Updated 2026-09-06 · Prices in NZD · Recall feed checked daily
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Home › New Zealand vet costs › ACL / Cruciate Repair (TPLO)
🇳🇿 New Zealand · Surgery

ACL / Cruciate Repair (TPLO) cost across New Zealand

Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy for a torn cruciate ligament, the most common orthopedic surgery in dogs.

NZ$3,690–NZ$6,560national typical range (NZD)
Aucklandmost expensive city
Invercargillleast expensive city
Top 10

Where it costs most

AucklandNZ$5,740
WellingtonNZ$5,535
ChristchurchNZ$5,230
TaurangaNZ$5,125
HamiltonNZ$5,020
NelsonNZ$4,970
WhangareiNZ$4,920
DunedinNZ$4,870
NapierNZ$4,870
Palmerston NorthNZ$4,765
Save money

Ways to pay less

  • Roughly half of dogs tear the other knee within 2 years: insure before the first tear.
  • Extracapsular (lateral suture) repair for small dogs runs $2,000-$3,500.
Insurance check

Insured dogs in Whangarei would get roughly NZ$4,430 of this back.

Typical plans reimburse 80–90% after the deductible, for about NZ$35–NZ$75/month for a young dog.

Southern Cross Pet Insurance quotePetCover NZ quoteRun my numbers
Full table

All 12 cities

CityTypical rangeIndex
Auckland AUKNZ$4,135–NZ$7,345
Wellington WGNNZ$3,985–NZ$7,085
Christchurch CANNZ$3,765–NZ$6,690
Tauranga BOPNZ$3,690–NZ$6,560
Hamilton WKONZ$3,615–NZ$6,430
Nelson NSNNZ$3,580–NZ$6,365
Whangarei NTLNZ$3,540–NZ$6,300
Dunedin OTANZ$3,505–NZ$6,230
Napier HKBNZ$3,505–NZ$6,230
Palmerston North MWTNZ$3,430–NZ$6,100
Rotorua BOPNZ$3,395–NZ$6,035
Invercargill STLNZ$3,320–NZ$5,905
FAQ

Questions

What is the average cost of acl / cruciate repair (tplo) in New Zealand?

Nationally NZ$3,690–NZ$6,560 in 2026. Auckland is the most expensive city we track; Invercargill the least.

Why do prices vary so much between cities?

Rent, staff wages, equipment and competition. Big-city specialty hospitals can charge double what a rural clinic does for the same procedure.

Does pet insurance cover acl / cruciate repair (tplo)?

Yes, on most accident-and-illness plans after the deductible.

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