Doctors’ Guide to Working

& Living in New Zealand

www.headmedical.com
 Doctors’ Guide to
Working & Living
in New Zealand

Working in NZ
District Health Boards
Healthcare System
Salaries & Working Conditions
The Treaty of Waitangi
Registration
Language & IELTS

Immigration

Living in NZ
Cost of Living
Housing
Lifestyle
Climate
Safety
Education
Health Insurance
Transferring a UK Pension to NZ
Moving Pets
Contact Us
Congratulations on making the decision to consider living
and working in New Zealand.

New Zealand is a land of extremes from the sub-

tropical north to the glaciers of the south, encompassing
beautiful green countryside, wild surf beaches, volcanic
peaks, national parks, mountains, stunning wildlife
and fabulous cities along the way. The people of
New Zealand are famed for their relaxed and friendly
approach.

New Zealand is frequently recognised as a country which has one of the highest qualities of life in
the world, featuring prominently in most worldwide quality of living surveys. The country offers a
safe and green environment with healthy lifestyle options
as well as being a modern and exciting place to live. NZ
proudly promotes its clean technology developments,
health IT and alternative sustainable energy production
all of which are contributing to its healthy economy,
bringing global attention and investment to the country
and allowing NZ based companies to partner with
industry leaders around the globe.

People flock to New Zealand from all locations and

from all walks of life. The country is characterised by a
relatively young and growing population and relatively
high levels of inbound migration (mainly from the UK, Asia and the Pacific). With four-fifths of
European ethnicity, 1 in 7 the indigenous Māori, 1 in 15 Asian and 1 in 16 of Pacific Island origin,
New Zealand is an increasingly multicultural society that appeals due to its diversity, laid-back way
of life and temperate climate.

Compared to Australia the registration and immigration

process is shorter (3–6 months versus 6–9 months
minimum) and there are also no restrictions as to where
a Doctor can work (you are not required to work in an
‘area of need’) – giving you the best possible choice of
vacancies and locations available. Six month contracts
are available, although many employers prefer a
commitment of 12 months and of course it’s also
possible to find a permanent job for those who seek a
long term move.

There really has never been a better time

to see what New Zealand has to offer
Working in NZ
District Health
Boards (DHBs)

Healthcare is provided
mainly within the public
sector in New Zealand.

There are 20 District Health

Boards providing public
healthcare throughout the
country, 15 in the North
Island and 5 in the South
Island.

For more information refer to

Cole’s Medical Practice in New Zealand
– an introduction to the main legislation,
ethical standards and guidelines which
govern medical practice in New Zealand.
 Healthcare System
Primary healthcare, including general practice, out-patient
services, and prescriptions, is funded by a combination of public
subsidy and private contributions.

General Practitioners provide primary, community based,

comprehensive and continuing patient-centred care to
individuals, families and the community. Many general
practices run as private businesses, but publicly funded
organisations such as community trusts, accident and
emergency services or Māori health providers also employ
GPs.

GPs moving to New Zealand tend to start as a salaried GP,

perhaps with the option to buy into the practice or take over the
practice at a later date if they want to.

Practices are part of a regional Primary Health Organisation (PHO) which is

overseen by the correspondent District Health Board. GPs, Practice Nurses,
Māori health providers and other primary healthcare providers work together to meet the health
requirements of the local people, with PHOs funded according to the demographics and needs of
their population.

Secondary healthcare services, including acute hospital treatment, are free to those who
meet the eligibility criteria. There has been an increase in New Zealanders who have private health
insurance and there are many private hospitals. Further information on New Zealand’s healthcare
services can be found on the New Zealand Now website.

Salaries & Working Conditions

Salaries in NZ are attractive with low taxation (the tax rate
is currently capped at 33%) and no National Insurance
contribution allowing for an excellent quality of life. Doctors
generally report that working conditions are also very
favourable in comparison, with more study and annual leave
and fewer working hours, allowing for a better work/life
balance.

