How to find a headache specialist

If your headaches keep coming back or your medicine isn't helping, someone may tell you, “You should see a headache specialist.” In New Zealand, the way in is usually through your GP. There aren't many neurologists, public waiting lists can be long, and not everyone who is referred gets a public appointment. This article explains who treats headaches, when a specialist is worth it, how referrals, costs and telehealth work, and how to search.

Who treats headaches

For most people, the first stop is a GP. Unless it's an emergency, your general practice should be your first point of contact for health care. New Zealand researchers note that most people with migraine can be treated well in general practice. In a 2022 survey of 530 people with migraine in New Zealand, almost 9 in 10 had seen their general practice about it. At some practices you may see a nurse practitioner, who can order tests, prescribe some medicines and treat you.

A neurologist is a doctor who specialises in the brain and nerves. New Zealand has no separate specialist registration for headache medicine. Some neurologists, and some other doctors, have a special interest in headache. In the public system, headache referrals usually go to a hospital neurology service. In some areas, a general medical clinic reviews them first, and you may see a general physician or a visiting neurologist.

Neurologists are in short supply. A 2026 study counted 83 neurologists in New Zealand in 2024, about 1 for every 63,000 people, far fewer than in other high-income countries. Most of their work is in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Dunedin. Of the 47 who answered the study's question about their main area of interest, only 1 named headache. The Australia and New Zealand Headache Society's list of clinicians with an interest in headache included four in New Zealand in 2026. Yet about 1 in 6 adults in New Zealand say a doctor has diagnosed them with migraine. So for most people, care starts and continues with a GP, and seeing a specialist takes planning.

When is it worth seeing a specialist?

Your GP may suggest a specialist, or you can ask for a referral. Common reasons include:

• Your headaches are becoming more frequent, or you have them on 2 or more days a week.
• You have headaches on 15 or more days a month, which can be a sign of chronic migraine.
• Treatments haven't helped, or their side effects were hard to tolerate.
• You take headache medicine on 10 or more days a month. Taking it this often can lead to medication overuse headache.
• Your attacks have unusual features, such as attacks that last longer than 72 hours or come with weakness.
• You've started getting headaches after rarely having them before, or you have other complex health problems.
• You're pregnant or breastfeeding and need a plan for your headaches.
• Headaches keep getting in the way of work, school, or family life.

You don't have to wait until things are severe. If your headaches are getting worse or you need more and more medicine, it's reasonable to ask your GP about a referral early.

A specialist appointment is not for emergencies. Get emergency care right away for a sudden, severe headache that peaks within about a minute, a headache unlike your usual ones, or a headache with fever and a stiff neck, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, trouble speaking, or changes in vision. Call 111 or go to the nearest emergency department. If you're not sure what to do, call Healthline free on 0800 611 116, any time of the day or night.

Referrals, costs and wait times

You'll usually need a referral from your GP to see a specialist. Specialists work in both the public and the private health system.

• Public specialist care is free if you're eligible for publicly funded health care, but you may go on a waiting list. Health New Zealand has a checklist to see if you're eligible. In the public system, you can't choose which specialist you see.
• Private specialists charge a fee. If you want specialist advice sooner, you can ask your GP about a private referral. Private health insurance may cover some of the cost, so check your policy before you book.
• Your GP may charge for the referral. General practices can charge a fee for writing a referral letter to a specialist.

Public care is prioritised by need. The specialist service judges how urgent your referral is from your GP's letter or phone call, and not everyone who is referred gets a public appointment. Some people are sent back to their GP for care, and sometimes the specialist gives your GP advice instead. Health New Zealand says you should find out within 15 working days whether you will get specialist treatment. If you don't agree with the decision, ask your GP to explain it and what your options are. These can include a referral to a private specialist or a review of your case.

Waits can be long. Public neurology services list waiting times that range from a day to 6 months or more, depending on how urgent your case is. In a 2022 survey by the Migraine Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand, over half of the 530 people who took part had been unable to see a neurologist, despite wanting to. Long waits and cost were among the biggest barriers to getting care.

While you wait, keep seeing your GP. If your headaches change or get worse, go back so your GP can reassess you. Use the waiting time to keep a headache diary, so the first appointment can focus on treatment.

Telehealth

Some neurology appointments in New Zealand, including in the public system, are by phone or video. Migraine is usually diagnosed from your symptoms, your history and an exam, not from a scan. Much of each appointment is spent talking through your diary and how treatment is going. In a small US study, people with migraine who had follow-up visits by video had results similar to those seen in the office, and they rated the video visits as more convenient.

