, at 291 Coldstream Road, Rangiora.
Hours: This collection centre is now closed until further notice.
These pharmacies will be only be fulfilling orders so please remember to place your order for RATs before heading to a collection site – and have your order number ready when you arrive.
Further instructions and service hours for each pharmacy's RATs collection service are listed on their pharmacy page on Healthpoint, links to these pages are below.
Pharmacy/Medical Centre | Address |
---|---|
Addington Pharmacy | 348 Lincoln Road, Addington,, Christchurch |
Akaroa Pharmacy | 55 Beach Road, Akaroa |
Amberley Pharmacy | 127A Carters Road, Amberley |
Beckford Health Pharmacy | 14 Beckford Road, Saint Martins, Christchurch |
Burwood Pharmacy | 11 Parnwell Street, Burwood, Christchurch |
Cheviot Community Health Centre | 6 Robinson Street, Cheviot |
Darfield Pharmacy | 58 South Terrace, Darfield |
Ewart Douglas Pharmacy | 403 Ilam Road, Bryndwr, Christchurch |
Hammersley Pharmacy | 202 Hills Road, Edgeware, Christchurch |
HealthWorks Pharmacy - Hanmer Springs | 7/24 Conical Hill Road, Hanmer Springs |
Hei Hei Pharmacy | 34 Wycola Avenue, Hei Hei, Christchurch |
Hillmorton Pharmacy | 9 Halswell Road, Hoon Hay, Christchurch |
Hoon Hay Pharmacy Ltd | 120 Sparks Road, Hoon Hay, Christchurch |
Ilam Pharmacy | 209 Waimairi Rd, Ilam, Christchurch |
Kaiapoi Crossing Pharmacy | 7/77 Hilton Street, Kaiapoi |
Kaiapoi North Pharmacy | 40 Charles Street, Kaiapoi |
Kaikōura Health (Te Hā o Te Ora) | 25 Deal Street, Kaikōura |
Kendal Pharmacy | 64 Kendal Avenue, Burnside, Christchurch |
Kiwi Pharmacy - Highsted | 2/118A Claridges Road, Casebrook, Christchurch |
Kiwi Pharmacy - Yaldhurst | 3 Filly Place, Yaldhurst, Christchurch |
Leeston Pharmacy | 76 High Street, Leeston |
Life Pharmacy Merivale (Please use Papanui Rd entrance) | 193 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch |
Lincoln Pharmacy | 8 Gerald Street, Lincoln |
Linwood Village Pharmacy | 2/384 Worcester Street, Christchurch |
Methven Pharmacy | 101 Main Street, Methven |
Oxford Pharmacy | 49B Main Street, Oxford |
Papanui Pharmacy | 438 Papanui Road, Strowan, Christchurch |
Pegasus Pharmacy | 52 Pegasus Main Street, Pegasus |
Pharmacy Xtra | Corner Madras St & Moorhouse Ave, 3/347 Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch Central |
QEII Pharmacy | 1/251 Travis Road, North New Brighton, Christchurch |
Rakaia Health Post and Photo | 68 Elizabeth Avenue, Rakaia |
Redcliffs Pharmacy | 87 Main Road, Redcliffs, Christchurch |
Remedy Pharmacy - Riccarton | 107 Wainui Street, Riccarton, Christchurch |
Remedy Pharmacy St Albans (formerly McIntosh Pharmacy) | 250 Springfield Road, St Albans. Christchurch |
Selwyn Village Pharmacy | 316 Selwyn Street, Spreydon, Christchurch |
Shields Pharmacy | 95 Main North Road, Papanui, Christchurch |
Shirley Dispensary | 13 Marshland Road, Shirley, Christchurch |
Silverstream Kaiapoi Pharmacy | 10/42 Silverstream Boulevard, Kaiapoi |
Stans 7 Day Pharmacy (Rangiora) | 15 Ashley Street, Rangiora |
Tancred Street Dispensary | 135 Tancred Street, Ashburton |
The Pharmacy @ Phillipstown | 270 Ferry Road, Waltham, Christchurch |
Unichem Cashel Pharmacy | 111 Cashel Street, Christchurch Central |
Unichem Ilam Healthworks Pharmacy | 110 Memorial Avenue, Ilam, Christchurch |
Unichem Lincoln Road Pharmacy | 30D Lincoln Road, Spreydon, Christchurch |
Unichem Medical Corner Pharmacy | 237A High Street Rangiora |
Unichem Parklands Medical Pharmacy | 345 Mairehau Road, Parklands, Christchurch |
Unichem Rolleston Village Pharmacy | 8/92 Rolleston Drive, Rolleston |
Unichem Wigram Pharmacy | The Landing, 102 The Runway, Wigram, Christchurch |
Union Street Pharmacy, New Brighton | 18 Union Street, New Brighton, Christchurch |
University Pharmacy | James Hight Building, University Drive, Ilam, Christchurch |
Waikari Health Centre | 100 Princes Street, Waikari |
Wilson's Barrington Pharmacy | 256 Barrington Street, Spreydon, Christchurch |
Please refer to the Healthpoint website for details about general practices offering COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.
If you require a test before travel overseas you need to contact your General Practice or an Urgent care facility to book an appointment for this. You need to book the test within the timeframe required by the country you are travelling to (usually 3-5 days before travel) and with enough time for the result to come back (usually 48 hours). You will be charged for this test. Costs may vary.
Community Based Testing Centres are not able to perform COVID-19 travel tests because they are unable to take payment onsite.
More information about COVID-19 testing is available on the Unite Against COVID-19 website
Page last updated: 24 May 2022
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