# Allianz Partners New Zealand brings Sonder's 24/7 health, safety and wellbeing support to international students

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/allianz-partners-new-zealand-brings-sonders-24-7-health-safety-and-wellbeing-support-to-international-students
- Published: 2026-10-27T03:30:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

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AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Allianz Partners New Zealand
today announced a new service partnership with health, safety and wellbeing platform
Sonder, providing international students with round-the-clock safety, medical and
mental health support.

Starting October 2026, S**t**udentsafe Inbound Medical and Travel Insurance policyholders,
and their family members aged 18 or older, will begin to have access to Sonder at
no additional cost. The service provides confidential, 24/7 support via chat, phone
or in-person response, helping students navigate the challenges of living and studying
far from home.

International students face unique challenges, including cultural adjustment, social
isolation, academic pressures and navigating unfamiliar health systems. Research
highlights growing concern for international student mental wellbeing, with systematic
reviews reporting rates of anxiety, depression and psychological distress ranging
from approximately 30% to more than 50% across international student populations.
These findings underscore the importance of accessible, culturally responsive, 24/
7 support services that help students thrive both academically and personally.

New Zealand’s Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code
of Practice 2021 requires education providers to take all reasonable steps to support
the wellbeing of international students. The Allianz Partners and Sonder partnership
aims to further support our Studentsafe partnered institutions in meeting these 
obligations by providing students with complimentary support options that sit within
their existing institutional support framework and provide further 24/7 access to
qualified health and safety wellbeing professionals. 

Importantly, students can access support at any time, including during after-hours
periods when institutional services may be unavailable and students can feel most
vulnerable. Support is available across more than 300 languages, helping students
access assistance in the language they are most comfortable using when they need
it most.

Through the Sonder app, students will have access to:

 ◦ **24/7 confidential support** from registered nurses and mental health professionals
   via chat or phone
 ◦ **Personalised safety and travel alerts** based on their location
 ◦ **Share my journey **with real-time journey monitoring including when travelling
   alone or at night
 ◦ **Check on me** with timed safety checks for situations such meeting someone 
   new
 ◦ **Help alert** with immediate escalation for urgent situations requiring additional
   support
 ◦ **Wellbeing resources** with a comprehensive library covering nutrition, sleep,
   mindfulness, and physical activity

Kevin Blyth, Allianz Partners New Zealand Managing Director, said: "We know that
international students face unique pressures when they arrive in New Zealand from
navigating a new healthcare system to managing the emotional challenges of being
far from family and friends. Our partnership with Sonder means our students now 
have immediate, 24/7 access to qualified professionals who can support them through
whatever they’re facing. This is about more than insurance, it’s about ensuring 
every student who chooses New Zealand feels safe, supported, and able to thrive."

Craig Cowdrey, Sonder CEO and Co-founder, said: "Studying in a new country is exciting,
but it can also mean navigating unfamiliar systems, being far from family and not
always knowing where to turn when something goes wrong.

"We’ve worked with Allianz Partners in Australia for eight years, and we’re proud
to now extend that support to international students in New Zealand. With 24/7 access
to care and in-app translation across more than 300 languages, students can reach
out in the language they’re most comfortable with and get support early, before 
a small issue becomes something bigger.

"That’s what this partnership is about: making it easier for students to get the
right care at the right time, so they can feel safe and supported, and focus on 
their studies."

**About Allianz Partners New Zealand**

Allianz Partners New Zealand is part of Allianz Partners, a world leader in B2B2C
insurance and assistance, operating in 73 markets with 22,200 employees speaking
70 languages. The company handles more than 89 million cases per year.

**About Sonder**

Sonder is a health, safety and wellbeing platform that provides 24/7 access to health
professionals, mental health resources, and personal safety support services. Founded
in 2016 and headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Sonder delivers care through multidisciplinary
Support Centres in Auckland, London, and Sydney, staffed by support coordinators,
nurses, counsellors, social workers, emergency responders, and mental health clinicians.

Sonder’s evidence-based approach helps organisations support the health, wellbeing,
and safety of their people anytime and anywhere. In New Zealand, Sonder is accredited
by the International Organisation for Standardisation ISO/IEC 27001:2022, the Nursing
Council of New Zealand, and the Medical Council of New Zealand. Sonder’s model of
care is endorsed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists(
RANZCP).

**Notes to Editor**

Source: Research data related to international student mental health, prepared by
the International Education Association Aotearoa (ISANA NZ) CEO Chris Beard for 
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, 2026

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**Read the original article :** [Allianz Partners New Zealand brings Sonder's 24/7 health, safety and wellbeing support to international students ](http://www.prnasia.com/story/archive/5078796_AE78796_0?rand=184833)
