Pacific Radiology in New Zealand: what a scan costs and which insurers cover it

Written by Henry Smith · Reviewed by Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931) · Updated 2026-09-09 · Reviewed annually, or sooner if the rules it describes change.

Financial advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a trading name.

Pacific Radiology is a private diagnostic imaging group with 42 clinics across Canterbury, Nelson, Otago/Southland, Waikato and Wellington/Manawatū, part of RHCNZ Medical Imaging Group, New Zealand's largest private radiology provider, and it does not publish a scan price list because it operates on a pay-on-the-day model (Pacific Radiology, about us, retrieved 9 September 2026; Pacific Radiology, payments, retrieved 9 September 2026).

What is Pacific Radiology and who owns it?

Pacific Radiology says it is part of RHCNZ, backed by shareholding radiologists, and that the wider RHCNZ network runs to 67 clinics and more than 1,400 staff, including more than 170 specialist radiologists, across three brands: Auckland Radiology Group, Bay Radiology and Pacific Radiology (Pacific Radiology, about us, retrieved 9 September 2026). RHCNZ's own corporate page separately states its network delivers more than 35% of radiology services nationwide across 65+ clinics (RHCNZ, about, retrieved 9 September 2026).

Pacific Radiology's own clinic locator confirms 42 clinics within its own regions (Canterbury, Nelson, Otago/Southland, Waikato and Wellington/Manawatū), which is the more precise figure for this specific brand rather than the wider three-brand RHCNZ total (Pacific Radiology, about us, retrieved 9 September 2026).

If your scan is in Auckland or Northland, the equivalent RHCNZ brand is Auckland Radiology; if it is in the Bay of Plenty, see Bay Radiology; Auckland also has a fourth RHCNZ-family brand, ARG Te Tai Tokerau Radiology, covering Northland.

Detail	What is published
Parent group	RHCNZ Medical Imaging Group (Pacific Radiology, retrieved 9 September 2026)
Sister brands	Auckland Radiology Group, Bay Radiology (Pacific Radiology, retrieved 9 September 2026)
Clinics (Pacific Radiology only)	42, across Canterbury, Nelson, Otago/Southland, Waikato, Wellington/Manawatū (Pacific Radiology, retrieved 9 September 2026)
Radiologists (RHCNZ-wide)	170+ (RHCNZ, retrieved 9 September 2026)
Ownership	Shareholding radiologists (Pacific Radiology, retrieved 9 September 2026)
Website	https://pacificradiology.com/

What does a scan cost at Pacific Radiology?

Pacific Radiology's payments page states patients pay for their imaging service on the day of treatment at the clinic they attend, accepting cash, credit card and EFTPOS, but no dollar price list for individual scans is published on its patient-facing site in the source pack for this page (Pacific Radiology, payments, retrieved 9 September 2026).

That means self-pay cost is a "not published" answer here, and QuoteHub's own New Zealand-wide research on MRI scan cost and the CT scan cost and PET scan cost pages are the better starting point for indicative national pricing, alongside a direct quote from your local Pacific Radiology clinic.

Question	What is published
Published price list	Not published on Pacific Radiology's own site (Pacific Radiology, retrieved 9 September 2026)
Payment timing	On the day of your appointment (Pacific Radiology, retrieved 9 September 2026)
Payment methods	Cash, credit card, EFTPOS (Pacific Radiology, retrieved 9 September 2026)
Follow-up invoices	Can be paid online by credit card or internet banking (Pacific Radiology, retrieved 9 September 2026)

Which insurers cover a scan at Pacific Radiology?

This is the most useful section for most readers, because for members whose plan includes cover for imaging, the rule is set by the insurer and the AP status of the specific clinic, not by Pacific Radiology's own pricing.

Southern Cross requires diagnostic imaging services, including CT scan, CT angiogram, MRI scan, MRI angiogram, nuclear medicine scan, mammography, X-ray and most ultrasound, to be performed by an Affiliated Provider for the service to be covered under policies where that benefit applies, effective from 20 May 2026 (Southern Cross, Affiliated Provider-only healthcare services, retrieved 9 September 2026). A health directory listing shows at least one Pacific Radiology clinic, the Christchurch Southern Cross-branded site at 129 Bealey Avenue, described as a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider for consultations (Healthpages, Pacific Radiology - Southern Cross, retrieved 9 September 2026), but AP status varies by clinic and by service, so confirm your specific clinic in Southern Cross's own Healthcare Finder before assuming cover.

nib says its First Choice network gives members 100% of eligible costs covered at recognised First Choice providers, but nib does not publish a static named list on its main pages; members should check current status in nib's live Find a Provider tool for the specific Pacific Radiology clinic and scan type (nib, First Choice network, retrieved 9 September 2026).

AIA's policy wording requires prior approval before non-emergency treatment, including imaging tied to a wider claim, and does not publish a narrow named imaging-provider network in the wording reviewed for this page (AIA Private Health Policy Wording, retrieved 9 September 2026).

Insurer or route	What is published
Southern Cross	MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound and other diagnostic imaging are Affiliated Provider-only where that benefit applies; confirm the specific clinic in the Healthcare Finder (Southern Cross, retrieved 9 September 2026)
nib	First Choice providers get 100% of eligible costs covered; check current status in nib's live provider tool (nib, retrieved 9 September 2026)
AIA	Prior approval required before non-emergency imaging tied to a claim (AIA, retrieved 9 September 2026)
Partners Life	Non-surgical hospital benefit and surgical benefit may cover related imaging, subject to policy terms and prior approval (Partners Life, retrieved 9 September 2026)
UniMed	Hospital cover pays imaging benefits per plan wording, prior approval required (UniMed Hospital Select, retrieved 9 September 2026)

How do referrals and prior approval work for a scan?

