My Name is Luke. I came to NZ on 1st Jan 2020 from South Wales (UK) to work as a Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist.

The process to come to New Zealand took around 6 months, the easiest part of which was getting job offers. ACCENT were fantastic every step of the way, and the hardest part of the move was deciding which job to take! I had to weigh up the different pros and cons of each and having not lived in New Zealand before.

I’ve spent this lockdown period doing my usual work, but in smaller volumes. I’ve also been taking the kids out locally – a lovely beach is a 5 min walk away as is a large golf course which has become a temporary (highly manicured) park!

What first struck me about New Zealand was the welcoming, warm climate, and feeling of space. The best parts about it are the clean, well-cared for environment with lovely (often quiet) beaches on the doorstep. I am also enjoying meeting so many friendly people (in and out of work), and the better work-life balance and more opportunities for getting outdoors (mainly as the weather here is better than in Wales). What I miss the most is friends and family and the accessibility to continental Europe for holidays.

Much of the work is similar to my previous role in Wales, but new systems take time to get used to. The Health Board locally has electronic requesting of imaging and electronic notes, both of which my previous employer did not have. My work now is a little less sub-specialist than previously but colleagues have been very supportive in my weaker areas. My fantastic colleagues make the transition easier and all the local staff have been wonderfully supportive, although they generally also were where I worked previously.

Prior to coming to NZ, I had only limited training in Obstetric ultrasound in the UK as the Obstetricians had taken over that workload. Here in NZ there is an expectation that radiologists are more involved with that work, so I am upskilling with support from my line manager.

If you are thinking about coming to NZ, my advice would be to get organised. Have checklists to make sure everything gets sorted. Remember (for doctors) that you cannot apply for the visa until the registration process with the New Zealand Medical Council is completed (this took MUCH longer than obtaining the visa).

Accent Health Recruitment > Case Studies > Doctors > Luke, Radiologist from the UK to NZ

My Name is Maik. I am a G.P. from Germany, however had been working in England prior to coming to NZ in December 2018. The process from application to arrival took 18 months.

The easiest part of the process was getting the job offer, done after one hour-long interview organised by ACCENT Health Recruitment. The most challenging part of the process was getting all EPIC papers done from Germany.

We arrived in NZ in the early summer. Flying over New Zealand in the small aeroplane from Auckland to Napier gave us a really nice impression of the size of New Zealand and how small the population is. The space on the roads and around you when you leave the cities is one of the nicest things to enjoy. We are often the only ones at a close beach and there are never many buildings in the countryside.

The best part of NZ is the Hawkes Bay, it has a great climate, offers all amenities from shopping to culture and great foods and wineries. What I miss the most is the New Forest in England, our dog could run freely there

The health system in Germany is very different compared to England or New Zealand. It is not centralized and therefore makes communicating with services more complicated. I was glad I had worked in England prior to coming to NZ as the English health system is far more similar to NZ. The time constrictions in New Zealand are much less than in Germany and better than in England. The average consult time is 15 minutes compared to 10 in England. You just have to see as many patients as possible per day in Germany. GPs are much more valued by their patients and society than in Germany. There is no such cooperation between social services and a GP in Germany. The cooperation is much easier here than in Germany.

If you are coming to NZ from Germany, get the EPIC papers sorted as soon as possible as the German authorities are not electronically connected and it takes weeks-months to get this sorted.

We as a family have not regretted coming to New Zealand for a single day so far and we have been here for a year now. I am still very thankful for our recruiter, Prudence, and her help with the process. We felt like we were being helped by a friend.

Accent Health Recruitment > Case Studies > Doctors > Maik – General

Accent Health Recruitment > Case Studies > Doctors > Maik – General

My name is Mathijs Roije and I am a GP from the Netherlands. I am to New Zealand in September.

The whole process took me 7 months. The easiest part of the process was getting a job offer. The most challenging part of the process was filling in the same information on forms over and over again.

My first impressions of NZ were: very positive, first country I ever visited with a friendly immigrations officer, this is the standard for kiwis, all very friendly and helpful.

What I miss the most is family.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is don’t hesitate, just do it,

Please note – don’t underestimate your jetleg combined with a jetlagged family.

At work, it has been a challenge with the paper work – I was not used to the off work certificates and WINZ, still adjusting to it. The good thing is the people with their problems/issues are universal In General Practice, I like it that the work-up before you refer is done by the GP’s this is less in NL.

My Name is Gezina van der Wouden, I am a General Practitioner.

I came to NZ in September 2018 from the Netherlands

The process to come to NZ took me 8 months and the easiest part of the process was finding a job.

The most challenging part of the process was all the paperwork for the NZMC.

My first impressions of NZ were super friendly people and stunning landscape. The best parts of NZ are from what we have seen so far: Queenstown, Wanaka and Abel Tasman

What I miss the most is my cat Yoda

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is bring your outdoor gear with you 🙂 Skiing, hiking, sports, camping; outdoor options are amazing here! Anything else you would like to say? We have felt very welcome in NZ due to the personal approach from Prudence and Accent Health, this has really made the transition more easy.