You may also have an opportunity to join a Superannuation

scheme (where you would contribute up to the value of 6%
of your gross earnings, paid into a NZ fund of your choice by
your employer who will match the contributions you make. These
funds are then accessible either upon your retirement or when you
leave NZ). More information on Superannuation can be found at the
Emigrate New Zealand website.
 GPs: GPs tend to earn between NZ$150k and NZ$185k. This
depends on your experience and the location of the position.
Often GPs will work a four or four and a half day week, with
a typical 36 hour work week and 25 days annual leave –
allowing for a family friendly lifestyle. Appointment slots of
10–15 minutes are also standard practice.

Consultants: Consultants working in the public

health system in NZ are paid according to a national
collective agreement. Salary point is determined
specifically by the number of years of experience you
have, working at Consultant level. How much you will be
paid in total, i.e. your gross package will be determined
by other factors such as frequency of on-call and job
size (hours routinely worked per week above standard 40
hours 1.0 FTE). Total packages will essentially range from
approximately NZ$200–300k. In addition, you will benefit from:

• 6 weeks (30 working days) annual leave per annum

• 10 working days leave per annum to undertake continuing medical education activities,
including attendance at international conferences

• NZ$16,000 per annum Continuing Medical Education (CME) allowance

• Reimbursement of work-related expenses, such as medical registration

and Indemnity

The Treaty of Waitangi

The Treaty of Waitangi is relevant to all those working for
the District Health Boards in New Zealand. Being aware
of the Treaty of Waitangi and its impact on work practices
and government health initiatives is fundamental to a
DHB’s approach to providing quality services for its
people. Each DHB has a commitment to close the gaps
regarding health inequalities.

When you start your role, you will be given a more

detailed introduction to Māori culture, so don’t worry about
this too much as the DHBs understand that this will be
unfamiliar territory. Cole’s Medical Practice in New Zealand,
issued by the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), has a
useful chapter on Māori health, and further information
concerning the Treaty of Waitangi can be found online.
Registration
The Medical Council of New Zealand has
a very flexible registration system, allowing
Doctors to qualify for registration in a number
of different ways. Your journey to gaining full
registration with the MCNZ is assessed by Head
Medical taking into account a range of factors,
including your qualifications, your professional
experience, and whether you intend to work
in New Zealand permanently or for a locum
of up to 12 months. Depending on the type of
registration applied for, it will take between 20
days and 4 months to arrange.

Our trained and experienced Registration and Immigration Consultants will review your
qualifications and your plans and advise you on the best path. We’ve helped many Doctors gain
registration in New Zealand in the last five years so we have a wealth of experience in this field.

Language & IELTS

All Doctors must satisfy the requirements of the
MCNZ’s English Language Policy, which can
be found online. If English is not your first
language, unless you have been working in an
English speaking country for three out of the
last four years, you will need to pass the
Academic Module of the International English
Language Testing System (IELTS). Tests can
be taken regularly in test centres worldwide –
please see the IELTS website for further
details. There are a range of preparatory
courses, practice papers and video tutorials
available online.

‘‘Without the assistance of Head Medical I would

never have made it. I would strongly and happily
recommend them to anybody’’
Dr Emilie Asplund, 1 year contract in Tauranga Hospital, Bay of Plenty, NZ
Immigration

Head Medical employs two full time Licenced Immigration Advisors

for New Zealand and once we have helped you find a job, you will
be assigned to one of these Consultants who will work closely with
you, both on arranging your medical registration, and your visa, or in
some cases residency applications. They will always be on hand to
provide advice and assistance with immigration applications, liaise
with NZ Immigration, acting on your behalf, handling all requests
for information, and of course, most importantly, providing you with
frequent updates on the status of your application, and being on
hand to answer all queries.

Just like registration, the type of visa that you require will depend on a number of factors, such as
the duration of your job offer, your long and short-term intentions, the dependants you are taking
and their requirements, as well as your age. The main immigration pathways are the Essential
Skills, Work to Residence and Permanent Residence – Skilled Migrant categories. Depending on
the application being considered, it can take between 4 weeks for a standard work visa and 3–6
months for a residency application. For more information on all three pathways, please take a look
at the New Zealand Immigration Website.

Can my family come to New Zealand with me?

Yes, your partner can go to New Zealand with you, as long as you can demonstrate
that you have been living together in a genuine and stable partnership for a period of
at least 12 months. Your children can also go, as long as you have the legal right to
care for those children in their home country.