A few things to know before you book:

• The doctor should be registered in New Zealand. The Medical Council of New Zealand says a doctor who gives telehealth care to patients in New Zealand is practising medicine here. They should be registered with the Council and hold a current practising certificate, even if they're based overseas.
• The first appointment may need to be in person. For a new or changing headache, the doctor may want to examine you or order tests.
• Keep your GP in the loop. If a telehealth doctor isn't your regular doctor, they should, with your consent, share details of your care with your GP.
• Have your records ready on screen. On a video appointment, your diary does much of the talking.

Before your first visit

Whoever you see, bring a record of your headaches. It helps your GP write a clear referral, and the specialist will want to know how many headache days you have each month, how bad they are, which medicines you take and how often, and what you've tried before. Bring your medicines or a list of them, and details of any brain or neck scans. The headache diary guide has a full checklist.

In Zutsu Note, you log headaches and medicines in a few taps and see your monthly counts on charts. The visit summary puts your last 30 days on one page that you can show your doctor on your phone, at an in-person appointment or on a video appointment. If you use Zutsu Note in a web browser, you can also print it or save it as a PDF.

How to search

Your GP is the main way in. If you don't have one and you're eligible for publicly funded care, enrol with a general practice. Enrolling is free, and visits cost less once you're enrolled. If a practice isn't taking new patients, its primary health organisation (PHO) can help you find another. Your GP can refer you to a public or a private specialist.

• Healthpoint. A directory of New Zealand health services that Health New Zealand links to. You can search for general practices by location, opening hours and services, and see whether they're taking new patients. It also has pages for public hospital neurology services that explain how referrals work and how long the waits are. Open Healthpoint.
• Medical Council of New Zealand, register of doctors. Check whether a doctor is currently registered and able to practise in New Zealand. Open the register.

Being listed in a directory isn't an endorsement, and Zutsu Note doesn't recommend specific doctors or clinics.

Looking for care for a child or teen? Start with your child's GP. Children aged 13 and under are eligible for free GP visits, but not every practice offers them, so check first.

What to ask when you call a clinic

• Do I need a referral from my GP, and should my past records be sent before the first appointment?
• What does the first appointment cost, and what do follow-up appointments cost?
• How long is the wait for a new patient? Is there a cancellation list?
• Who will I see? For example, a neurologist, or a registrar (a doctor training to be a specialist, supervised by a neurologist).
• Does the first appointment have to be in person? Can follow-up appointments be by phone or video?
• What should I bring or send ahead, such as my headache diary, a list of my medicines, or scan results?
• Will you send a letter to my GP after the appointment?
• How do I reach the clinic between appointments if a treatment isn't working?

Sources we used

• Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. General practices (updated July 2026); Planned care (updated December 2025); Which health service should I use?; Healthline (updated July 2026); Eligibility for publicly funded health and disability services.
• Immigration New Zealand. Getting health care and finding a doctor.
• Medical Council of New Zealand. Telehealth (August 2023); Scopes of Practice and Prescribed Qualifications for the Practice of Medicine in New Zealand Notice 2024.
• Ranta A, et al. Aotearoa New Zealand's neurologist workforce: a 2024 analysis of demand, supply and projections. BMJ Neurol Open. 2026;8:e001397.
• McInnarney B, et al. Patient perceptions of barriers to effective migraine management in Aotearoa New Zealand. J Prim Health Care. 2024;16:347-356.
• Randerson J, et al. Primary care clinicians' perspectives on migraine management in Aotearoa New Zealand: a qualitative study. J Prim Health Care. 2026;18:247-255.
• Migraine Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand. Current issues and challenges; New data uncovers serious challenges faced by people with migraine in New Zealand (May 2023).
• Australia and New Zealand Headache Society. Directory of clinicians with an interest in headache.
• Healthpoint. Public hospital neurology service pages.
• bpacnz. Migraine: much more than just a headache (April 2026).
• Friedman DI, et al. A randomized trial of telemedicine for migraine management. Cephalalgia. 2019;39:1577-1585.
• Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society. The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3). Cephalalgia. 2018;38:1-211.
• American Migraine Foundation. The Value of a Headache Specialist.
• American Migraine Foundation. Migraine in the Emergency Department: When to Go to the ED for Migraine.