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General Practitioners
Find GP jobs in New Zealand
General Practitioners (GPs) are the first point of contact for most New Zealanders who have a health concern.
Discover what it is like to be a GP in New Zealand with supportive multidisciplinary teams, balanced lifestyles and pathways that help you relocate to New Zealand with confidence.
Join collaborative teams across Aotearoa New Zealand and enjoy a unique balance of meaningful medicine and lifestyle.
Our doctors are more than just individuals in a clinic. They become part of their communities' well-being. With a diverse population of 5 million, we need more General Practitioners (GPs).
Whether you are interested in full-time, part-time or locum work, we offer a healthy work-life balance. This allows you to make lasting connections with patients and work through complex yet rewarding challenges in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
From city practices to coastal towns, you’ll find supportive colleagues, modern models of care, and space to grow your career. Register your interest, learn how our process works and explore the regions you could call home.
Why choose New Zealand for GP practice
Work–life balance in vibrant cities and close-knit communities
Be on the beach or trails after clinic.
Team-based models of care
Enjoy multidisciplinary support and career development across the motu
National recruitment support
We work with Hauora Taiwhenua match your clinical interests and preferred locations.
Hear from New Zealand's General Practitioner workforce
Discover what it’s really like to live and work as a GP in New Zealand. Our international medical recruits share their first-hand experiences—from navigating the Medical Council of New Zealand registration process to finding the perfect work-life balance in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Watch these stories to see how a medical career in New Zealand offers more than just a job; it offers a lifestyle change.
Register for a General Practitioner role
The application process
General Practitioners are typically employed in community-based private practices in New Zealand. Health New Zealand does also employ some General Practitioners.
We work with NZLocums and NZMedJobs, which are divisions of the Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network. They are experts in medical recruitment in New Zealand and place General Practitioners and Rural Hospital Doctors into roles across the country, in both rural and urban practices.
1
Register your interest
Submit your registration of interest in a role with a privately-owned practice or with Health New Zealand (we take registrations for both).
1
Register your interest
Submit your registration of interest in a role with a privately-owned practice or with Health New Zealand (we take registrations for both).
2
We'll review your application
Our candidate management team will review your application and check your suitability for any roles.
2
We'll review your application
Our candidate management team will review your application and check your suitability for any roles.
3
We'll refer your profile
We will refer your application to Hauora Taiwhenua or your preferred Health NZ district.
3
We'll refer your profile
We will refer your application to Hauora Taiwhenua or your preferred Health NZ district.
4
Progress to next steps
Your chosen recruitment team(s) will be in touch with you to continue the recruitment process.
4
Progress to next steps
Your chosen recruitment team(s) will be in touch with you to continue the recruitment process.
General Practitioners (GPs) in Aotearoa New Zealand provide comprehensive, continuous care as the first point of contact for most health needs, managing up to 90% of medical concerns in the community.
They work across diverse urban and rural settings, from multidisciplinary city practices to rural clinics where broad generalist skills are essential, and doctors form deep connections with their communities. GPs offer preventative care, minor procedures, long-term condition management and culturally responsive support for diverse populations.
With strong demand nationwide, GPs enjoy meaningful clinical variety, continuity of care, and an excellent work/life balance in one of the world’s most beautiful countries.
New Zealand General Practitioner workforce statistics
General Practice is the heart of New Zealand’s healthcare, and right now, the door is wide open for international talent.
We’re modernising how we care for our people, creating a unique window of opportunity for specialists who want more than just a job
The latest data from the Royal New Zealand College of General Practice 2022 Workforce Survey Report tells a clear story: Aotearoa New Zealand isn’t just a place to work—it’s a place to belong, lead, and thrive.
35.9 hrs
is the average work week for GPs.
$187k
is the average income for full-time GPs.
35%
of GPs are International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
47%
of GPs are actively involved in teaching and mentoring.
64%
of GPs work in a GP-owned and operated practice.
63%
of trainee GPs identify as female.
New Zealand General Practitioner workforce statistics
General Practice is the heart of New Zealand’s healthcare, and right now, the door is wide open for international talent.
We’re modernising how we care for our people, creating a unique window of opportunity for specialists who want more than just a job
The latest data from the Royal New Zealand College of General Practice 2022 Workforce Survey Report tells a clear story: Aotearoa New Zealand isn’t just a place to work—it’s a place to belong, lead, and thrive.
35%
of GPs are International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
35.9 hrs
is the average work week for GPs.
47%
of GPs are actively involved in teaching and mentoring.
$187k
is the average income for full-time GPs.
64%
of GPs work in a GP-owned and operated practice.
63%
of trainee GPs identify as female.
Register for a General Practitioner role
Step into a role where you aren’t just a doctor, but a cornerstone of the community. Whether you’re drawn to the rugged wild of the West Coast or the sub-tropical spirit of the Far North, we’ve streamlined the path to get you there.
From your first expression of interest to your first day in clinic, we partner with you to navigate placements across Health New Zealand and our private partners—matching your expertise with the regions that truly value it.
As a General Practitioner, your skills are in high demand in Aotearoa New Zealand. Because GPs are on Tier 1 of New Zealand’s Green List, you and your family have a prioritised, direct pathway to residency.
The Straight to Residence Visa
This is the primary pathway for international GPs. It allows you to apply for New Zealand residency from offshore and move here as a resident from day one.
Benefits
You gain immediate certainty. As a resident, you can purchase a home, your children are treated as domestic students, and you are eligible for employer-matched superannuation (KiwiSaver) immediately. Your partner and dependent children (up to age 24) are included in your single residency application.
If you need to start work urgently before your residency is processed, you may be able to apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) to get you into the country quickly while your residency application is underway.
Registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)
To practice in New Zealand, you must be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand. Your pathway depends on where you gained your qualifications.
United Kingdom and Ireland — Competent Authority pathway
If you hold a recognised UK or Irish primary medical qualification (from an approved medical school) and completed your internship in the UK or Ireland, you can apply for MCNZ registration through the Competent Authority pathway. You must also meet the 'fitness to practise' requirements.
Other eligible countries — Comparable Health System pathway
You can apply for registration through this pathway if you hold an acceptable primary medical qualification, have recent clinical experience in a comparable health system at a level similar to the New Zealand role, and meet MCNZ’s fitness for registration requirements.
You must also either hold current registration in one of the comparable countries or be participating in a recognised specialist training programme.
Eligible countries include: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Canada, Chile, the United States of America, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, South Korea and Singapore
In partnership with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP), a streamlined process is available for GPs trained in the United States, Canada, or Singapore.
Rapid processing means applications for provisional vocational registration can be completed in as little as two months. This helps you bypass longer assessment periods and start your new life in New Zealand sooner.
Jenny, General Practitioner based in Wellington
Primary and population health specialist areas
The Senior Medical Officer workforce is comprised of various specialists. This includes those working in Rural Hospital Medicine, a key component of our primary and population health specialist areas.
The Senior Medical Officer workforce is comprised of various specialists. This includes those working in Rural Hospital Medicine, a key component of our primary and population health specialist areas.
