Discover the best place to work, in the best place to live!

Doctors look to New Zealand for a change of pace, better employment options, temperate climate, and access to unspoilt landscapes. Living and working here offers a truly healthy work-life-family balance. It’s a great environment to bring up kids alongside career goals and progression.

Green Cross Health has The Doctors network of 55 medical practices in towns and cities across our incredible country, you can find everything from untamed wilderness to rich culture. Whether you want the multicultural vibrant city of Auckland, boasting a population of over a million people with a range of opportunities for you and your family, or nestle yourself at the top of the South Island in the Tasman region, surrounded by national parks, golden beaches and crystal-clear bays.

Start exploring here and find out why this really is the best place to live. It's a country that is packed with scenic delights, there is something for everyone!

Largest general practice provider, Green Cross Health and The Doctors medical centres

Making the move to New Zealand

Moving across the world can be a stressful time, navigating through the different regulatory requirements and juggling timelines.

At Green Cross Health we have a medical recruitment expert in our team to guide you through each step in the process. Right from first contact we are interested in finding a practice and location that fits you and your family’s needs. We then work with you by setting up interviews with our practices and helping you decide on the right practice.

Then we help guide you through registration with Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), immigration and border quarantine (MIQ). This is all provided free of charge, it's simply part of our service and approach. This means you can develop a strong and meaningful relationship with the practice and our team well before you step foot in New Zealand.

How Green Cross Health can help

Looking for a new job is time consuming, but when you throw in the logistics of moving from one country to another, you need good people behind you. Here are a few ways Green Cross Health can help you find the best roles in our network in New Zealand:

Our practices know and trust this process

We have strong relationships with all our practices across the network. We find the best talent and then advocate and negotiate on your behalf so that everyone is happy – it’s a win-win. Your application will be well regarded by our practices as we have a reputation for finding the best.

Less legwork and paperwork

We assist you with all the paperwork, ensuring that you are fully compliant. We will navigate you through the various registration pathways, taking most of the administration burden off you. We can also accentuate the key features of your CV and application, so you have your best foot forward with your first impression.

Immigration and Relocation

Once you have accepted a job we work to help you through the MCNZ and immigration process for you and your family. We help provide localistic information around settling in NZ, including setting up a bank account and finding accommodation. Without the right connections, it can be difficult to turn your dream of living and working in another country, into reality.

Help for FREE

One of the best things about our service is that is FREE for doctors. We're here to help.

Things You Need To Know

Fast Facts About General Practice in New Zealand

An average day consists of 2 sessions (AM/PM). Each session is usually 4 hours
Most Doctors work 8-10 sessions per week
Standard appointments are 15 mins long
All practices use computerised patient notes. The most common software is Medtech, which is used at about 90% of practices
Some practices include on-call of 1-2 nights per week. This is more common in rural areas but varies practice to practice
Procedural skills, emergency medicine and minor surgery are valuable
Some practices have a walk-in clinic that all GPs work in on a roster basis
Different practices offer different packages. Usually the more rural a location - the more is included in the package (e.g. relocation, accommodation and car)

Register to Join Our Team

We're always looking for great talent to join our team. We are committed to developing people’s skills, confidence, and capability to be the best they can.

Send us your details, there may be something coming in the pipeline we can contact you about.

Register with us here or email us [email protected]

Brochure "What's In It" For GPs In Our Network

Download our GP Brochure to find out more about what it means to work as a Doctor with Green Cross Health and The Doctors medical centre network.

Registration Pathways

Competent Pathway for UK or Irish graduates

Must hold a primary medical degree from a university medical school within the UK or Ireland.
Have at least 1 year of general medical experience working within the UK or Ireland.
Require 6 months of satisfactory supervision reports before gaining general registration.

Comparable Pathway

Must hold current and full registration in a ‘comparable’ country.
Have worked in a comparable health system for a minimum of 30 hours per week for at least 33 months out of the last 48 months (prior to application). This time must be practised in the branch of medicine that the Doctor intends to work in NZ.
Comparable countries include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, USA.
Require 12 months of satisfactory supervision reports before gaining general registration.

Locum Tenens Pathway

Based on post graduate qualification.
Allows Doctors to work a maximum of 12 months in NZ at one time.
Always under supervision and never graduate to full registration.
There are specific post graduate qualifications recognised from the following countries - Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, UK, RSA and USA.
Ideal for Locums working up to 12 months.

Current GP Vacancies

Check out the GP Vacancies section of our careers website where it has all our current available roles.

You'll find all the details you need on where the roles are located, which practice they are with and how to apply.

New Zealand Regions of Interest

Some regions in New Zealand are particularly special or have unique opportunities for doctors. You can find out more about these regions here so that when we talk about the roles and where they are in the country, you can get a great picture in your mind.

Testimonials From Those Who Made The Move

"In August 2014 I came to New Zealand to work as a GP in Gisborne for a year as it had beaches, vineyards and sun. After returning to Belgium in 2015, Gisborne kept calling and in 2018 we moved to New Zealand permanently. I returned to The Doctors Te Whare Hapara and am currently working as the medical lead. I enjoy the good vibes at the practice and the slower pace of life in Gisborne."

Dr Wim Ruelens - works at The Doctors Te Whāre Hapara, originally from Belgium

"I moved to New Zealand in 2013 for a change of pace from The Netherlands. Shortly after moving I was recruited by Green Cross Health to work at The Doctors Kerikeri. I have found working here a thoroughly enjoyable experience as I am surrounded by a lovely yet hardworking team, in a beautiful, laid-back town.."

Dr Hester Elbertsen - works at The Doctors Kerikeri, originally from The Netherlands

Contact Us

Wherever you're from around the globe, let's chat.

Maybe you’re considering a move from the rigours of the NHS, or perhaps your long-term career goals can’t be achieved at home, or you’re looking abroad for opportunities to pursue specialty interests and/or leadership aspirations. Whatever your needs, there are endless opportunities for you here in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Contact Anna today and start your conversation.

Anna Drakeford

Green Cross Health, Medical Talent Acquisition Manager

M +64 21 151 0048
E [email protected]