My name is Sagi, and I’m a General Practitioner. We arrived in New Zealand in December 2024, coming from Israel. The entire relocation process took us a bit more than half a year after passing the OET exam.

In my opinion, the easiest part was the job interviews. The most challenging part was definitely dealing with all the visa-related matters.

My recruiter was Hayley, who supported me through the entire process. She was always available for any question and always happy to help with a smile.

One of the first things I noticed upon arrival was how kind, pleasant, and polite everyone is — and this remains one of the things I love most about New Zealand: the people. Naturally, the hardest part is the longing for family and friends. That’s why we decided to rent a home with a slightly higher budget and to buy new furniture and equipment, so we could feel comfortable and cozy in our new space.

At the moment, I don’t see a visit back to Israel happening anytime soon — the journey is long and difficult, and now that our child has started to adjust to the new environment, I prefer not to disrupt that process again.

Overall, it’s been an amazing experience, and we’re truly enjoying our new life here.

That said, I think it’s important to mention that if one’s partner is not in the medical field, it can be very, very difficult to find a job. This remains one of the biggest challenges for us as a family.

The work here is more relaxed compared to our home country. There’s also more time to carry out medical procedures, including minor surgeries, which I really appreciate.

The clinic I work at is amazing — I couldn’t have asked for a better place to work.

To sum it all up: despite all the pressure of moving to a new country and adapting to a new culture — it was absolutely worth it.

A huge thank you once again to Hayley and Accent Health Recruitment for their ongoing support and guidance throughout the entire relocation journey.

Sagi

My Name is Assaf, I am a general practitioner. I came to New Zealand in July 2023 from Israel. The process to come to New Zealand took me 8 months.

The easiest part of the process was some administrative aspects, like registration to the services and websites. The most challenging part of the process, other than finalizing the decision to make the move, was fulfilling all requirements for New Zealand immigration.

My recruiter at ACCENT Health Recruitment was the wonderful Prudence Thomson who immediately gave the impression that she recognizes our specific needs and the complexities in the process, was exceptionally nice, forthcoming, and very optimistic in the outset. We received guidance about the overall process, outlining the different steps and our tasks in each step, provided us with templates and revised the documents, found job openings, and organized online interviews with potential employers.

My first impressions of NZ were the winding narrow roads up the hills of Wellington in the rainy evening when we arrived, but the next morning it was the colors: the green all over, the changing skies and seas. I specifically like the trees, the power of nature. I have not travelled outside of the Wellington region yet, but nature and the outdoors are at the doorstep. I plan to visit Christchurch to get to know another large city in New Zealand. We would like to visit the natural parks in the South Island.

We miss our friends and our neighborhood. The older children miss their social circles and their close friends, as well as their schools. Technology makes it easier to stay in touch with family and friends.

I work in New Zealand almost the same hours as I did before. Weekends are longer and offer more opportunities for recreational activities. But hard to say, since we have been here for less than 6 months and not yet resumed daily regular activities at a capacity similar to the past.

It is a fresh start, so as a GP I am professionally retracted 2-4 years backwards. In terms of day-to-day work, it is a steep learning curve. Health systems are different, health is expensive in NZ, co-payments are something to get used to (many of the health services back home are free of co-payments).

Clinical work is about the same. The work environment is similar. The team in the clinic is large, accommodating and very supportive. I learn something new almost every day. The patient mix and medical problems mix are different. The breadth of fields which is dealt with by GP is larger, and I like it.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is that it must be a different experience depending on who you come with and where you come from. For a large family it is a complex transition and there are bound to be ups and downs. Match your expectations, make adjustments, set a reasonable time frame to settle in and figure out if this is good for you.

Assaf

My Name is Haris. I am a general practitioner. I came to New Zealand in May 2023 from Singapore. The process to come to New Zealand took me one year.

The easiest part of the process was securing the interview. The most challenging part of the process was navigating the paperwork for MCNZ registration and Immigration New Zealand visa application. My recruiter was Prudence. With her experience and contacts, she made getting job interviews really easy.

My first impressions of New Zealand were that it was cold! But I’m getting used to it and some afternoons when it gets up to 18 degrees C I actually feel hot! Even though I never used to set my air conditioning lower than 25 degrees back in Singapore…

I love getting outdoors to hike, to bike or just to sit on the beach. I love that it is so easy to do that here, even while I live in a city!

I think the best parts of New Zealand are the beautiful outdoors, the considerate drivers, that people are always ready with a smile and a greeting. In the first week that I arrived I feel like I exchanged more pleasantries with strangers than I had done in an entire year!

