About Us
We’re boosting our Critical Care services so now is a fantastic time to join us!
We are looking for Consultants, Registrars, Nurses, and Allied Health Professionals to make the move to Aotearoa, New Zealand to work in one of our Intensive Care Units.
As a Critical Care professional, chances are your role is in the Green List of roles, which means it may be a lot easier for you to gain New Zealand Residency!
There are 26 units across the country that provide Critical Care services, including cardiac, trauma, neurosurgery, paediatric, general intensive care, burns, spinal, cardiothoracic, and paediatrics. Critical Care teams work collaboratively and understand interdisciplinary working is essential for patient and whānau (family) centred care.
Critical Care may also be known as:
ICU – Intensive Care Unit
HDU - High Dependency Unit
CCU – Coronary Care Unit
NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
PICU – Paediatric Intensive Care Unit
ITU – Intensive Treatment Unit or Intensive Therapy Unit
Frequently Asked Questions
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Established on 1 July 2022, Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) leads the day-to-day running of the health system across New Zealand, with functions delivered at local, district, regional and national levels. It weaves the functions of the 20 former District Health Boards (DHBs) into its regional divisions and district offices, ensuring continuity of services in the health system.
Te Whatu Ora manages all health services, including hospital and specialist services, and primary and community care. Hospital and specialist services are planned nationally so they can be delivered more consistently across the country. It also manages national contracts.
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If you are not a New Zealand Citizen or Resident, then you must have a visa to work in New Zealand. You do not need a work visa to work in New Zealand if you are an Australian citizen, or the holder of a current Australian permanent residence visa including a current Australian resident return visa. (If there are conditions on your residence visa/resident return visa, then you will require a work visa.)
There are a number of different visas you could apply for depending on whether you want to live in New Zealand permanently or on a temporary basis.
To work and live in New Zealand permanently, you could apply under the Skilled Migrant Category. Many health professionals come to New Zealand as skilled migrants.
As there are shortages in certain professions, gaining a visa may be more straight-forward if you are able to obtain professional registration in New Zealand. The Work to Residence visa allow you to apply for a temporary work visa as a step towards gaining permanent residence. Alternatively, if you want to come to New Zealand to work temporarily, you will probably need to apply for a work visa,
Immigration New Zealand's Green List
The Immigration New Zealand Green List is a list of 89 occupations that qualify for a straight to residence or work to residence pathway.
From 29 May 2023, 48 health roles are on Tier 1 of the Green List allowing internationally-qualified workers and their immediate family to apply for New Zealand residency offshore and enter New Zealand as residents.
For more information about the requirements needed to get a work visa go to Immigration New Zealand. The following links provide further information about your visa options for living and working in New Zealand.
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New Zealand offers a robust educational system with numerous avenues for professional growth. There are opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research, attend workshops, and further your education, ensuring a rewarding and progressive career path.
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For roles offered by Te Whatu Ora, a relocation package may be offered for international applicants that covers the cost of:
Reasonable payment of costs for shipping of household goods
One-way economy travel fare, plus one night’s accommodation for a layover for you, your partner, and any children under the age of 19 who will live with you.
Airport transfers to your accommodation on arrival in New Zealand.
Up to 4 weeks paid temporary accommodation while we help you find a place to live
Up to 4 weeks of car rental costs
For an individual to be eligible for relocation assistance, all of the following criteria must be met:
You currently live outside of New Zealand
You are to be employed in a full time permanent position or to a full time fixed-term contract of no less than 12 months duration.
A bond agreement is entered into at the time of employment.
The cost of one night’s accommodation for a layover will be covered if your flights require a layover to reach New Zealand, and one flight is longer than 12 hours.
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Critical Care is the specialist care given to patients with sudden life-threatening illness or injury, usually following an accident, operation, or infection. Care is divided across into two areas; Intensive Care (ICU), and High Dependency Units (HDU), until patients are well enough to return to general wards for further care from our wider teams.
Critical Care in Aotearoa, New Zealand puts the patient at the centre of their care journey.
The team caring for the patient works together to provide a plan for recovery while involving the patient and their whānau (family) wishes in their care plans and incorporating their spiritual as well as physical health needs.
There are 26 units across the country that provide Critical Care services, including cardiac, trauma, neurosurgery, paediatric, general intensive care, burns, spinal, cardiothoracic, and paediatrics.
Critical Care teams work collaboratively and understand interdisciplinary working is essential for patient and whānau (family) centred care.
Critical Care may also be known as:
ICU – Intensive Care Unit
HDU - High Dependency Unit
CCU – Coronary Care Unit
NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
PICU – Paediatric Intensive Care Unit
ITU – Intensive Treatment Unit or Intensive Therapy Unit
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If you are an overseas trained doctor you will need to check your eligibility for registration with the MCNZ to practice medicine in New Zealand. Under General Scope of Practise there are 3 eligible pathways that can simplify the registration process.
New Zealand and Australian graduates pathways
Competent pathway, such as the UK and Ireland
Comparable health system pathway
The registration process is unique to every applicant so we encourage you to visit the MCNZ website to learn about the registration pathways available to you.
For more information, please visit Registration Pathways
Helpful link: Registration Self Assessment Tool (MCNZ)
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To work as a nurse in Aotearoa, New Zealand you must become registered to practice and hold an Annual Practicing Certificate. To practice in Aotearoa, New Zealand you must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Internationally qualified nurses who meet Nursing Council of New Zealand standards may apply to become registered to practice in New Zealand.
To find out more information including the details you’ll need before you apply, please read the information outlined at the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
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Nestled in the southwest of the Pacific Ocean Aotearoa, New Zealand is the bicultural (Māori and non Māori ) home to approximately 5.1 Million people. You will find that the communities within our beautiful land are a melting pot of nationalities from the pacific to the world!
We want our workforce to reflect our communities improving the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders so no matter where you are from there is a place for you to make a difference to our communities, whānau (families) and individuals
Māori culture is part of life in Aotearoa, New Zealand, you will feel the manaakitanga of our people. Manaakitanga describes the way we welcome our guests and provide hospitality to them, this is something you will experience from all New Zealanders.
Here are some important aspects of biculturalism in Aotearoa, New Zealand:
The importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) in our laws.
Te Reo Māori – Māori language as one of the official languages of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Tikanga Māori (the right practice) we work towards preservation and celebration of Māori having equal status.
Land ownership – we acknowledge our history and present populations and residency.
Equal opportunities for Māori to succeed.
Read 'Te Tiriti o Waitangi'