You can access information on the Health Navigator NZ website without using mobile data if you use the Spark, Skinny, Vodafone or 2degrees mobile networks.
That means if you have run out of data or have a phone with no data on it, you will still be able to go to our website to find out about health conditions, medicines, healthy living and so much more.
But even if you have data on your phone, you can still visit our site – for free!
Why can I visit Health Navigator without using mobile data?
For some New Zealanders, the cost of mobile data can be a barrier to getting access to key health and wellbeing information. The people who can’t access information are often those with the highest needs.
As part of improving equity of access to health information and services, the Ministry of Health is automatically charged all mobile data charges for content hosted on our websites.
This is known as sponsored data (also known as zero-rated data).
How do I access a sponsored website such as Health Navigator?
If your mobile phone is connected to the Spark, Skinny, Vodafone or 2degrees networks, all you need to do is make sure your mobile data is turned on before you enter the address of the sponsored website into the web browser on your mobile device.
Sponsored data is available both for pre-pay users and those on monthly plans. However, it is not available if your device is set to global roaming, if you are using a mobile network outside of New Zealand, or if your mobile plan is with Warehouse Mobile, CallPlus, Slingshot, Compass, Black + White, Orcon, M2 or any other provider.
What data usage is sponsored?
Most content on our website is free to access from your mobile device if you are connected to the Spark, Skinny, Vodafone or 2degrees networks. However, externally hosted content available through our website will incur data charges according to your usual terms and conditions.
That means if you click on a link that takes you to another website, you will use up your data. For any external content other than video content, this will typically translate to a few cents of usage per visit. A link that is taking you to another website has a green square with an arrow in it beside the linked (green) text.
So you can browse our website to access core health-related information free of charge, but any YouTube videos or other external content on our website will count as data usage.
Can I get other data-free health information and services?
You can also access some patient portals and use some mental health and government health websites, as well as Plunket, without using mobile data. Find out more here.
Learn more
Sponsored data Ministry of Health, NZ, 2020