About Us
About Us
Southern Cross Healthcare - caring
for more New Zealanders
Southern Cross Healthcare, previously known as Southern Cross Hospitals, is the largest private healthcare network in New Zealand.
In the 2022/23 financial year, we provided elective surgery to over 95,000 patients at our wholly owned and joint venture hospitals.
In addition, our subsidiaries and joint venture partnerships in rehabilitation, physiotherapy, mental health and workplace health services further support the health outcomes of New Zealanders.
Southern Cross Healthcare provides services to insurance-funded, ACC, Te Whatu Ora and self-paying patients.
Southern Cross Healthcare is extremely proud to be an integral part of New Zealand’s wider healthcare system.
As a for-purpose organisation within a charitable trust, our profits are reinvested to fulfil our purpose of supporting the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.
Find out more about our network >
Our core services
Southern Cross Healthcare is New Zealand’s largest independent healthcare network. A nationwide family of joint venture and wholly owned hospitals; specialist centres; physiotherapy; rehabilitation; and employer health and wellness providers. From post-operative rehabilitation and pain management, to workplace-based vaccinations and mental health services, Southern Cross Healthcare’s focus is committed to better health for more Kiwis.
Private surgical hospitals
Southern Cross hospitals have been a trusted part of New Zealand’s healthcare system for over 40 years. We are proud to be New Zealand’s favourite private hospitals and through our wholly-owned and joint-venture partner hospitals, over 95,000 people received surgical treatment in our 2022/23 financial year.
Specialist centres
Our specialist centres are devoted to the diagnosis and treatment in specific areas of health. Southern Cross specialist centres include world class radiation and endoscopy facilities.
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
Over 48,000 people received physical rehabilitation and physiotherapy support from Southern Cross Healthcare joint venture partners in our 2022/23 financial year. All services are delivered by healthcare professionals who are experts in their fields.
Workplace health
In our 2022/23 financial year, over 15,000 people received mental health support and over 77,000 were supported with health checks and advice; coaching, mentoring and mental health training; return to work support following serious injury or cancer; and support during critical incidents.
We are a people business
Care is at the heart of all we do; and as such Southern Cross Healthcare is a 'people business'.
Our hospital and National Support Office teams increasingly work closely with others across the wider Southern Cross Healthcare network; harnessing the collective expertise to support the best health outcomes for our patients.
Our people
At Southern Cross Healthcare our purpose to advance the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders starts with having a team of highly engaged and motivated employees who are passionate about making a difference.
Our executive leadership team
Our Executive Leadership Team leads from the front; harnessing their experience across healthcare and business to deliver to our purpose of advancing the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.
Southern Cross is with New Zealanders to support healthier lives and thriving communities
The Southern Cross branded businesses are a range of insurance and health-related businesses comprising Southern Cross Healthcare, Southern Cross Health Society, Southern Cross Pet Insurance, and Southern Cross Travel Insurance.
While operating independently of each other, we are united by a common brand, a for-purpose ethos, and we pledge to stand alongside our people and communities. We’re champions for improving intergenerational health and wellbeing and creating a flourishing future for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our latest Community Impact Report highlights the positive ways that Southern Cross contributed to communities in 2023.
Read the Southern Cross 2023 Community Impact Report >
Pause Breathe Smile
Southern Cross is proud to partner with the Pause Breathe Smile Trust and the Mental Health Foundation to make the locally designed and internationally recognised schools’ mindfulness programme freely available to all school children aged five to 12. Pause Breathe Smile equips tamariki with tools to manage the ups and downs of life and set them up for a healthy future.
Round the Bays
Our aspiration of supporting healthier years for more New Zealanders is the driving force behind Southern Cross becoming naming rights sponsor of the iconic Round the Bays events in Auckland and Wellington. We are proud to continue the legacy of these celebrated and long-running community events which bring communities together to have fun while keeping fit. In 2024, 37,000 people collectively took part in both events.
Find out more about the 2024 events >
New nurse career pathways
Over 120 nurses have completed or are currently completing the Registered Nurse Anaesthetic Assistant programme. It was launched by Southern Cross Healthcare in 2018 in response to a shortage of Anaesthetic Technicians. Training registered nurses to boost this essential workforce, reduces the risk of surgery being postponed at short notice.
Sustainability
As a leader in healthcare, we strive to make informed decisions about how we embed, integrate, and take into account the community and environment.
With national influence, we know we can positively contribute to climate change by reducing our carbon emissions and working with others to meet our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Our waste reduction highlights in 2023 include:
- Over 140,000 PVC IV bags collected for recycling by our network of wholly owned hospitals.
- Over 107,000kg of paper, plastic, metal, and cardboard were diverted from landfill.
- Over 30,000 reprocessed single-use devices (such as hover matts, DVT sleeves and blood pressure eco cuffs) saved from being sent to landfill.
Our history and heritage
The history of Southern Cross Healthcare spans more than 40 years. Our origins in the 1960’s were driven by the need for private hospitals following the introduction of health insurance in New Zealand. In 2020 we changed our name from Southern Cross Hospitals to Southern Cross Healthcare to reflect our broader scope of services we now provide to support the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.