I like the area I live in because it’s a good balance between accessibility to amenities and proximity to nature. I like that I can walk to work!

What I miss the most is family and food. We regularly call family by video. We participate actively in the Muslim community activities here in Wellington. We have learned to cook our own traditional food or use easy-to-cook spices/pastes from the local Asian supermarkets.

We’ve visited the Kapiti coast several times and gone to Ruapehu a couple of times during skiing season. But still so many places yet to visit! Rotorua, Hawkes Bay, Auckland, the Coromandel, Northland. We haven’t even touched on the South Island yet. And then there’s ‘nearby’ overseas trips like Melbourne, Rarotonga, Fiji…

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to recognise there are things to gain and things to give up in the move and make a considered decision with that in mind.

The work/life balance made all the difference to my life. It’s the reason I made the move! Employers and team members here are very understanding if for example your kid is sick, and you’re called to pick him up from daycare. And since summer is coming, I sometimes spontaneously bring my kid to the beach in the evenings after work to enjoy the sunshine.

Applying for the resident visa was not that hard. There were some niggles with the online form and some paperwork that seemed a bit convoluted but overall, nothing too complicated if you read carefully. Honestly, I can’t fault the response times from Immigration New Zealand to emails and to my application.

The major differences between my current role in New Zealand and my previous role in Singapore is that GPs have to do so much more here. It is more taxing mentally, but it can also give more satisfaction. I also feel that it has made me grow as a doctor. I guess at the end of the day, the foundations of medicine are the same and you just have to learn to apply your learning to a different context.

Communication between GPs and secondary/tertiary care is more active here. I needed to learn to leverage on that to fulfil the more demanding role that GPs are asked to play.

We do need more GPs and nurses so please come! Aside from helping ease the load on the New Zealand health system, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favour too!

Haris

My Name is Chris. I am an Emergency Medicine consultant. I came to New Zealand in July from the United Kingdom. I could have been here within 4 months I reckon if it wasn’t for the process of selling a house in the UK. I arrived 8 months after job offer was made!

The easiest part of the process was finding a job. Getting sent lists of places where there were jobs and talking them through with Prudence was super helpful. She knew what our long-term goals were and what we wanted from a place to live!

The most challenging part of the process was getting all the paperwork in order for the medical council and the resident visa application and knowing if you had supplied enough information. It’s actually straight forward but it is time consuming and a bit of a ´faff’!!

My first impressions of NZ were that it’s just a safe and welcoming country. The people are great and so happy to help however they can.

There are so many great things-the fresh air and outdoor space is probably top of the list. Even in small towns and cities there are so many facilities for being active-our small town has an athletics track, great swimming pool and slides (and doesn’t cost much to go as a family) walking tracks, mountain biking, safe swim beach, parks, playgrounds, rugby, horse riding the list is endless (it’s like a town sized centre parcs when it comes to activity!!).

The natural scenery and pursuits are another obvious pull – mountains for skiing and walking, lakes for swimming and boating (I want to learn!) and great beaches. People take pride in where they are from and where they live, the streets are clean, the public spaces well maintained, roads are mostly safe, and people mostly are courteous on the roads.

I miss my friends and former colleagues the most. The trip to the pub to chew the fat with people I’ve known for years with a similar life experience can’t be replicated quickly. We keep in touch on WhatsApp and there are regular consultant social functions here so that stuff will come but in the

short term, it is missing.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to get on with applying and getting set! It’s not easy every day but it is really worth it. If you are in the UK, sell your house before you plan to try and move!!

It’s interesting – in comparison to a UK ED I see way more patients here, less time coordinating a clogged dept, ambulance queue and crisis management. I feel less exhausted when I leave work. The clinical work is similar other than fewer incidents of feeling verbally or physically threatened at work here! There’s probably an expectation that we do more for the patient in the ED and at times I feel like a hybrid between an Emergency Medicine doc and acute physician and GP!!

Prudence at Accent was so helpful along the way and had contacts to help with everything you could ask for. The paperwork works once you have everything lined up. The welcome package and regular check in after I arrived was great too!

Chris

Kia Ora! My Name is Leslie. I am a Physician; I came to NZ in December 2022 from the USA.

The process to come to NZ took me 12 months. The easiest part of the process was working with my ACCENT Health Recruiter. The most challenging part of the process was MCNZ vocational registration.

Prudence was my recruiter. She was incredible. She offered all the knowledge and guidance I needed to make this dream successful. She was in touch within minutes and her promptness made the process go quickly and smoother. She was proactive in finding a job for me instead of waiting for them to be listed. She helped prepare me for the job interview. She also helped me with the visas, and I didn’t need an immigration officer. Most of all, she made me feel like I was her top priority, was so professional and super friendly.