“I could not provide a greater recommendation than

Head Medical. The organisation guide the process
fully and support the applicant completely from initial
contact and beyond”
Dr Richard Fisher, Psychiatrist, Northland, New Zealand
Living in NZ

Cost of Living
Good salaries, lower taxes, no National Insurance and a
lower cost of living mean an excellent quality of life is easily
within your means. New migrants generally find that New
Zealand offers a better balance between cost of living and
lifestyle than they had before. For further information, New
Zealand Now and Emigrate NZ have useful web pages you
can look at.

Housing
Lots of people choose to rent a house first and then buy
later. It gives you a chance to become familiar with the city
or region you’ll be living in before you buy.

The national median rental is around NZ$350 per week for a

three-bedroom home. As a general rule, prices are higher in
the cities (Auckland being the most expensive), while prices
tend to be lower in the South Island. This trend also applies
when it comes to buying houses.

Houses and apartments to let/for sale can be found in local

newspapers and property websites, such as:
Realestate.co.nz | TradeMe | Sella | Open2view

Lifestyle
Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, on the beach or at the
theatre, on the playing fields or in the garden, New Zealand
has an inexhaustible range of things to do. Most of the
country’s inhabitants live within half an hour’s drive of the
coast, so water-based activities are popular. New Zealand
has many national parks and reserves, numerous ski fields
and more golf courses per capita than anywhere else in the world. A comprehensive list of activities
by region can be found on the 100% Pure New Zealand website.
 Climate
New Zealand has a temperate climate with plenty of sunshine hours. From the
warm subtropical regions in the far north to cool temperate climates in the
south, New Zealand’s climate is dictated by two main geographical
features: the mountains and the sea. Owing to its location in the
Southern Hemisphere, the seasons here are reversed (but
water doesn’t go down the plughole the other way...it’s just
a myth!). Find out more at the New Zealand Tourism
Guide.

Safety
According to the 2012 Global Peace Index,
New Zealand is the 2nd safest place to live in
the world. Wellington has been designated
a World Health Organization (WHO) Safe
Community – the only capital city of any
country to currently be recognised in this
way. There are no snakes or dangerous
wild animals in New Zealand.

Education
The standard government-funded
schooling system provides a
comprehensive curriculum of academic,
sporting and skills-based learning options.
The majority of schools have their own
playing fields, gymnasiums and swimming
pools, and the standard of education is
generally considered to be very high. The
school year starts in January and finishes
in December. You can choose between state
funded schools, ‘state integrated’ schools based
on religion and private schools. Schooling is free
at state and state-integrated schools. Useful links
include the New Zealand Curriculum Online and also
New Zealand Now’s educational content.

Tertiary Education
For a fully comprehensive guide to tertiary education in New Zealand,
take a look at the NZ Ministry of Education website. Victoria University,
the University of Otago, Massey University, the University of Canterbury, the
University of Waikato and the University of Auckland were all ranked in the top 200 in at least
one discipline in the 2013 QS World University Rankings.
Health Insurance
Depending on which visa you go out on, you may be eligible for publicly funded health and
disability services in the country, but if you prefer there are numerous insurance providers
available, including Southern Cross, Accuro, Medical Direct and NZ Medical.

Transferring a UK Pension to NZ
For a wealth of information on this subject, visit Working in New Zealand’s comprehensive website.

If you want to pay into a Superannuation scheme when you get there, visit the Kiwisaver website to
find out more about this opt-in pension scheme.

Moving Pets
Over the years we have placed several
Doctors who have relocated with their pets.
Strict guidelines exist with regard to their
importation, but in the majority of cases dogs
and cats are permitted (with appropriate
quarantining). Several companies offer pet
relocation services:

Par Air | Petair UK | ScandiPet (for people

living in Scandinavia)

NZ introduced new regulations in 2012

regarding certain vaccinations that are
required now for cats and dogs entering the
country, on which more information can be found in the
bio-security section on the NZ Government website.
 Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
20 Alva Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4PY, UK
Phone: +44 (0) 131 226 2200
[email protected]
www.headmedical.com

Head Medical, 20 Alva Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4PY

T: +44 (0) 131 226 2200 F: +44 (0) 131 625 9595 E: [email protected] www.headmedical.com
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