Needing help with hospital bills

Dear whanau,

We are a family of 4 (with kids aged 9 and 2) just arrived in NZ in April for me to complete my masters.Just as we were trying to settle down my elders son fell very ill and we had to rush him to the nearest A&E.There the Dr was unsure of his condition and referred us to Middlemore hospital.At Middlemore some X-ray were conducted and I was inform the x-ray results are not good and we were again transfered to Starship Hospital in Auckland city.My son was struggling from a very bad infection around his neck area which was affecting his breathing abilities.We were so worried as being an International student and my son has no medical we were so abstracted about treating him.All we could do is to fly him to back home to Malaysia to get him treated but the Dr here declined as his breathing track could get infected anytime and it was not recommended to fly. My poor son was admitted for a week and when thru an operation to remove the infection and tonsils.

But now we are stuck with an approximately NZD17,000 bill from both Middlemore and Auckland city hospital.My son is 9 and goes to school as a domestic student and we parents are working on odd jobs at the moment just meeting ends As I am an international student I only get to work 20hours, and my husband 40.

Although an option is given to pay the bill in weekly repayment,even that is a burden for us now

We appreciate if any help from the whanau could help us go thru this stressful hospital bill.