My first impressions of NZ were that people are so friendly and don’t act like you’re just a number, they see you as a person and treat you with respect. What I specifically like about NZ is how beautiful it is. It’s so peaceful and well looked after.

I think the best parts of NZ are the beauty, nature and how people work to live, not live to work. What I like about the area I live in is the weather, warm and tropical next to the ocean.

What I miss the most is my family. I make travel plans to return to the USA for CME and holiday trips.

The difference between my current role in New Zealand and my previous role in the USA is that I get to focus more on medicine and do much less scut work. I don’t have to worry about health insurance or playing defensive medicine.

The similarities that have helped me orientate/transition easily is English as my principal language and having travelled around the world. Work/life balance is heaps better than what I left. I feel like I have so much more time with family and my job is more rewarding by far.

My advice if you are planning to come to New Zealand is to don’t rush it. Take your time selling things or posting the home for sale. Realize family will be far away. Do it for the right reasons (i.e., future in your country isn’t great long term) and not just to make a change or else you’ll feel homesick and more sensitive to cultural changes.

I plan to visit all over NZ, then neighbouring countries like Tasmania, Cook Islands, New Caledonia.

Nga Mihi

Leslie

My Name is Wesley, I am a Gastroenterologist. I came to NZ in February from the USA. The process to come to NZ took me probably close to a year. The easiest part of the process was – Hmmmm… ummmm… the decision to actually move to New Zealand. The most challenging part of the process was obtaining my medical license (VOC3 provisional license) and the process around moving our dog.

Prudence was our recruiter, and we absolutely would not be here without her! She was amazing every step of the way and kept us sane! She is truly an expert in every step and was able to help move us along, from licensing, to finding a job, deciding where to live, and even the basics such as banking, insurance and buying cars. She even was able to get the green list straight to residency expanded, paving the way for me and many others to move to New Zealand with reassurance we can stay! And she was even instrumental in introducing us to new friends in New Zealand!!

My first impressions of New Zealand were that New Zealand is a beautiful country with amazingly nice people! We loved how welcomed we felt from the beginning and especially how welcomed our children were.

I specifically like that I felt at home immediately. Everybody is so kind, welcoming, and helpful! I think the best parts of NZ are the relaxed pace of life, amazing food (other than a profound lack of Mexican food), and the people.

I live in Havelock North which has a very strong sense of community, great hikes close by and beautiful beaches. It is great to have access to such fantastic fresh food and amazing wine.

I miss my friends and family back in Colorado, watching US sports (go Broncos, Nuggets and Avalanche!), and my Muay Thai gym. To help support what I miss we were able to use Google Voice so that our US phone numbers still work for those in the US. Between Google Voice, WhatsApp, and Messenger, it has been easy to keep in touch with my friends and family. I’m still trying to figure out how to watch my US sports teams and find a Muay Thai gym, but I’m sure I will…

I plan to visit everywhere… we hope to purchase a motorhome soon so that we can easily travel with our dog Leo. And will need to make our way to Queenstown soon to get some skiing in this season!

The work/life balance is better because I have so much more time with my family and enjoy my time off. I can finally start some of those hobbies I’ve been dreaming of for years!

The major differences between my current role in NZ and my previous role in Boulder, Colorado is that the pace is much slower, which is definitely taking some time to get used to… I am actually given dedicated time to do the administrative and non-patient facing clinical work, which is refreshing. Overall the work is similar, it’s just the processes that are quite different…

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to start early, get on board with Accent Health Recruitment, and join the New Zealand Ahead group. Talk to everybody you know that has made this move and get practical advice. Visit New Zealand if you haven’t – it will reinforce your decision when things get tough. And enjoy the process as best as you can.

Thank you! Prudence was fabulous! Even launched my TV personality career!

Wesley

My name is Rachel. I am a Doctor. I came to NZ in April 2022 from Singapore. The process to come to NZ took me 12 months (I started early). The easiest part of the process was being able to find a suitable practice and workplace. The most challenging part of the process was settling all the paperwork, visa application and licence.

ACCENT Health Recruitment helped my process to come to NZ as they gave me a structured framework and guided me every step of the way — from the start and even to the day I was coming over. Prudence was my recruiter.

My first impressions of NZ were that it is a country with amazing landscapes and scenery, and I specifically like being able to spend my weekends exploring different places and a chance to experience the four seasons here.

