if you're a foreigner holidaying in queenstown and you have an accident, it's more than likely you'llere, at the local hospital or there are any number of doctors, physiotherapists and other health professionals about town. but no matter who you see, or what treatment you receive, it'll be paid for by the new zealand taxpayer. that's because under the country's unique accident compensation scheme, anyone who's injured in new zealand be it resident or visitor is covered. the trade-off is that you can't sue for damages. professor susan watson says the system, when introduced in 1974 was revolutionary, taking the lawyers and the lottery out of accident compensation. professor susan watson: "if you got hit by a rich person you might get a million dollars compensation, if you got knocked down by a car driven by someone with no assets then you wouldn't get any compensation at all. so there was sort of a desire to have a system which new zealanders perceived to be fairer where everyone would get compensation regardless of fault and regardless of who caused the injury". ♪ schwartz: the univer