New Zealand, or Aotearoa in the Maori Language, is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The six largest island country in the world, it consists of two main landmasses; the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South Island (Te Waipounamu) and over 700 smaller islands. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland. 

The country of New Zealand was founded in 1840 when representatives of the United Kingdom and native Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which in its English version, declared British sovereignty over the islands. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire, 1n 1907, a dominion  and in 1947, it gained full statutory independence, retaining the monarch as head of state. It remains a country of the Commonwealth. 

Today, the majority of New Zealand's population of 5.25 million is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pasifika. Reflecting this, New Zealand's culture is mainly derived from Māori and early British settlers, with recent broadening of culture arising from increased immigration. The official languages are English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language, with the local dialect of English dominant.

Living in New Zealand, you can enjoy a unique lifestyle which blends magnificent scenery, engaging outdoor activities, a dynamic economy with a laid-back atmosphere and a strong connection with indigenous Māori culture.

Once you have decided that you are interested in working as a doctor or dentist in New Zealand there are four major considerations to address:

1. Professional Registration: Eligibility for professional registration with the Medical or Dental Council of New Zealand. 
2. Immigration: confirm your eligibility to work in New Zealand by determining if you are eligible for a residency visa (Tier 1 Green List skills and age 55 or under) or sponsorship by an accredited employer who offers you a job. 
3. Scope of Practice: scopes of medical and dental practice vary from country to country and it is best to define your desired scope of work as that will determine the jobs for which you should apply.
4. Location: this will be determined to some extent by scope of practice but also by lifestyle and family interests.

All practising doctors and dentists must register with the Medical or Dental Councils of New Zealand and in the case of Maxillofacial Surgeons with both. All must have an Annual Practising Certificate.

The scopes of registration include general registration (for resident medical and dental officers), vocational or specialist registration (for senior medical and dental officers ) and special purpose registration which includes Locum Tenens registration. 

Your recruitment consultant will be able to advise you of the appropriate scope and requirements.

All doctors and dentists practising in New Zealand must hold medical indemnity insurance. NZMMI and Medicus Indemnity New Zealand INC are the two major companies which provide medical indemnity insurance in New Zealand, but there are other to chose from. All medical indemnity insurance costs are refunded by Health New Zealand for those practising in the public sector

New Zealand has a simple system of taxation laws with minimal loopholes and is one of the most favourable environments for investors in all of the OECD countries. There is no capital gains tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, healthcare tax or local taxes aside from property taxes. There is, however, a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 15% factored in to the price of most goods and there are taxes on alcohol, tobacco and petrol.

All doctors and dentists must register with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and obtain a tax ID number. The IRD is responsible for the collection of tax in New Zealand. Individuals are subject to income tax on worldwide income whilst tax resident in New Zealand. Tax is based upon a sliding scale and all worldwide income of a tax resident in New Zealand is taken into account in determining their effective rates of tax. There are five PAYE tax brackets for the 2023-24 tax year: 10.50%, 17.50%, 30%, 33% and 39%. Individual  tax brackets depend on total taxable income. Locums may work as employees or independent contractors and should seek advice about personal tax liabilities and residential status.

An IRD number must be obtained via on line application prior to starting work in New Zealand. Our guide about New Zealand taxation explains the process. The official currency of New Zealand is the New Zealand dollar (NZD).

Once you have established eligibility for professional registration with the Medical and/ or Dental Council of New Zealand and eligibility for a visa or permanent residency and decided upon your scope of practice, you are ready to apply for jobs. 

The average time frame from job application to work start date is 6 months but can be much quicker or slower depending upon the progress of licence and visa applications. 

Resident medical officers can often complete the recruitment process within 3 months as can some senior medical officers.

There are 4 steps to the medical and dental recruitment process:

1. Job Search: Application for suitable jobs with submission of CV and Cover Letter followed by reference checks
2. Interview: conducted remotely with zoom or teams 
3. Job Offer: offers and negotiations over terms, remuneration, relocation package and start date
4. Onboarding: professional registration and visa, travel, accommodation, car rental, shipping of goods and job onboarding process.