I think the best parts of NZ are the friendly, kind, and warm people with the beautiful abundant nature. What I like about the area I live in is that it is in close proximity to many places of interest and convenient access to other parts of the South Island.

The work/life balance made a difference to my life because I am working 4 days a week, so this has allowed me ample time on the weekends to unwind and explore various places.

I am seeing fewer patients a day here. However, I needed some time to get used to the healthcare system and processes here. I am also required to manage more conditions than what I used to do in Singapore — the medical conditions and presentation are the same, so I just needed to familiarise with the medical IT and processes here. I find myself managing more mental health conditions, and this gives me more confidence for better management.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to be able to cook and do meal preps, as takeaways and eating out is expensive. Be prepared that the initial few months may be difficult, but it will get better.

Regards,
Rachel

My Name is Mithran, I am a Doctor. I came to New Zealand on the 23 October 2016 from Malaysia/Singapore. The process to come to NZ took me 4 -6 months

The easiest part of the process was going through our agent, Prudence, who helped me through every step of the way. The most challenging part of the process was that there were many forms to fill and IELTS to sit for. IELTS is not difficult but is still an exam, nonetheless.

My first impressions of NZ were that it is naturally beautiful, and I think the best parts of NZ are the space and freedom that comes with it.

I live in Flat Bush Auckland, and it is super convenient with a mall and cinema down the road and all my daughter’s classes nearby. New Zealand is a great place for kids. Our kid is really flourishing here. She is confident and happy. The schools here are not very driven academically and that is not really a bad thing for young children.

Working as a doctor here is challenging as we do not have the same level of services as we do back home. People here are heavily reliant on their GP and urgent care services (which is what I do). It can be a bit stressful because of this. There isn’t the same level of safety nets and the ambulance service is stretched.

If you are planning to come to NZ find a place to live first. Better to scout the area and it is not so easy to get a rental of your choice as you need referees and there is a fair bit of competition.

I’ve visited Queenstown, Taupo, Rotorua and a few others. Still have plans to go further South to Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin. My family and proper local food is what I miss the most. It was difficult at first to give up the efficiency and service-oriented country we were from but the freedom and space we have here makes it all worth it. It’s hard to even imagine going back now.

Hello, I’m Rob and I’m an ER physician originally from Michigan in the US.

My family’s journey to New Zealand started during the pandemic. The process took us 11 months, likely longer than others due to the pandemic.

For us, the easiest part was the trip over. We loved Air New Zealand, best flight I’ve ever taken. We landed and then were shipped from Auckland to Christchurch for our 14-day MIQ stay. After that, we rented a motorhome and travelled from the South Island to the North via ferry. That stretch looks small on the map, but it can be a bit of a bumpy-rolling ride. The views just driving from Christchurch to Wellington to Gisborne were breath-taking. You know when you see cinematography from the movies, and you think that it must be special effects and editing? Nope. New Zealand is actually just that jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Our family loves hiking and the outdoors, so New Zealand was a no-brainer. With mountains, forests, beaches, and everything in between, New Zealand is an outdoor paradise. However, the people have been the best reason to come. Kiwis have been kind, patient, understanding, and a joy to work with. The attitude is generally laid back with a family-first attitude. Kiwis pride themselves on excellent work-life balance.

We have already started our exploration of the country. We have visited hot springs, we’ve gone zip-lining over the rain forest, and we have walked through a treetop redwood grove (yes, they have a California redwood grove). We arrived in winter, but we’re planning on taking surfing lessons (we apparently landed in a huge surfing mecca and had no idea). On our trip, we also visited Hobbiton (we’re a nerdy family :D).

Gisborne is a smaller city, but it has an active downtown area, tons of outdoor activities, and many local sights that we want to check out. There are several wineries nearby and my daughter is already enrolled in horse riding camp. I know I want to get to Wellington to see the Weta workshop (where they made Lord of the Rings) as well as more exploring of the South Island. So much to do!

The most challenging aspect of getting here was the paperwork. So. Many. Forms. Though, this is why I recommend using a recruiter. Prudence our recruiter kept me up to date and was on top of the onslaught of bureaucratic busywork. From the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), to the varying district councils, to the Australasia Council of Emergency Medicine (ACEM), I had many forms to fill out. So be warned, there is a good bit of paperwork, and it takes time. But, in hindsight, it’s worth it.

Since I’ve been here for a couple of months, I am delighted with the choice to move. I have noticed many differences between the US and New Zealand. The US medical system often emphasizes the “don’t get sued” approach to much of medicine. This is tiresome. In New Zealand charting is used to communicate (not for billing) and useless busywork has been greatly decreased. Granted, I work in a smaller city so I also don’t have all the amenities I had at my ER in the US.

