Healthcare Jobs

There are very high demands for workers across the health sector.  The government recently introduced a fast-track to residency pathway for some specific occupations.  

Healthworkers needed now

A growing population, with an increasing proportion of elderly; increasing health needs and rising health expectations; and an aging health workforce are all combining to create skill shortages across the sector.

Healthcare jobs in NZ: Waitemata

02:47

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Willem Landman: 

I’m an emergency medicine specialist, I’m originally from South Africa and currently I’m the Clinical Director of Waitemata DHB emergency department. I’ve been working in this organisation for 8 years now and I’m loving every minute of it.

Waitemata District Health Board is responsible for about 500 thousand people, by itself we are comfortably the largest district health board in the country.

We are located right on Lake Pupuke and adjacent to some of the best beaches in New Zealand.

Generally the lifestyle in Auckland is one of the best in the world. Auckland was voted one of the top 10 cities in the world to live in.

New Zealand is really looking to innovate and develop technologies and systems and be a world leader in terms of innovation, and we have to given the size and location of our country so, really we have a unique mix of elements that allows us to become world leaders, and we are world leaders in a lot of innovative work.

There’s lots of opportunities for Doctors, Nurses, other health care professionals anywhere in New Zealand a very large proportion of health care workforce is foreign trained.

So your walking down the corridors in a hospital in New Zealand, it’s like walking through the corridors of the United Nations.

Those arriving in New Zealand with a specialist qualification would need to look for whether their qualification is recognised in New Zealand and often times, even if it isn’t recognised at least a component of their specialist training will be recognised and, they can do bridging work to have their specialty completely recognised.

So we’re very fortunate in New Zealand where much of the focus in healthcare is on the patient rather than directly on the finances. Our decisions are based more on ethical considerations rather than financial considerations.

New Zealand has just the most phenomenal lifestyle available as far as I’m concerned. Its just a wonderful combination of outdoor living, water sports, the sea, tramping and then you’ve got the New Zealand culture which is just such a wonderful family friendly, child friendly culture and safe too.

Its surreal living here coming from somewhere like South Africa but I hear the same from colleagues that come from elsewhere in the world. We’re just so protected over here so, if you like the outdoors and you like community living I think you’re going to struggle to find a better country in the world.

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Up to one in five nurses will be looking to retire in the next five years. At the same time nurse training enrolments have been falling.

Many GPs too are retiring, creating shortages in that speciality.

Amongst specialists, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) estimates shortages at 24% with psychiatry, anaesthetics, dermatology and neurology particularly affected.

The challenges are not unique to New Zealand, but they do mean there are plenty of opportunities for healthcare professionals in our country.

Is your profession on the green list?

Many Health industry roles are currently on INZ's fast-tracked Residency Green list

The Green List | Immigration New Zealand

Visa options

There are various types of visas that you may be eligible to apply for:

• Work visas are for a temporary stay in New Zealand, but some can lead to residence
• a Resident visa, such as the Skilled Migrant Category, lets you stay indefinitely and access more state-funded public services. You may be able to apply for a Skilled Migrant Category visa if you find a job in advance, have the right qualifications and have at least three years’ post-graduate work experience.

Visas for New Zealand

Healthcare in New Zealand

Migrant stories

Dr Antonios Chasouris, Greece

One thing I like about New Zealand is, because of a shortage of skills, an all-round therapist like me can apply all his skills. For example, I have studied educational difficulties, clinical psychology and behavioural therapy, so under the mental health system in New Zealand, I can do a lot of things, which I love.

Read his full story

New Zealand has a mixed public/private healthcare model. Each sector offers high standards of care. The public system is much larger, accounting for over 80% of total healthcare spend. 

In total we have around 220 hospitals and 20 Districts managing public healthcare in different region.

With such an extensive healthcare system there are opportunities for healthcare professionals covering every discipline or specialty.

In the public system, essential healthcare services such as emergency care, essential surgery, and hospital care are provided free for all New Zealand residents and those living here on a work visa valid for two years or longer. Visits to general practitioners (family doctors) are paid for by the individual patient.

Operating alongside the public system, private healthcare offers access to private hospitals for treating both urgent and non-urgent conditions (excluding Accident and Emergency care). The network of private hospitals and clinics provides a range of services that include recuperative care, elective procedures and a range of general surgical procedures. There are also private radiology clinics and testing laboratories.

New Zealand puts about 10% of its GDP into healthcare, around the OECD average.

Hospitals

New Zealand hospitals and general practices are modern and well equipped. You’ll find the atmosphere positive and friendly – they’re great places to work.

Standards are high. For example, the government’s Health Quality & Safety Commission reports that New Zealand performs well internationally on patient safety and measures of effectiveness while surveys show consistently positive results for patient experiences.

An international workforce

You won't feel out of place working in a New Zealand hospital or medical practice. For example, over 40% of the 17,000 doctors registered with the New Zealand Medical Council in 2019 were international medical graduates. Amongst practising nurses, 27% were internationally qualified.

Getting started

The first step is finding a job. Research where your skills will best fit and which employers are looking for your expertise. And make sure that your qualifications are recognised in New Zealand.

At the same time you should register with the relevant medical body eg. the Medical Council of New Zealand for doctors, or the Nursing Council of New Zealand for nurses.

The website Kiwi Health Jobs lists job vacancies available at the Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand local districts around the country.

Your recognised qualification(s) | Immigration New Zealand

Getting registered | Medical Council

Internationally Qualified Nurses | Nursing Council of New Zealand

Search Jobs | Kiwi Health Jobs