Most clinics looking for a virtual receptionist NZ-wide have the same problem. In a physio, chiro, osteo or podiatry clinic, the phone rings at the worst times: mid-treatment, over lunch, and after 5.30pm when the front desk has gone home. A caller who reaches voicemail may simply ring the next clinic, and the ones who leave a message turn into a pile of callbacks before the first patient of the day.
A virtual receptionist covers those gaps, and the choice usually comes down to two kinds: people answering from a call centre, or an AI receptionist that picks up every call straight away. What separates a useful one from an expensive message service is whether it can book into your practice software or only takes a note for your team to key in later. Support for Cliniko, Gensolve and Nookal varies a lot between providers.
This list compares seven services that answer calls for NZ businesses: three with people on the phones and four AI receptionists. Each one is labelled human or AI, and every price, trial and software claim was checked on the provider's own website in October 2026.
Virtual receptionist NZ services: a quick overview
- Chimehill (AI): best for allied-health clinics on Cliniko, Splose, PracSuite or Nookal that want bookings made in the diary during the call.
- CallCare (people): best for clinics on Gensolve or Cliniko that want NZ-based receptionists around the clock.
- ReceptionHQ (people): best for a low published starting price with live receptionists.
- Talkify (AI): best for an NZ-built AI receptionist that speaks te reo Māori and many other languages.
- Answers (people): best for larger practices that want a bespoke contact centre run from Auckland and Christchurch.
- Bea by Be Connect (AI): best for simple monthly minute bundles from an NZ telco.
- Waboom (AI): best for clinics that want an agency to build the agent and bill by the minute.
| Service | Who answers | Works in your practice software | Price (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chimehill | AI receptionist | Yes, books live into Cliniko, Splose, PracSuite or Nookal | From NZ$249 a month for 100 calls, excl. GST |
| CallCare | People in Blenheim | Staff work in Cliniko, Gensolve, Nookal and others (not on the Lite plan) | Quote on request; 7-day free trial |
| ReceptionHQ | People in NZ or Australia | Lists experience with Cliniko, Nookal, PracSuite, Power Diary and more | From NZ$19 a month excl. GST, plus usage |
| Talkify | AI receptionist | Cliniko listed among its integrations | Broadcast plan NZ$199 a month (NZ$129 for the first 3 months) |
| Answers | People in Auckland and Christchurch | Not stated | Bespoke quote |
| Bea | AI receptionist | Calendar booking; no clinic software named | From NZ$79 a month for 100 minutes |
| Waboom | AI receptionist | Google Calendar, Outlook, Calendly, Acuity | Prepaid minutes from NZ$500 plus NZ$130 a month, excl. GST |
1. Chimehill: best for allied-health clinics on Cliniko, Splose, PracSuite or Nookal
Chimehill is an AI receptionist built only for independent allied-health clinics: physio, chiro, osteo, podiatry, psychology and similar practices in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. It answers when your team can't (mid-treatment, at lunch, after hours and at weekends), books and changes appointments in your practice software, answers the questions you've approved, and passes everything else to your team with a summary.
The difference from a human answering service is what happens to a booking. A call centre receptionist usually takes a message or keys the booking in by hand. Chimehill reads your live diary, offers real free times, re-checks the slot just before it saves, and only tells the caller "you're booked" once your software has confirmed it. For a New Zealand clinic on Cliniko, that means the booking is in the diary before the caller hangs up. Our Cliniko AI receptionist page explains what it reads and writes.
You keep your number and forward calls to it: all calls, only overflow when the desk is busy, or only after hours.
Key features
- Books into Cliniko, Splose, PracSuite and Nookal, with the appointment types and practitioners you choose
- Never says "you're booked" until your software confirms the save; if it can't confirm, the caller hears that and your team gets a callback task
- Checks who is calling before it finds or changes a booking, since caller ID alone isn't proof
- Answers only from facts you've approved, and a caller who asks for a person gets your configured fallback
- Administrative only: urgent language follows an escalation script your clinic configures
- Every call logged, with after-hours calls written up for the morning
Pricing (as of October 2026, NZ$, excluding GST)
- 100 calls a month: NZ$249
- 200 calls a month: NZ$379
- 350 calls a month: NZ$579
- Each extra call: NZ$2.70
- 14 days free, no lock-in contract
Prices are in New Zealand dollars, excluding GST, and the pricing page shows what each plan includes.
