Reviewed by the Regen Provider Guide editorial team. Last updated 6 October 2026.
This page is for general education. It is not medical advice. Talk with your own GP or specialist before you choose any treatment.
If you live in New Zealand and are looking into stem cell therapy, you have probably found a mix of clinic websites, overseas offers, and big claims. This stem cell therapy New Zealand guide helps you sort through it. It covers which clinics are listed in our directory in New Zealand, how unapproved treatments work under New Zealand rules, what the evidence shows, and the questions to ask before you pay.
Stem cell therapy New Zealand: clinics in our directory
As of 6 October 2026, our New Zealand providers page listed four providers. Three of them are on our Auckland page.
| Provider | Location (from its listing) | Treatments mentioned in its listing |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Stem Cell Clinic | Auckland and Christchurch | Physician-led stem cell programs |
| NZ Stem Cell Treatment Center | Whangārei and the Queenstown area | Adult stem cell-based care |
| ReGen Cellular | Auckland | Stem cell therapy and PRP, for osteoarthritis and sports injuries |
| Auckland Regenerative Clinic | Auckland | Stem cell therapy and PRP; listed conditions include disc problems and hip pain |
The details in this table come from each clinic’s listing on our site. A listing means a clinic says it offers these services. It is not an endorsement of the clinic, the treatment, or any result. Always confirm details directly with the clinic.
On the New Zealand page, the conditions listed most often by these providers were osteoarthritis (all four) and tendon and ligament injuries (three).
What “stem cell therapy” usually means at a clinic
Stem cells are cells that can renew themselves and, in some cases, turn into other cell types. At most private clinics, “stem cell therapy” means one of these:
- Cells from your own bone marrow. Marrow is drawn, usually from the hip bone, then concentrated and injected. This is often called bone marrow concentrate, or BMAC. See our BMAC guide.
- Cells from your own fat. Fat is taken with a small liposuction-type procedure, processed, and injected.
- Cells grown in a lab. Some clinics grow (“expand”) your cells over several weeks to increase their number before injecting them.
- Donor products. Some products come from donated tissue.
Many clinics also offer PRP (platelet-rich plasma), which uses your own blood rather than stem cells. Read our PRP guide and our stem cell therapy guide.
How New Zealand rules apply
In New Zealand, medicines are approved by Medsafe. An unapproved medicine is one that Medsafe has not assessed for quality, safety, and effectiveness, according to Healthify, a New Zealand health information service.
New Zealand law does allow doctors to use unapproved medicines in some cases. Under section 29 of the Medicines Act, an unapproved medicine can be supplied to a medical practitioner (or a nurse practitioner or pharmacist prescriber) to treat a named patient under their care. Medsafe says suppliers must keep records and notify Medsafe of what they supply.
Whether a particular cell product falls under these rules depends on what it is and how it is made. That is a good question to ask the clinic directly.
Your right to informed consent
Healthify explains that before a provider gives you an unapproved medicine, or uses an approved one in a different way, they should tell you:
- That the medicine is not approved in New Zealand for this use
- The possible benefits and known risks
- That there may be side effects nobody knows about yet
- What approved options are available
You have the right to understand your treatment and agree to it before it starts.
What the evidence shows
Stem cell research is moving fast, but the proven uses are narrow.
EuroStemCell, a European stem cell education project, says only a small number of stem cell treatments are well established, mainly blood stem cell transplants for blood diseases, some skin grafts, and one eye-surface treatment approved in Europe. It advises being very skeptical of claims beyond these.
In the United States, the FDA has warned that stem cell products have not been approved to treat orthopedic problems such as arthritis, back pain, or tendonitis, or conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, autism, or chronic pain. The FDA has also received reports of serious harm from unapproved products, including blindness, infections, and tumor formation. These are U.S. rules, but the safety concerns apply anywhere.
For joint and tendon problems, PRP has more research behind it than many other options. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says PRP appears to help certain chronic tendon injuries, especially tennis elbow, and mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.
