Editor’s note: This post is sponsored by Origin Medical, a New Zealand–based medical recruitment agency. For over a decade, they’ve helped U.S.-trained physicians and their families make the move, supporting everything from medical council registration to immigration and logistics. We’re sharing their perspective because it closely aligns with what we hear every day from physicians in our community — a grounded, real-world look at what it actually takes to build a life and career in New Zealand.
If you’ve dreamed about having free time and weekends to spend surfing the waves, skiing the slopes, or reconnecting with the great outdoors, then perhaps New Zealand can offer the perfect work-life balance.
I’m David Martin from Origin Medical Recruitment, and I’ve spent the last 15 years helping US-trained doctors and their families find fantastic roles and locations in New Zealand. I’ve also made the move myself – I grew up in Scotland and came to New Zealand in 2005 for a working holiday and loved it so much I’m still here 20 years later! So if I can do it, you can too!
If you’re considering a move to New Zealand, here are the FIVE things doctors often wish they knew sooner
1. Should I use an agency to help with my job hunt?
Good question! The answer depends on your personal preference.
Public Hospitals in New Zealand are administered centrally by an organization called Health NZ. While you can apply directly to Health NZ, it’s important to know that once you submit your CV or create an online profile, you won’t be able to work with a recruitment agency afterward — you’ll need to communicate with Health NZ directly.
Also worth bearing in mind is that applying directly does not mean you can earn a higher salary; the salary scales in New Zealand are fixed and you would earn the same whether you are represented by an agency or not.
An agency can make life easier by doing the job search for you and also advising on contract conditions and the various benefits you are entitled to. And, there is no charge to you for these services.
2. Think about having a cover letter and references
In addition to your CV, it is extremely advantageous to have a short cover letter outlining your motivation to come to New Zealand and what you hope to gain from the experience of living and working there. This can also help potential employers get a bit more of an idea about your personality and is a great chance to highlight why you are attracted to a particular role or location.
Moving overseas or changing roles can be a delicate issue and something you may not be ready to alert colleagues about but if you are in the position where you can obtain – or better still already have – three references from colleagues you work with, this is a big help and coupled with a cover letter suggests to the employer that you are serious and keen to move forward.
3. What is it like living in New Zealand?
You’d be surprised how many inquiries we get from doctors who want to move to New Zealand but have never been here!
We have helped a number of doctors from the USA/Canada move to New Zealand for both temporary and permanent positions, and can put you in touch with some of these doctors and their families who have already made the move. Being able to chat with US physicians on the ground in New Zealand is invaluable, as they can share their experience of working and living here.
Doctors often tell us how welcoming everyone has been and how special it is to be part of the culture in New Zealand.
Lifestyle is a huge draw. The work-life balance is something physicians don’t just hope for here; they actually experience it. In fact, we’ve yet to hear of a doctor reporting burnout after making the move.
Whether it’s surfing, hiking, or biking, it’s not unusual to head outdoors after work or spend weekends exploring. One physician even traded daily traffic in a US city for a kayak commute in a coastal New Zealand town.
New Zealand is also a fantastic place to raise a family in a safe, inclusive environment. Childcare facilities are excellent, and 20 hours of free childcare funding are available once a child turns 3. Schools are also of a high standard, such that most families choose to enroll their children in public schools.
4. How long do medical council registration and visa applications take?
Not as long as you think! We often get inquiries from doctors 18 months ahead of their preferred start date, and while it’s great to be organized and plan ahead, a more realistic timeframe is 6-12 months from the time when you are interviewed to when you start working in New Zealand (think of it as interview → medical board registration → visa → book flights and begin the adventure!)
You don’t need to have started the medical registration before applying for jobs or having an interview, which can be a benefit as it’s one less thing to think about and organize initially. Once there is a firm indication of a forthcoming job offer, you can start thinking about the medical council registration, which, if you’re working with an agency, can assist you with.
Medical Council (MCNZ) registration can take as little as 20 working days (for shorter-term locum tenens applications) to 3-6 months for the longer-term permanent registration known as VOC 3 provisional vocational, which involves a much more detailed application, hence the longer processing time.
Visa applications can be processed relatively quickly, usually in weeks rather than months, but normally only after the MCNZ registration is completed. However, it is possible to start the visa process concurrently with the MCNZ process to save time.
If there are any malpractice disclosures to make, this can delay the process while MCNZ reviews the documentation. Any health disclosures among the family can delay or affect visa applications, but the process is typically smooth for applicants. That said, each application is different, and Origin will help advise you on the best pathways for visa and MCNZ registration when discussing job opportunities.
5. A word about salaries – locum/permanent/fixed term
While salaries in the US are usually higher than in New Zealand, in our experience, most doctors are primarily motivated by the favorable work-life balance that can be achieved there. Doctors in the US often tell us about 60-80 hour working weeks, but in New Zealand you can expect a 40-hour working week (or less) with additional hours only if you are participating in an oncall roster, with perhaps one night For a hospital doctor, a typical Monday to Friday schedule might be 8 am – 4.30 pm with no more than one night per week on call and occasional oncall weekends. GP (Family Physicians) often work 32-hour weeks, but there is scope to work more hours if you prefer. The work schedules offer plenty of opportunities to spend more time with family and explore all that New Zealand’s great outdoors has to offer. That said, there are also opportunities to increase your earnings with locum and private work in addition to your regular salary, depending on your preference.
There is a 15-step basic salary scale for board-certified hospital doctors, with step 1 usually being the first year residency ended/board certification is granted. The base salary scale ranges from NZD $185,000 – $267,000. There are also on-call and availability allowances, which can add another $50,000 or more to the basic salary. Family physicians can expect a salary similar to a hospital doctor, based on experience.
How Origin Medical Can Help With Your Move to New Zealand
Moving your life to another country can seem like an enormous undertaking, but we are here to help by breaking the process into small, manageable parts and supporting you at every step. No two applications are the same, and we tailor our approach to fit you and your family, recognizing that everyone’s timelines and needs can vary.
If you’re exploring opportunities through Origin Medical, we can walk you through the different contract types and what each means in terms of salary, responsibilities, and flexibility. But regardless of how you apply for a role, understanding the trade-off — slightly lower pay compared to the US for significantly better work/life balance — is key to making an informed decision. We can also give you an overview of the roles available in your specialty, the timelines you can expect, and help with all the paperwork: medical council registration, visa applications, and insurance, as well as set up your banking and assist with accommodation on arrival in the country. We can also give examples and guidance on how to frame your CV or shape your cover letter for specific regions or roles.
If New Zealand is on your radar, we would love to hear from you! Whether you are at the early stages and still a year or two away from moving to New Zealand, or are serious and ready to make the move within the next six to twelve months, we’d be delighted to hear from you. It’s never too early to reach out, and we will answer all inquiries and help as best we can.
Contact David at david.martin@originmedical.co.nz or phone/WhatsApp +64 21 0294 1201
David Martin, from Origin Medical, was born and bred in Scotland but came to New Zealand in 2005 for a year and loved it so much he is still living here 20 years later! New Zealand is now home to David, his partner and their very own kiwi – a 5-year-old son.
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