Pros
- The only service in this list built just for allied-health clinics
- Books during the call rather than taking a message for someone to key in
- Priced by calls, so a long new-patient call costs the same as a short one
Cons
- Works with four practice systems only; Gensolve, which many NZ physio clinics use, isn't one of them
- Answers calls in English only
If you're on one of those four systems and want to hear it answer as your clinic, book a demo.
2. CallCare: best for clinics on Gensolve or Cliniko that want NZ-based receptionists
CallCare is a human phone answering service for New Zealand businesses. Its site says all calls are answered by professional New Zealand-based receptionists, and its FAQ says they are based in Blenheim. It answers around the clock, including weekends and public holidays, and offers message taking, call transfers, appointment scheduling, scripted FAQs and 0800 numbers.
The part that matters most for a clinic is its software page. CallCare names Cliniko, Gensolve and Nookal among the systems its receptionists work in, describing staff managing bookings and updating records directly in your system. That makes it one of the few options here that works in Gensolve. Note that software use isn't available on its entry Lite plan.
Key features
- NZ-based receptionists, 24/7, weekends and public holidays included
- Works in Cliniko, Gensolve, Nookal, Timely, Acuity and Google Calendar, among others
- Message taking by SMS or email, call transfers and emergency call sequences
- Optional 0800 freephone number at NZ$50 a month plus GST
Pricing (as of October 2026)
- Three plans (Lite, Freedom and Complete), all priced by quote
- 7-day free trial, no credit card needed, based on the Lite message-taking plan
- Month to month with no lock-in; 30 days' notice to cancel
Pros
- A real person on every call, based in New Zealand
- Works inside Gensolve as well as Cliniko and Nookal
- No minimum term
Cons
- No published prices, so you'll need a quote to compare
- The free trial covers message taking only, not booking in your software
- Healthcare isn't among the industries listed on its home page, so ask about clinic experience
3. ReceptionHQ: best for a low published starting price with live receptionists
ReceptionHQ is a virtual receptionist and answering service for New Zealand businesses, run from Blenheim. It's the international brand of OfficeHQ, which was founded in Australia in 2003. Calls are answered by people in New Zealand or Australia, with overflow support at busy times, and it offers 24/7 answering if you switch on after-hours cover.
It has a healthcare page that names physio, podiatry, psychology and other clinics, with receptionists booking patients into available slots in your own practice software and escalating urgent after-hours calls to an on-call clinician. Its supported-software page lists Cliniko, Nookal, PracSuite, Power Diary, Coreplus and others, described as software it has "vast experience using". Gensolve isn't on that list.
Key features
- Live receptionists in New Zealand or Australia, 24/7 if you choose
- Bookings, cancellations and rescheduling in your practice software (MyDiary plan)
- On-call escalation for urgent after-hours calls
- Extras such as call diversion, voicemail to email, IVR and local or 0800 numbers
Pricing (as of October 2026)
- MessageExpress: from NZ$19 a month excl. GST, pay per call
- MyReceptionist: from NZ$20 a month, pay per call
- MyDiary (bookings): from NZ$49 a month, pay per minute, with set-up from NZ$50
- 7-day free trial (based on MyReceptionist), no lock-in contracts
- Per-call and per-minute rates aren't listed on the pricing page; the final cost depends on call volume
Pros
- The lowest published entry price in this list
- Clear healthcare offering, with clinic software it already knows
- Month to month, with no cancellation fees
Cons
- Usage rates aren't published, so the monthly price isn't the whole bill
- Calls may be answered in Australia rather than New Zealand
- Booking needs the per-minute MyDiary plan
4. Talkify: best for an NZ-built AI receptionist with te reo Māori and other languages
Talkify is an AI receptionist built in Christchurch by Talkify Limited, which describes itself as NZ-owned. It answers your business phone 24/7, answers questions, books into your calendar and escalates to a person when needed, with a warm transfer or a text. It serves many industries, from trades to cafes, and lists "physio and clinics" among them.
Two things stand out for a New Zealand clinic. It offers New Zealand and Australian voices, and it lists 32 languages including te reo Māori. Its integrations include Google Calendar, Outlook, Calendly and Cliniko. Its pricing page doesn't say whether the Cliniko connection books appointments directly or sends booking requests, so ask before you sign up.