The people and staff have been accepting, kind, helpful, and a pleasure to work with. My shifts here are MUCH less stressful (and I leave work at the end of my shift instead of staying to chart for 2 hours). Still adjusting to a new location but I think with time I’ll really love the improved work/life balance. The doctors I work with understand the importance of life outside of work. In the US I saw some people connect their complete identity to “being a doctor.” Here, it is what you do but not who you are. Come to New Zealand, it’s amazing.

My name is Richard Burgoyne and I’m a GP. I came to NZ in November of 2020.

Prudence found me a great job in the area I wanted to work. She was attentive to my needs, my strengths and I feel that she was insightful and a strong advocate for me. I’m very happy with my new job, and feel that I am being paid reasonably for my labors.   Thank you Prudence!

What I love about NZ is the incredible landscape and very easy going people.

My patients are very appreciative of my time and expertise, curious about my personal history and respectful of my time.

The best part of NZ is their interest in culture and world events, even folks you might not expect this in — farmers and contractors.

I miss my immediate family and very close friends in the US.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is:

1. Come with an open mind.

2. Be prepared to really practice medicine — physical diagnosis and thoughtful history taking are very important.  You will not be just doing referrals here — you will be the cardiologist, urologist, rheumatologist.  There is back-up by specialists, but there may be quite a delay before your patients are seen. I personally love this.

3.  Don’t even think about saving money — just come for the experience and spend what you earn.

4.  Make sure your employment contract includes plenty of vacation time so you can explore.

5.  Do NOT accept Monday as your day off — there are about 10 bank holidays on Mondays and you will miss out on a lot of free vacation time.

New Zealand has a very heterogenous society, but at the same time everyone looks out for each other and are (for the most part) respectful to others. There are so many political parties that society is not divided into two or three artificially distinct groups as we are in the US.

The major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in the US is I do a lot more procedures here.  I prescribe WAY WAY fewer narcotics here.  Patients are less neurotic about health maintenance. As a GP I cannot order MRIs or most CT scans which was frustrating at first but now I like as it pushes me to be more thoughtful regarding my history taking and physical exam. I don’t think my patients have suffered. There is no malpractice industry here. If you make a medical error it will be investigated by the Medical Council but you will not be hounded by lawyers.  
Pathology is pathology, and most of the meds are the same.

Practicing medicine in New Zealand is more fun than in the US. I love being a doctor and learning new things every day — even after 30 years.  Many of the frustrations of practicing medicine in the US (liability anxiety, insurance company hoops to jump through, chronic “pain” patients) are not present in NZ.  There are other frustrations, but in balance NZ wins.  Come on over!

My Name is Kirsty, I’m a GP from the UK and came over to New Zealand in July 2021.

The process to come to NZ took me about 6 months. The easiest part of the process was finding a job. The most challenging part of the process was coordinating visa applications.

My first impressions of NZ were the beautiful scenery and friendly people. The best parts of NZ are the fresh air, the kid natured people who live here, the culture, and the freedom to explore the great outdoors. I miss my family the most.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is have a good amount of money behind you – emigration is expensive!

After we survived 2 weeks in MIQ, we visited the Waitomo caves which was a massive hit with the kids and a great way to introduce them to some of the NZ culture too. We then headed up to the Coromandel and were wowed by the beautiful beaches and scenery. We had a lot of fun on hot water beach and enjoyed an overnight tramp up to the Pinnacles where we stayed in a DOC hut. We also visited Hobbiton to satisfy my husband’s love of Peter Jackson’s movies.  We then did a few days skiing which the kids totally LOVED!  After a few lessons they were skiing down the slopes unaided while we sat in the cafe watching them drinking hot chocolates!

We have had a fantastic weekend cycling around the vineyards in Martinborough and exploring Te Papa and the waterfront here in Wellington. We have booked a trip to Rotorua for a long weekend and plan to visit Kapiti Island in the next few weeks too.

The kids had 2 weeks online schooling during lockdown and are now happily settled into their new school. They easily made friends and have embraced the much more relaxed schooling system here. I’m still getting my head around all the differences between the system here and the UK but happy kids make for happy parents!  Our youngest recently started in pre-school too and seems settled so far.

I love the beauty of Wellington and it’s friendly people. I love all the fantastic places to eat and the subtle quirks like the green man silhouettes on the traffic lights doing different things depending on where you are in Wellington – he does the haka outside Te Papa, she is Carman Rupe on Cuba Street, she is Kate Sheppard by the Parliament and is a war hero by the war museum. I love being able to walk into town from our house and hearing all the birds from the botanical gardens and Zealandia flying overhead.

Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in UK  -yes many. The billing system takes a bit of getting used to. The different medications available here and the different funding for those different options. Many more people here have private healthcare and that takes some navigating as a GP. 
Are there any similarities that have helped you orientate/transition easily?  Generally see the same presentations.
Is there anything specifically done differently in NZ that has interested you and the way you practice your profession?  Lots more practical stuff done in GP-land compared to in the UK. For example, removing melanomas in practice, liquid nitrogen, minor surgery – the funding for this has been taken away from UK GP’s so not done there.

My Name is Neelke and I’m a Consultant Psychiatrist working in Whangarei in an inpatient unit for acute mental health care. I came to NZ in October from The Netherlands. The process to come to NZ took me 1.5 years.

The easiest part of the process was working with our Accent recruiter Kristin who guided us through the whole process and being able to fall back on her for questions and solving problems. Finding a job was also very easy.

The most challenging part of the process was gaining provisional registration with the Medical Council (the process is still going on for getting full registration) and getting our visas sorted in the middle of the covid pandemic. We ended up booking our flights and MIQ just one week before our leaving date. Leaving friends and family behind during the Covid pandemic was probably the hardest part since we are not able to visit them, and it remains unclear when borders will reopen to do so.

My first impressions of NZ were incredibly beautiful landscapes and nature, plants, trees, birds, beaches. We arrived in summer and weather was very pleasant: warm but not too hot as the nights are bringing cool air to refresh. People are relaxed, easy-going, friendly, curious, always in for a chat or lending a helping hand. We soon found out that punctuality is more relaxed too; if someone promises it will be done in 2 days, you might as well think it could easily be 4 or 5 days or not happen at all. Especially in my workplace it is important to follow-up on agreements, send out reminders, check if things were done or not, make sure everyone is clear on what you expect from them: someone saying yes to something does not necessarily lead to a completed task. The no-worries-attitude is palpable in many aspects of life. The houses are, compared to European standards, basic, lacking insulation and heating and prices for rent are very high. The cars are in general much bigger, many people drive SUV’s. Public transportation is hardly existing here in Northland. Cycling is a dangerous venture compared to the Netherlands where we have beautiful bicycle paths everywhere: people bike on the same roads where cars can drive a 100 km/hrs: which in our view is risky. The left-side driving terrified me, and it took several months for me to get used to it and feel comfortable driving. NZ society is in general (although as bureaucratic as most developed countries) less regulated in most areas of life. This means greater freedom, but it also means that you cannot rely as much on systems as you can in the Netherlands and that processes are less sophisticated and more often follow a ‘one size fits most’ approach. Also be aware that it is not possible to buy property right away, something we hadn’t realised until only shortly before leaving the Netherlands. This means that for the first years you will have to spend your money at expensive rentals.

Northland is stunning and has an overwhelming amount of natural beauty. It is relatively sparsely populated and there is still real wilderness present. Climate is very pleasant. In winter it rains more, but we are still having many beautiful sunny days when you can be outside in your summer outfit. After having travelled through the South Island in April we came to the conclusion that this might well be one of the most beautiful regions when you are looking for native bush, forests, birdlife, beaches, water sports/fishing options and learning about Maori culture. The South Island has the big mountains and isolated places that are special on their own. Place after place was breathtaking, it really is impossible to say which is better and I guess it depends more on personal preferences.

What I love most about living in NZ is having so many options for outdoors activities, for connecting with nature, for exploring new skills and new hobbies (hiking, snorkeling, diving, sailing, survival skills and so much more). I like Whangarei because of its cultural diversity and its upcoming economy: although traces of poverty are still visible, the region is in full development and has a promising future in my view.

I miss my friends, my family, my previous workplace, cycling, commuting by train, the familiarity of things, liquorice, cheese, shopping.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is take your time to do the paperwork, it will ease the stress of having to go through all the processes. We took about 1 hour per day for about a year to research everything and do all the documents. We have had no extreme stress at any point, except for the visa wait which was a result of the pandemic. Things can maybe be done in 6 months time, but it will be far more stressful. Make also sure you leave enough time to say your goodbyes to family and friends and think beforehand of ways to stay in touch with them: you will thank yourself later for that.

Be prepared for going through a culture shock. After the initial excitement about this huge adventure wears off most people go through a period of having adjustment issues and missing home. For me it was helpful to read about this and to realise that flexibility and lowering expectations is key. And finding other people going through similar phases was very good too.