Almost every non-emergency scan in New Zealand starts with a referral, from a GP or a specialist, and if you want an insurer to pay, prior approval is usually the next step before you book.

Southern Cross's Affiliated Provider system means the provider itself typically organises prior approval and claims on the member's behalf when both the provider and the service are eligible, which is one of the reasons Southern Cross promotes using an AP (Southern Cross, Affiliated Provider, retrieved 9 September 2026). See Southern Cross prior approval and Southern Cross claims for the general process.

For nib, AIA, Partners Life and UniMed members, check nib prior approval, UniMed prior approval or your specific policy wording before booking a scan you intend to claim.

Step	What is published
Referral	From a GP or specialist, required for most scans (QuoteHub Research, retrieved 9 September 2026)
Southern Cross prior approval	Often organised by the Affiliated Provider on the member's behalf (Southern Cross, retrieved 9 September 2026)
nib, AIA, Partners Life, UniMed	Check the insurer's own prior-approval process before booking (nib, retrieved 9 September 2026)
Payment if not covered	Pay Pacific Radiology directly on the day (Pacific Radiology, retrieved 9 September 2026)

Common questions about Pacific Radiology

How much does an MRI cost at Pacific Radiology?

Pacific Radiology does not publish a fixed MRI price on its patient-facing site; it operates a pay-on-the-day model, so the practical way to get a figure is to ask your local clinic for a quote when you book, or to check QuoteHub's MRI scan cost NZ page for national indicative pricing (Pacific Radiology, payments, retrieved 9 September 2026).

Is Pacific Radiology a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider?

At least one Pacific Radiology clinic, in Christchurch, is listed as a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider for consultations in a health directory, but AP status is set per clinic and per service, so confirm your own clinic and scan type in Southern Cross's Healthcare Finder rather than assuming network-wide status (Healthpages, retrieved 9 September 2026).

Do I need a referral for a scan at Pacific Radiology?

Yes for almost all non-emergency imaging; a GP or specialist referral is the standard route, and if you want your insurer to pay, prior approval is typically needed before the scan, not after (QuoteHub Research, retrieved 9 September 2026).

Where are Pacific Radiology's locations?

Pacific Radiology operates 42 clinics across Canterbury, Nelson, Otago/Southland, Waikato and Wellington/Manawatū (Pacific Radiology, about us, retrieved 9 September 2026).

Does nib cover scans at Pacific Radiology?

nib says eligible costs are covered at 100% for First Choice network providers, but you need to check the current status of your specific Pacific Radiology clinic and scan type in nib's live Find a Provider tool rather than assume network-wide cover (nib, retrieved 9 September 2026).

How long do I wait for results from Pacific Radiology?

Pacific Radiology's site includes AI-generated payment-page content that is explicitly flagged as not medical advice, and no single published national turnaround time was confirmed for this page; ask your booking clinic directly, since turnaround can depend on the scan type and whether it needs a second radiologist review (Pacific Radiology, payments, retrieved 9 September 2026).

Is Pacific Radiology the same company as Auckland Radiology or Bay Radiology?

They are sister brands under the same parent, RHCNZ Medical Imaging Group, but each operates in its own region: Pacific Radiology in the South Island, Waikato and lower North Island, Auckland Radiology in Auckland and Northland, and Bay Radiology in the Bay of Plenty (Pacific Radiology, retrieved 9 September 2026).

What imaging services does Pacific Radiology offer?

Pacific Radiology's clinics offer services including X-ray, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, bone density (DEXA), breast imaging, CT colonography, fluoroscopy, interventional services and PET-CT, though not every service is available at every clinic (Pacific Radiology, our clinics, retrieved 9 September 2026).

Can I book a scan at Pacific Radiology without insurance?

Yes, Pacific Radiology's pay-on-the-day model applies whether or not you have insurance; without cover or prior approval, you pay the clinic directly at the time of your appointment (Pacific Radiology, payments, retrieved 9 September 2026).

What is the difference between Pacific Radiology and a public hospital scan?

A public hospital scan is generally funded through the public system and subject to clinical-priority waitlisting, while Pacific Radiology is a private provider paid for directly or through insurance; New Zealand's public treatment waitlist had 77,455 people at 31 March 2026, with 35.0% waiting more than four months, which is the kind of delay private imaging is often used to avoid (QuoteHub Research, treatment costs and waiting times, retrieved 9 September 2026).

Does Partners Life or UniMed cover a scan at Pacific Radiology?

Both insurers can cover imaging tied to a wider hospital or specialist claim, subject to their policy terms and prior approval, but neither publishes a Pacific Radiology-specific network in the source pack for this page, so check Partners Life or UniMed directly before booking (Partners Life, retrieved 9 September 2026; UniMed, retrieved 9 September 2026).

What are the alternatives to Pacific Radiology in Christchurch?

Christchurch patients can also compare hospital-based imaging at Southern Cross Christchurch Hospital and Forté Health Christchurch, or, for the North Island, Auckland Radiology, Bay Radiology and TRG Imaging.

Verdict

QuoteHub's read is that Pacific Radiology answers "where" clearly, 42 clinics across five regions, and "who owns it" clearly, RHCNZ, shareholding radiologists, sister brands in Auckland Radiology and Bay Radiology, but leaves "what will it cost me" for the phone call, since it publishes no price list. The insurer question is the one worth doing properly before you book: confirm your specific clinic's Affiliated Provider or First Choice status with Southern Cross or nib directly, rather than assuming the brand name alone guarantees cover. See the providers hub, health insurance companies and the private hospitals directory for where a scan often leads next.