Key features
- NZ and Australian English voices, plus 32 languages including te reo Māori
- Calendar booking, with Cliniko listed among its integrations
- Warm transfer, and an optional on-call roster for after-hours escalation
- Says data is stored in New Zealand and Australian data centres, encrypted at rest
Pricing (as of October 2026, NZ$, GST not stated for monthly plans)
- Broadcast (business): NZ$199 a month with 200 minutes; NZ$129 a month for the first 3 months
- Extra minutes: 10c a minute for the first 3 months, then 20c
- Pay as you go: NZ$10 a month plus NZ$1 a minute
- Annual Broadcast licence: NZ$1,990 + GST per number
- No set-up fee and no lock-in on standard plans
Pros
- The widest language list here, including te reo Māori
- Built in New Zealand, with local voices
- Low per-minute rates once you're on a plan
Cons
- A general business tool rather than one built for clinics
- The 3-month introductory price then rises to NZ$199 a month, so budget for the full rate
5. Answers: best for larger practices that want a bespoke NZ contact centre
Answers (Answer Services) is a New Zealand call answering service founded in 1964. It runs 24/7 from two mirrored sites in Auckland and Christchurch, and every call is handled by a New Zealand-based specialist. Its home page is direct about it: "No scripts. No bots."
It sells three products (Message Only, Reception Assist and Help Desk) and has a healthcare section on its home page about fast escalation and careful call handling for patients, families and staff. It works with councils, government agencies and larger businesses, which makes it a better fit for a multi-site practice or a group than for a two-practitioner clinic.
Key features
- People in Auckland and Christchurch, 24/7
- Message taking, overflow cover, transfers and FAQs
- Call triage and scripting tailored to your practice
- Reporting on calls handled
Pricing (as of October 2026)
- Bespoke quote; no prices published
Pros
- Long track record and two sites for backup
- Every caller talks to a person in New Zealand
Cons
- No published prices or trial
- Booking into practice software isn't mentioned on the pages we checked
6. Bea by Be Connect: best for simple monthly minute bundles from an NZ telco
Bea is an AI receptionist from Be Connect, a New Zealand communications provider. It answers business calls 24/7, captures new enquiries, books appointments on its Business plan and above, and transfers important calls to your team. It's aimed at New Zealand and Australian businesses, and its industry list includes medical, dental and physio.
The pricing is the simplest of the AI tools here: a monthly fee with a set number of minutes and a clear per-minute rate after that. If your clinic already uses Be Connect for phones, you get NZ$20 a month off. It doesn't name the calendars or practice software it books into, so ask for that list.
Key features
- 24/7 answering, after hours and public holidays included
- Calendar booking from the Business plan up
- Rules for when calls go to your team
- Configurable call recording and data retention
Pricing (as of October 2026, NZ$, GST not stated)
- Starter: NZ$79 a month for 100 minutes (NZ$0.39 a minute after)
- Business: NZ$149 a month for 300 minutes (NZ$0.29 a minute after)
- Pro: NZ$299 a month for 750 minutes (NZ$0.24 a minute after)
- Enterprise: from NZ$599 a month for 2,000+ minutes
- 7-day free trial, no credit card; NZ$99 set-up fee waived during its launch period
Pros
- Clear minute bundles and overage rates
- From an NZ provider, with a discount for its existing phone customers
Cons
- No calendar or practice software named on its site
- Booking needs the Business plan or higher
7. Waboom: best for clinics that want an agency to build the agent and bill by the minute
Waboom is an Auckland AI agency that builds AI voice agents, including a virtual receptionist for New Zealand and Australian small businesses. It offers native NZ or Australian accents, books into Google Calendar, Outlook, Calendly or Acuity, takes messages and transfers calls. It lists medical clinics, dentists and vets among the industries it serves.
Waboom is the most open about data handling of the AI tools here. It says transcripts and call data are stored in a Sydney-based portal, live audio is processed on offshore AI infrastructure, and callers hear a recording disclosure at the start of each call. That's useful detail for your own privacy assessment, even if it's not the answer you'd prefer.
Key features
- NZ or Australian voice, 24/7
- Booking into Google Calendar, Outlook, Calendly or Acuity, and HubSpot, Pipedrive or Salesforce
- Message taking and call transfer
- Says it can be built and answering calls within 24 hours
Pricing (as of October 2026, NZ$, excluding GST)
- Prepaid minutes from NZ$500 for 525 minutes (95c a minute), falling to 77c a minute on larger bundles
- Plus a NZ$130 a month platform fee on every plan
- 30-day money-back guarantee; credit doesn't expire
- Its virtual receptionist page advertises 80c a minute, so get the rate confirmed in writing
Pros
- Pay for the minutes you use, with credit that doesn't expire
- Clear statements about where call data goes
Cons
- A NZ$500 upfront purchase before the first call
- Books into general calendars, not clinic practice software
How to choose a virtual receptionist for your NZ clinic
Most clinics are really choosing between two things: a person who takes a message (or keys in a booking), and an AI that books straight into the diary. Start there, then work through the questions below.