Keep an open mind and an open heart and do not judge other cultures (be it Kiwi, Maori, Pacific Islanders, or any of the other nationalities you will encounter here). Especially for Dutch people it is common to adopt an attitude of criticism which is highly valued in our home country, but not here in NZ. Here is it more important to be kind, polite, social and culturally sensitive.

Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in:

a big difference is the level of training of nurses, psychologist, counsellors and other roles which means I had to adjust my expectations and I have learned to invest more time and energy in explaining my treatment plans or train colleagues in specific skills. Another difference is that we have auxiliary workers on the floor, a role we don’t have in the Netherlands, but very helpful to have. Also a major difference: here in NZ we have far less resources and facilities to refer patients so I have to be more creative in finding solutions for my patients problems.

The core of my work, assessing patients and creating treatment plans, is similar to what I did in the Netherlands. Navigating a complicated mental health system is also similar to the Dutch systems.

In several ways we have cultural safety processes in place to tailor to the needs of the Maori population (which make up about 30% of the population in Northland). It is common to start and finish family meetings with a prayer. It is also common to hongi (press noses to share a sacred breath of life) patients and families or hug them. As part of our team, we have a cultural adviser to help us connect with Maori patients and families. I very much enjoy learning about the Maori culture, and I often feel privileged and uplifted by participating in their customs.

My name is Peter, I’m a Consultant Pediatrician from the UK with 20+ years experience. The process to come to New Zealand took me 9 months from signing up to ACCENT services. 6 months from interview and 4-5 months from formal job offer. The easiest part of the process was making a robust connection with ACCENT. The most challenging part of the process was the significant form filling. Multiple periods when I spent several hours each evening over a week or so completing paper work. These periods were sporadic and hard to predict but usually needed fairly prompt or immediate action. Probably more so because of covid and need to arrange MIQ accommodation and flights around visas etc. With cancellations at last minute causing havoc and many phone calls and email to ACCENT and NZ Immigration. Throughout it all ACCENT provided prompt accurate advice and support.

Once in NZ there is relative urgency to set up a bank account and obtain inland revenue number.

My first impressions of NZ were excellent, friendly people and always willing to help. A bit more expensive than UK but more relaxed. The best parts are the relaxed living and focus on down-time.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is make sure you have full support of family. Be prepared for form filing and frustrations. Make sure you have some cash in reserve for at least a month or so. Make copies of all the forms you complete. Keep a list of client numbers, booking numbers, flight numbers, etc. Consider taking a risk and arranging accommodation before arriving. It’s difficult but can be done and makes arrival so much easier.

One other thing, be very clear why you are making the move. We came to spend a few years working and exploring NZ and hopefully the far east. It would be a very different experience I suspect if it was for career development purposes or to bring along family in a different country.

I had never been to NZ before. My wife had visited for a few weeks 35 years ago. We did not know anyone and were in a position to consider any appropriate job that might have been offered wherever in NZ. We were therefore in a vary flexible position. Be prepared for occasional days where you question why you have made the decision to move and acknowledge that moving job/country is a very big deal and stressful for anyone going through the process. You are not unique in your experiences! Book a holiday soon after arrival if work and finances permit. Think twice before importing a car. Our MZ5 is still stuck in some yard waiting “treatment” because it has some “rust”. NZ cars may have less rust but they are frequently held together with zip-ties which makes our own situation a little frustrating.

In regards to major differences with my role here in NZ and in UK is things being done differently, not necessarily better or worse just different. Same with any new change. It will also take time to develop professional relationships. Be prepared to accept and acknowledge that you will not understand the health system for a number of months or even longer. My first impression of the NZ health system is more disjointed and fragmented than UK NHS.

There’s no major differences in neonatal/pediatric practices. Some differences in health systems for example, child protection services are arranged differently and need tie to understand and navigate different pathways.

The relocation package offered by the health board was very generous and explicit which helped. It would otherwise have cost us about 10K for visas/registration etc. Plus the cost for sending out your personal items for the move.

To date, this has been a totally positive life choice for me and my wife. We were well prepared and had family support. We were lucky in arranging excellent accommodation and the job has by and large been what I expected. We had no young children to include in our plans which I suspect would make the experience much different.

Finally, I cannot recommend ACCENT more highly.

My Name is Lisa. I am a GP from West Virginia, USA. I arrived in NZ in November, 2019 with my husband and two children.

I think I first contacted Prudence around April of 2019, but my family and I had been thinking of moving to NZ for years. It was not a decision we took lightly.

