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.
Anyone in Aotearoa New Zealand can get free RATs. You can pick these up from a collection site - see below.
More information about how to get RATs tests can be found on www.covid19.govt.nz
COVID-19 tests are free and widely available. Rapid Antigen Tests are the recommended way to test for COVID-19.
PCR tests are used in some situations, if recommended by your GP. Results take 2 to 5 days. A health professional can advise you on the right test to take in your situation.
All Community Testing Clinics in Canterbury have now closed. If you require a PCR test for international travel or for other reasons, your General Practice may be able to perform this. If this service is not offered, please refer to HealthPoint to find your nearest clinic doing PCR testing.
Please note that testing for the purpose of overseas travel is not government funded.
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 the 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.
Further instructions and service hours for each pharmacy's RATs collection service are listed on their pharmacy page on the Healthpoint website. Links to these pages are below.
| Pharmacy/Medical Centre | Suburb/Town | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Addington Pharmacy | Addington | 348 Lincoln Road, Addington, Christchurch |
| Akaroa Pharmacy | Akaroa | 55 Beach Road, Akaroa |
| Allenton Pharmacy | Ashburton | 67 Harrison Street, Allenton, Ashburton, Canterbury |
| Amberley Pharmacy | Amberley | 127A Carters Road, Amberley |
| Bastins Pharmacy | St Albans | 219 Innes Road, Saint Albans, Christchurch |
| Beckford Health Pharmacy | St Martins | 14 Beckford Road, Saint Martins, Christchurch |
| Burwood Pharmacy | Burwood | 11 Parnwell Street, Burwood, Christchurch |
| Cheviot Community Health Centre | Cheviot | 6 Robinson Street, Cheviot |
| Cranford Pharmacy | St Albans | 115 Sherborne Street, St Albans, Christchurch |
| Darfield Pharmacy | Darfield | 58 South Terrace, Darfield |
| Eastern Pharmacy Aranui | Aranui | 338 Pages Road, Aranui, Christchurch |
| Ewart Douglas Pharmacy | Bryndwr | 403 Ilam Road, Bryndwr, Christchurch |
| Hammersley Pharmacy | Edgeware | 202 Hills Road, Edgeware, Christchurch |
| HealthWorks Pharmacy - Hanmer Springs | Hanmer Springs | 7/24 Conical Hill Road, Hanmer Springs |
| Hei Hei Pharmacy | Hei Hei | 34 Wycola Avenue, Hei Hei, Christchurch |
| Hillmorton Pharmacy | Hoon Hay | 9 Halswell Road, Hoon Hay, Christchurch |
| Hoon Hay Pharmacy Ltd | Hoon Hay | 120 Sparks Road, Hoon Hay, Christchurch |
| Ilam Pharmacy | Ilam | 209 Waimairi Rd, Ilam, Christchurch |
| Kaiapoi Crossing Pharmacy | Kaiapoi | 7/77 Hilton Street, Kaiapoi |
| Kaiapoi North Pharmacy | Kaiapoi | 40 Charles Street, Kaiapoi |
| Kaikōura Health (Te Hā o Te Ora) | Kaikōura | 25 Deal Street, Kaikōura |
| Kaikōura Pharmacy | Kaikōura | 37 West End, Kaikōura |
| Kendal Pharmacy | Burnside | 64 Kendal Avenue, Burnside, Christchurch |
| Kiwi Pharmacy - Highsted | Casebrook | 2/118A Claridges Road, Casebrook, Christchurch |
| Kiwi Pharmacy - Yaldhurst | Yaldhurst | 3 Filly Place, Yaldhurst, Christchurch |
| Leeston Pharmacy | Leeston | 76 High Street, Leeston |
| Life Pharmacy Barrington | Spreydon | Shop 54, Barrington Shopping Centre, 256 Barrington Street, Spreydon, Christchurch |
| Life Pharmacy Hornby | Hornby | Shop 104, 418 Main South Road, Hornby, Christchurch |
| Life Pharmacy Merivale (Please use Papanui Rd entrance) | Merivale | 193 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch |
| Life Pharmacy The Palms | Shirley | The Palms Shopping Centre, 19-21 Marshland Road, Shirley, Christchurch |
| Lincoln Pharmacy | Lincoln | 8 Gerald Street, Lincoln |
| Linwood Village Pharmacy | Christchurch Central | 2/384 Worcester Street, Christchurch |
| Lyttelton Pharmacy | Lyttelton | 19 London Street, Lyttelton |