People or AI?
A human service is better with an upset caller, a complicated family booking or someone who just wants to talk. An AI receptionist answers every call at once, never needs a roster, and costs the same at 2am as at 2pm. If you want a person on every call, look at CallCare, ReceptionHQ or Answers. If you want the phone answered instantly and bookings made during the call, look at the AI options.
Does it book into your practice software?
This is the question that separates a useful service from a message pad. Ask which system it books into and watch a test booking land:
- On Cliniko, Splose, PracSuite or Nookal and want the AI to book: Chimehill
- On Gensolve and want a person to book: CallCare
- On Cliniko, Nookal or Power Diary and want a person to book: ReceptionHQ or CallCare
- Only need messages taken: any service here will do it
"You're booked" only after the save
A caller should only hear that they're booked once your software has saved the appointment, and the slot should be re-checked just before saving. Ask what the caller hears if the save fails. The right answer is that the booking isn't confirmed yet and someone will call back.
A person whenever the caller asks
Some callers will always want a human. With an AI receptionist, asking for a person should trigger your chosen fallback straight away: a transfer to the clinic, or a callback with a short summary. Test it on the demo call. Nobody should have to argue with a phone line to reach a person.
Privacy for New Zealand health information
This is general information, not legal advice. The Health Information Privacy Code 2020 applies to agencies providing health or disability services, and the Privacy Commissioner's guidance on AI recommends a privacy impact assessment before you start using an AI tool. Ask every provider, human or AI, in writing:
- Where is call data stored, and does any of it leave New Zealand?
- How long are messages, transcripts and recordings kept?
- Who are the sub-processors, including any AI and voice providers?
- Are callers told they're speaking with an AI, and is recording on or off by default?
- How do we export or delete our data if we leave?
Pricing models
The services here bill in four different ways: by call (Chimehill, ReceptionHQ's message plans), by minute (Talkify, Bea, Waboom, ReceptionHQ's booking plans), by quote (CallCare, Answers), or a mix. Take last month's call numbers and average call length, ask each provider what that month would have cost with extras and GST, then repeat it for your busiest month.
Run a short trial before you switch
Don't forward every call on day one. Start with after-hours calls for a week and read every message or call summary each morning. Then add overflow during your busiest treatment sessions. At the end, ask your front desk whether it saved them time or created checking work. If you're still deciding between people and software, our guides to using an answering service and how an AI receptionist works for a clinic go through the trade-offs, and our AI receptionist for physio clinics page covers physio specifically.
Questions clinics ask
What is the best virtual receptionist in NZ for a clinic?
It depends on your practice software and whether you want a person or an AI. For allied-health clinics on Cliniko, Splose, PracSuite or Nookal that want bookings made during the call, Chimehill is built for exactly that. Clinics on Gensolve that want a person to book may prefer CallCare. Check which system each one works in before anything else.
How much does a virtual receptionist cost in New Zealand?
As of October 2026, the services here start at about NZ$19 a month plus usage for a human message service and NZ$79 a month for an AI receptionist with 100 minutes. Chimehill starts at NZ$249 a month for 100 calls, excluding GST. Compare a full month at your real call volume, extras and GST included, not the headline price.
What's the difference between an answering service and an AI receptionist?
An answering service uses people, usually in a call centre, who take messages, transfer calls and sometimes book. An AI receptionist answers every call straight away, any hour, and the better ones book into your practice software during the call. Some clinics use both: AI after hours, people during the day.
Is there an AI receptionist that books into Cliniko in NZ?
Chimehill books into Cliniko, as well as Splose, PracSuite and Nookal. Talkify lists Cliniko among its integrations but doesn't say on its pricing page whether it books directly. Whatever you choose, watch a test booking appear in your Cliniko diary before you sign.
Can a virtual receptionist work with Gensolve?
Among the services here, CallCare names Gensolve on its software page, with receptionists managing bookings in your system. Chimehill doesn't book into Gensolve. Ask any provider to show you a test booking in Gensolve before you commit.
Should a virtual receptionist give health advice?
No. Human or AI, a receptionist service books, answers approved questions and passes clinical questions to your team. Urgent or emergency language should follow an escalation script your clinic has approved, pointing the caller to emergency services or the right person.
Do we need to change our clinic's phone number?
No. Every service here works by forwarding calls from the number patients already know, for all calls, overflow only or after hours only. Ask your phone provider how to set conditional forwarding before your trial starts.
