If your surgeon or physio has recommended a Game Ready after knee, ankle or shoulder surgery, you have two main options in New Zealand: hire a Game Ready from the Auckland-based distributor, or hire an equivalent cold compression machine such as a CryoPush. This guide covers where to hire, what a typical recovery actually costs, and what to check before you book.
Where can you hire a Game Ready in NZ?
Game Ready machines are not sold through standard retail channels in New Zealand. The main hire option is the NZ Game Ready distributor, based in Auckland. Their rentals run in two-week blocks at $368 (incl GST), which covers the control unit and one wrap. Extra wraps are $92 per two-week block. Units are couriered nationwide from Auckland.
What does Game Ready hire cost?
Most knee surgery protocols use cold compression for two to six weeks. Here is what that costs for hire only, with one wrap, at November 2026 prices:
2 weeks: Game Ready $368. CryoPush $200.
4 weeks: Game Ready $736. CryoPush $360.
6 weeks: Game Ready $1,104. CryoPush $520.
CryoPush hire from RecoveryTec is $120 for the first week and $80 for each extra week, with no bond and no minimum hire. Courier is $40 return in the South Island and $55 return in the North Island, or pick up free from Lincoln or Belfast in Christchurch. See full hire pricing.
The billing period matters if your recovery runs longer than planned. With two-week blocks, needing a machine for five weeks means paying for six. Weekly billing means you only pay for the weeks you use.
Game Ready hire in Christchurch and Canterbury
Game Ready hire units are dispatched from Auckland. If you are in Christchurch or Selwyn, RecoveryTec can deliver a CryoPush locally for $40 return, usually within 24 hours of booking, or you can collect from Lincoln or Belfast. Many patients arrange delivery for the day they get home from hospital.
Does it need to be a Game Ready?
For home recovery, the evidence supports the treatment, not the brand. Game Ready and CryoPush both circulate chilled water through an anatomical wrap while applying intermittent compression. Research on knee replacement recovery shows compressive cryotherapy improves pain and swelling compared with standard ice (Quesnot et al., 2024), and continuous cold-flow devices outperform simple cold packs (Liang et al., 2024). Using the wrap consistently matters more than the logo on the machine.
If your surgeon's protocol is built around Game Ready settings, ask whether an equivalent machine is suitable. For a full side-by-side comparison, read CryoPush vs Game Ready.
What to check before you hire any ice compression machine
The right wrap. Knee, ankle, shoulder, hip and full leg wraps are different. Confirm yours matches your surgery.
Billing period. Weekly or two-week blocks, and any minimum hire.
Delivery timing. Book before surgery so the machine is home when you are. Swelling is greatest in the first three to five days.
Ice supply. Both machines run on ice and water. Expect to refill two to three times a day early on.
Bond and extras. Check for bonds, cleaning fees or wrap surcharges.
Support. You will be tired and sore. Make sure someone answers the phone.
Other Game Ready alternatives
CryoPush cold compression machine. The same active cold and intermittent compression. FDA 510(k) cleared, CE marked and ISO 13485 certified. Weekly hire from RecoveryTec.
Gravity-fed cold cuffs. A wrap filled from a cooler of iced water. Cheaper, but the cold fades as the water warms and the compression is static.
Ice packs and a compression bandage. Low cost, but hard to keep consistently cold and compressed, and less effective than motorised devices for post-surgery swelling.
How long will you need it?
Most knee surgery hires run two to four weeks, and knee replacement patients often extend. Your surgeon or physio will set your protocol. See our week-by-week guide: How long should you ice after knee surgery?
Hire a CryoPush Ice Compression Machine ->
Weekly hire, no bond, no minimum hire. Christchurch delivery or nationwide courier. Knee, ankle, shoulder, hip and full leg wraps.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a Game Ready in NZ?
The NZ distributor charges $368 (incl GST) per two-week block, including one wrap. A four-week hire is $736 before courier.
Can I hire a Game Ready in Christchurch?
Game Ready hire units are couriered from Auckland. For local delivery in Christchurch and Selwyn, RecoveryTec hires the CryoPush, an equivalent cold compression machine.
Is a CryoPush as good as a Game Ready?
Both deliver active cold and intermittent compression, which is what the research supports. See CryoPush vs Game Ready for the full comparison.
Does ACC pay for ice machine hire?
ACC can sometimes approve hire of a cold compression machine after surgery. Ask your ACC case manager before you book.
When should I book?
Book one to two weeks before surgery so delivery lines up with your return home.
Sources
Quesnot A et al. (2024). Randomized controlled trial of compressive cryotherapy versus standard cryotherapy after total knee arthroplasty. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25, 182. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07289-x
Liang et al. (2024). Cryotherapy for Rehabilitation After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Orthopaedic Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1111/os.14266
Game Ready NZ distributor rental pricing, accessed November 2026.