| Mairehau Community Pharmacy | Mairehau | 422 Innes Road Mairehau, Christchurch |
| Marshlands Family Pharmacy | Marshlands | 427 Marshland Road, Marshland, Christchurch |
| Methven Pharmacy | Methven | 101 Main Street, Methven |
| Oxford Pharmacy | Oxford | 49B Main Street, Oxford |
| Papanui Pharmacy | Strowan | 438 Papanui Road, Strowan, Christchurch |
| Pegasus Pharmacy | Pegasus | 52 Pegasus Main Street, Pegasus |
| Pharmacy Xtra | Christchurch Central | Corner Madras St & Moorhouse Ave, 3/347 Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch Central |
| Prebbleton Pharmacy | Prebbleton | 3/563 Springs Road, Prebbleton |
| QEII Pharmacy | North New Brighton | 1/251 Travis Road, North New Brighton, Christchurch |
| Rakaia Health Post and Photo | Rakaia | 68 Elizabeth Avenue, Rakaia |
| Redcliffs Pharmacy | Redcliffs | 87 Main Road, Redcliffs, Christchurch |
| Redwood Pharmacy | Redwood | 282 Main North Road, Redwood, Christchurch |
| Remedy Pharmacy - Riccarton | Riccarton | 107 Wainui Street, Riccarton, Christchurch |
| Remedy Pharmacy St Albans (formerly McIntosh Pharmacy) | St Albans | 250 Springfield Road, St Albans. Christchurch |
| Selwyn Community Pharmacy | Lincoln | 5B Gerald Street, Lincoln |
| Selwyn Village Pharmacy | Spreydon | 316 Selwyn Street, Spreydon, Christchurch |
| Shields Pharmacy | Papanui | 95 Main North Road, Papanui, Christchurch |
| Shirley Dispensary | Shirley | 13 Marshland Road, Shirley, Christchurch |
| Silverstream Kaiapoi Pharmacy | Kaiapoi | 10/42 Silverstream Boulevard, Kaiapoi |
| St Albans Pharmacy | St Albans | 1073 Colombo Street, Saint Albans, Christchurch |
| St Martins Pharmacy | St Martins | Shop 2, 92 Wilsons Road, Saint Martins, Christchurch |
| Stans 7 Day Pharmacy (Rangiora) | Rangiora | 15 Ashley Street, Rangiora |
| Tancred Street Dispensary | Ashburton | 135 Tancred Street, Ashburton |
| The Pharmacy @ Phillipstown | Waltham | 270 Ferry Road, Waltham, Christchurch |
| Unichem Belfast Pharmacy | Belfast | 8/812 Main North Road, Belfast, Christchurch |
| Unichem Cashel Pharmacy | Christchurch Central | 111 Cashel Street, Christchurch Central |
| Unichem Eastgate Pharmacy | Linwood | Shop 309, Corner of Buckleys Road & Linwood Avenue, Linwood |
| Unichem Elmwood Pharmacy | Strowan | 3 Normans Road, Strowan, Christchurch |
| Unichem Ilam Healthworks Pharmacy | Ilam | 110 Memorial Avenue, Ilam, Christchurch |
| Unichem Lincoln Road Pharmacy | Spreydon | 30D Lincoln Road, Spreydon, Christchurch |
| Unichem Medical Corner Pharmacy | Rangiora | 237A High Street Rangiora |
| Unichem Parklands Medical Pharmacy | Parklands | 345 Mairehau Road, Parklands, Christchurch |
| Unichem Rolleston Village Pharmacy | Rolleston | 8/92 Rolleston Drive, Rolleston |
| Unichem Wigram Pharmacy | Wigram | The Landing, 102 The Runway, Wigram, Christchurch |
| Union Street Pharmacy, New Brighton | New Brighton | 18 Union Street, New Brighton, Christchurch |
| University Pharmacy | Ilam | James Hight Building, University Drive, Ilam, Christchurch |
| Waikari Health Centre | Waikari | 100 Princes Street, Waikari |
| Whānau Ora RATS Collection Centre | Wainoni | 250 Pages Road, Wainoni, Christchurch |
| Wilson's Barrington Pharmacy | Spreydon | 256 Barrington Street, Spreydon, Christchurch |
| Wises Pharmacy | Ashburton | Shop 4/155 Wills Street, Ashburton |
| Woodham Road Pharmacy | Linwood | 1/23 Woodham Road, Linwood, Christchurch |
Please refer to the Healthpoint website for details about general practices offering COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.
If you require a test before travelling overseas, you need to contact your General Practice or an Urgent care facility to book an appointment for this. You will 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, as 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: 25 July 2023
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