The easiest part of the process was the long flight with air NZ from Texas to Aukland with two kids! Air NZ was really fabulous, we booked two sky couches and the babies slept most of the flight! The most challenging part of the process was selling everything in the states and saying good bye to family and friends.

NZ is so beautiful and people are so kind. The people, culture and lifestyle are easily the best parts about it. It really is as wonderful as you dream it to be.

There are major differences between my current role in NZ and my previous role in the US. Unfortunately the outbreak of COVID highlights the downfalls of the American health care system. There is no unity in the American system, there isn’t care for all, doctors in the US are not always listened to and protected. It is my opinion that the response in the US was lacking. There were defects in PPE and testing capability which NZ thankfully did not have. There was a high amount of anxiety and safety concerns in protecting staff in the US, there have been reports of physician suicides of physician paycuts during the outbreak which we are again thankfully avoided here in NZ.

I came to NZ because I was a bit burnt out in primary care in the states, I had considered non clinical jobs. But I am glad that I decided to come to NZ instead and remain clinical. There is no language barrier, and medicine overall is really the same anywhere. Yes there are a few regional differences and drug names are different and I had to learn the metric system, but HTN, DM, CAD is all the same everywhere.

The COVID response was certainly done differently, but also the work day is different, the NZ system seems to understand that there is a lot more work done for a patient behind the scenes not at a physical appointment. It also understands the need for breaks for mental health and to do that behind the scenes work, which comprises part of your work week. I technically work the same hours I worked in the US, 32 a week. But in the US 32 hours frequently meant 50-60 hours of work. Here 32 hours is pretty close to 32 hours. Moving to NZ does take a bit of planning and research, so start thinking about it soon if you really want to do it. Having help from someone within NZ, like someone like Prudence and the ACCENT team makes the process much much nicer as well.

The COVID response was certainly done differently, but also the work day is different, the NZ system seems to understand that there is a lot more work done for a patient behind the scenes not at a physical appointment. It also understands the need for breaks for mental health and to do that behind the scenes work, which comprises part of your work week. I technically work the same hours I worked in the US, 32 a week. But in the US 32 hours frequently meant 50-60 hours of work. Here 32 hours is pretty close to 32 hours. Moving to NZ does take a bit of planning and research, so start thinking about it soon if you really want to do it. Having help from someone within NZ, like someone like Prudence and the ACCENT team makes the process much much nicer as well.

The COVID response was certainly done differently, but also the work day is different, the NZ system seems to understand that there is a lot more work done for a patient behind the scenes not at a physical appointment. It also understands the need for breaks for mental health and to do that behind the scenes work, which comprises part of your work week. I technically work the same hours I worked in the US, 32 a week. But in the US 32 hours frequently meant 50-60 hours of work. Here 32 hours is pretty close to 32 hours. Moving to NZ does take a bit of planning and research, so start thinking about it soon if you really want to do it. Having help from someone within NZ, like someone like Prudence and the ACCENT team makes the process much much nicer as well.

Accent Health Recruitment > Case Studies > Doctors > Lisa – US GP working in NZ ACCENT health recruitment

Accent Health Recruitment > Case Studies > Doctors > Lisa – US GP working in NZ ACCENT health recruitment

My Name is Anne. I am a General Practitioner from the Netherlands who arrived in NZ in February 2019.

It took only 6 months to move over, with the most tedious part of the process being getting registered with the Medical Council; so much paperwork! Luckily, after that everything else felt like a breeze, with the easiest part being finding a house in Christchurch thanks to Prudence and the team at AHR!

When we first landed in Auckland, we bought a mini-van and slowly made our way down to Christchurch, passing many gorgeous beaches, beautiful landscapes and impressive mountains along the way. Not only was the scenery stunning, but all the people we met were incredibly friendly.

The major difference in the day to to day work that I do is the fact that people pay for their visit. In the Netherlands, everybody has basic health insurance and a consultation with a GP is covered but the insurance company. This may seem like a minor detail, but it makes a big difference in the role that I have. Another different aspect is that I function as an occupational physician here as well, writing sick notes for patients that can’t go to work or filling in forms or medical certificates in order for people to get a benefit. There are also not many house visits, even 90-plus patients come in for consultations. That being said, Consultations are 15 minutes per patient, which makes it easier to connect with people and learn about their circumstances.

The computer system and referrals to the hospital are very similar in process. Doctors and nurses work together in the same way and the medicine itself is fairly similar as well. There is a bit more psychiatric care that is treated by GP’s here I find, but I work in a low socio-economical area, so I can have a biased view on that.