If you have a joint problem, our osteoarthritis guide and knee pain guide explain what has been studied. Also see when regenerative medicine may not be the right next step.
Cost of stem cell therapy in New Zealand
We could not find a reliable published source for typical New Zealand prices, so we don’t list a number. These are the main things that affect cost:
- Cell source. Bone marrow, fat, lab-grown cells, and donor products are priced differently.
- Lab processing. Growing cells over several weeks usually adds cost and extra visits.
- Number of areas treated. One knee costs less than both knees plus the back.
- Imaging guidance. Ultrasound or X-ray guidance may add cost.
- Follow-up. Ask whether review visits and repeat imaging are included.
- Travel. If the clinic is in another city, add flights, accommodation, and time off work.
Ask your private health insurer whether anything is covered before you book, and ask the clinic for a written, itemized quote. For more on how pricing works, see our stem cell therapy cost guide.
Should you stay in New Zealand or travel overseas?
Some New Zealanders consider clinics in other countries. EuroStemCell warns that “stem cell tourism” often involves treatments with little oversight and no reliable long-term data.
Getting treated close to home has practical benefits. Your clinic is nearby if you have a side effect, and your GP can be kept in the loop. If you do travel, plan for follow-up care when you get home.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious if a clinic:
- Promises a cure, or says one treatment works for many unrelated diseases
- Asks for full payment before you have had a proper assessment
- Won’t tell you exactly what product it uses and where it comes from
- Has no published data or clear protocol for your condition
- Pressures you to decide quickly
EuroStemCell lists similar warning signs, including miracle claims and pressure tactics.
Frequently asked questions
Is stem cell therapy legal in New Zealand?
Doctors in New Zealand can use some unapproved medicines for a named patient under section 29 of the Medicines Act, with records kept and reported to Medsafe. Whether a specific stem cell product fits these rules depends on the product. Ask the clinic how its treatment is regulated.
Where can I get stem cell therapy in New Zealand?
As of 6 October 2026, our directory listed four providers in New Zealand, with three in Auckland, plus listings mentioning Christchurch, Whangārei, and the Queenstown area. See our New Zealand providers page.
Is stem cell therapy approved by Medsafe?
Ask the clinic for proof of approval for your condition. If a medicine is unapproved, Healthify says your provider should tell you that, explain the risks and benefits, and discuss approved alternatives.
Does stem cell therapy work for knee arthritis?
The evidence is still developing, and the U.S. FDA says stem cell products are not approved for arthritis. PRP has more research support for mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, according to AAOS. See our stem cell therapy for knee arthritis guide.
Is PRP the same as stem cell therapy?
No. PRP uses platelets from your own blood. Stem cell therapy uses cells from bone marrow, fat, or donor tissue. Read PRP vs. stem cells.
Questions to ask a clinic
- What is my diagnosis, and why do you think this treatment fits it?
- What exactly will you inject, where do the cells come from, and how are they processed?
- Is this product approved by Medsafe for my condition? If not, how is it supplied, and what are my alternatives?
- What published studies support this treatment for my condition, and what are the risks?
- Who will do the procedure, and will you use imaging guidance?
- What is the total cost in writing, and what follow-up is included?
For more, see the 12 questions to ask any regenerative clinic before you pay.
Sources
- Medsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority). Unapproved medicines (revised 8 December 2025). https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/unapproved.asp
- Healthify He Puna Waiora. Unapproved medicines. https://healthify.nz/medicines-a-z/u/unapproved-medicines
- EuroStemCell. Considering a stem cell treatment offer? https://www.eurostemcell.org/node/119
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consumer Alert on Regenerative Medicine Products Including Stem Cells and Exosomes. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/consumers-biologics/consumer-alert-regenerative-medicine-products-including-stem-cells-and-exosomes
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Important Patient and Consumer Information About Regenerative Medicine Therapies. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/consumers-biologics/important-patient-and-consumer-information-about-regenerative-medicine-therapies
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP). https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/platelet-rich-plasma-prp/
Reviewed by the Regen Provider Guide editorial team.
Author: Regen Provider Guide Editorial
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