Thanks, Renate - I think I've seen about $500/person for a year. I'm not used to paying health insurance, but yes that's very reasonable.
J&M - great link on the health service. Another thing I was wondering about comes up here: you become eligible for health care if you get a work visa that entitles you to 'remain in New Zealand for a period of time which, together with the time that person has already been lawfully in New Zealand immediately prior to obtaining the visa, equals or exceeds two years'.
My studies will run through all of 2017 and so as I understand it I'd be given a student visa for all of that year, expiring on 31 March of the following year. Let's say that in January of 2018 then, with my studies completed, I applied for and received a 'post-study work visa' (in lieu of a work visa through a real job offer) and the post-study visa ran for 12 months, it'd then at least equal the 2-year total duration called for and it seems then that I and my dependents would be eligible for health care from that point on, until the work visa ended at least. As also stated, 'Note: Time spent lawfully in New Zealand immediately prior to the current work visa/permit counts towards the two years (ie. on a visitor or student visa/permit or another work visa/permit).' Wondering if this was also your experience, Renate?