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Working in New Zealand

New Zealand, the island of natural beauty; unspoilt coastlines, lush vegetation, glacial mountains, fast flowing rivers, deep crystal waters, exploding geysers, thermal baths and boiling mud.

It is also known to many as the 'Adventure Capital of the World', so you'll be sure to find something to help you unwind. Perhaps you fancy doing a bungee jump, white water rafting, snowboarding, glacier walking, or for something more sedate, perhaps a hike in one of the country's 14 National Parks, whale watching in the Island's pristine waters, relaxing in one of the natural thermal baths or sampling the award winning vino at one of New Zealand's many wineries.

Location and Geography

Straddling two continental plates and encompassing three main islands (north, south and stewart), nature has shaped New Zealand in to a land of pure beauty. With panoramic views of the towering mountains of the Southern Alps, the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, the breathtaking Milford Sound, the rural farmland of the Canterbury Plains, the rugged coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula, the surf beaches of Raglan, the dense forest of Stewart Island, the snow capped volcano Mount Taranaki, the boiling mud pools of Rotorua, the sub tropical rain forests – You could say that this was paradise.

New Zealand is similar in size to the UK and Japan, however it only has a population of 4 million. It's population are mainly of European origin, however you will also find maori origin. It's people, often referred to as 'Kiwis', are hospitable and friendly, and share a passion for their surroundings and ocean.

North Island is the 14th biggest Island in the world and this is where you will find the majority of the population. You will find New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, and the Capital city of Wellington.

South Island is the biggest of the 3 Islands in New Zealand and is known as the mainland. Here you will find it is less populated as only a quarter of the nation live here. The main towns here are Christchurch and Dunedin. 9 of New Zealand's National Parks will also be found on this part of the Island.

Stewart Island the smallest of the three Island is situated to the south of South Island. This part of the Island is dominated by the swampy valley of the Freshwater River. The only town here is Oban.

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and the world's southern most Capital City.  It was named in honour of Arthur Wellesley, who was the first Duke of Wellington and the victor of the Battle of Waterloo.
This town is dominated by its Central Business District, approximately 62,000 people work here.

Auckland has over 1.4 million residents and is by far New Zealand's most cosmopolitan city.
It lays between the Hauraki Gulf of the Pacific Ocean and the Manukau Harbour.  It is one of the only cities in the world to have 2 harbours on separate bodies of water.

This town expects to grow further with immigration and natural population growth on the increase too.

Christchurch is the largest City in South Island, located on the east coast.   It is located to the south of Pegasus Bay and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east.  To the south you will found the volcancic slopes of Port Hills.  Three rivers pass through the town, the Heathcote, Avon and the Waimakariri.   

Why work as a Nurse in New Zealand?

New Zealand has a shortage of nurses and are now looking overseas to help fill their gaps.

They need you!

How do I apply?

There are 2 ways to apply to working on the Island as a nurse.

Skilled Migration allows an individual the opportunity to emigrate to New Zealand whilst helping to boost the workforce of the Island. This is a step by step application process, from the initial assessment of ability to the settlement stage. If you are highly skilled your application can be processed faster and be issued with a 5 year work permit.

To qualify using this option you must be aged under 56 years, complete a health declaration and pass health requirements, pass security clearance to show no criminal convictions and no threat to the country. You must be able to speak fluent English and pass an English test.

Working Holiday
Visa This option is available to young individuals aged between 18-30 years, and gives them the opportunity to travel to New Zealand and find employment.

Under this scheme it gives the individual the opportunity to work casually in order to supplement their travels. You are allowed to work for a maximum of 12 months using this method, however if the individual is from the UK this can be extended to 23 months. To qualify using this method you must meet the same requirements as the skilled migrant and also be a citizen of a country that has a working visa agreement with New Zealand.

You must be able to show your length of stay and provide evidence that you will leave the Island before your visa expires. And show you have the means to support yourself throughout the trip.

An individual applying for a working visa must be genuinely travelling to the Island to holiday.

How do I apply as a Doctor?

The first thing you need to do is visit the website
http://www.mcnz.org.nz/
and assess your level of competency against a New Zealand trained doctor.

You must then be assessed by the New Zealand Medical Council to get approval of registration either as

• General
• Vocational
• Special Purpose Scope

The category you fall into will depend on your qualifications and your previous experience.

When your application has been approved, you will be invited for a registration interview. 

The medical council will send you a visa which acts as proof of being able to register as a doctor, which is a requirement of the immigration department.The registration fee for the General Scope is NZ $425 and the fee for annual practising certificate varies from NZ $270-NZ $675 and is paid at the time of the interview.