Questions about your new workplace:

Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in the Netherlands? Not a lot of differences but in NZ your role as a GP is a little broader; you will also advise on work capacity, insurance issues and drivers licenses for example. Also money is a bit more of an issue; especially because of the public – private system Are there any similarities that have helped you orientate/transition easily? Same pathology and populations and really good guidelines online (Health Pathways, slightly comparable to Dutch GP guidelines)

Is there anything specifically done differently in NZ that has interested you and the way you practice your profession? It is expected that you make more of an effort on keeping people out of hospital – which could be beneficial to the increasing healthcare costs in the Netherland

I am high up, sitting on a rock on Crater Rim Trail, alone with the wind, the scent of exotic plants, birds singing and the views. There is an incredible view in every direction. Down below me is Lytellton Harbour. I can see it flow into the Pacific Ocean, aqua transforming into deep blue. To the east is Brighton Beach on the Pacific Ocean. To the North, I can see the Southern Alps and closer yet, the whole city of Christchurch, New Zealand spread below me. This is my idea of paradise. This view never ceases to amaze me. And I am only 10 minutes’ drive from my home. I LIVE HERE. How did I get so lucky? Well, mostly because of Prudence Shaw and Accent Health Recruitment.

My husband Eric and I had dreamed and researched long and hard about living and working overseas. We had considered multiple English speaking countries. Out of all that research, New Zealand seemed to be the ideal choice for work, for climate, for beautiful scenery. We had been so excited.

It all had come to a screeching halt or maybe a dull thud. I had read about all the rules and regulations for working as a doctor in New Zealand. The details were mind-boggling. How could I get a job if I didn’t have a medical certificate to practice medicine’ But I couldn’t get a medical certificate or a work visa unless I had a job offer….How was I supposed to get a job offer’ I didn’t even know where to start. I was completely frustrated. I had tried to contact Terry Murphy of the New Zealand Department of Labour Immigration Service. Eric had talked with him and felt that he was very helpful.

Although this was the first time that I’d talked with him, I unloaded all my frustration on him. He handled it extremely well. Terry told me that he was going to have Prudence Shaw of Accent Health Recruitment contact me. He assured me that she would be a big help.

Yeah right, I thought as I went back to my pile of paperwork in that windowless clinic office. There was always plenty of paper work at a community mental health center. Within no more than 30 minutes, my cell phone rang again. I simultaneously answered and stared in disbelief at the long telephone number on the screen. Those first two numbers, 64, meant that the phone call was from NEW ZEALAND!’ “Hi, this is Prudence Shaw. I hear that you’re interested in working in New Zealand.” Good Lord, I thought. What a great accent. She sounds like she is going to sip tea and eat crumpets the minute she hangs up the phone. She began to ask me questions and then told me that she would send me questions to answer by e-mail. “Brilliant!” She finishes the phone call. I didn’t know that that was the first of thousands of times that I would hear that expression. “Brilliant” seems to be the number one New Zealand expression for anything good.

Everything went into fast forward from there. I found out that Prudence didn’t sip tea. She drinks coffee and lots of it if I were to guess from the energy that exudes from her frequent phone calls and emails. From that day onward, my husband and I spoke and emailed with Prudence more than, well, anybody else in our lives. Eric and I weren’t sure that Prudence slept at all. She seemed to be always available for questions, consolation, and my neurotic ruminating. She encouraged and cajoled us through pages and pages of paper work.

In no time at all, I had a telephone job interview scheduled. It was a group interview with doctors with New Zealand accents and Australian accents. It was quite a shock to my American ears. This was English’ I had to ask people to repeat questions so often that I was mortally embarrassed. But within a couple of days, I received a verbal offer for a position at the Canterbury District Health Board in Christchurch. Eric and I did a Google search on Christchurch and found that it’s called Garden City on the South Island. Mild climate surrounded by spectacular scenery. It’s too good to be true. No way. This can’t be.

Our disbelief and wonder was soon buried in more paperwork. I think I went through 10 trees worth of paper forms and faxing. The Office Depot fax desk staff knew me by name and follow my progress with excitement. I didn’t think the paperwork would ever end. And in between, Eric and I asked each other if we’d lost our minds. What are we doing giving up good jobs and a good life in upstate New York’

Oh my God, they want me to start in June 2005. My stomach seemed to twist. That was too soon! But soon our ambivalence about the proximity of the move was buried in Immigration hassles. Two weeks before we are supposed to leave, my history of medical problems, well stabilized for many years, was creating havoc at the New Zealand Immigration Department. Prudence and my new boss, Dr. Alfred Dell’ario, however, are forces to be reckoned with. The New Zealand Immigration Department was no match for those two. Two days before we leave, all the necessary paperwork arrives by courier.

I’d like to say that everything has been easy since then. I think the more accurate phrase would be that Eric and I have been on a very steep learning curve. But it is a glorious adventure in a spectacular setting. I have no regrets. Brilliant.

Kia Ora! I am from Singapore and am working as General Practice Registrar in Masterton on the North Island, 1.5 hour drive from Wellington.

I arrived in New Zealand 10 days before starting work in mid March 2019 and am nearing the end of my second month. It has been an excellent fit thus far.

My first contact with Accent Health Recruitment was in mid Nov 2018, leading up to two interviews in mid Jan 2019, and I accepted this job offer the same week. All in all, the entire process took me 4 months. It was fairly straightforward, and Prudence provided me with clear guidance on what to expect along the way. The most challenging part was practicing patience while facing delays with the Medical Council of New Zealand. I received my letter of eligibility for registration a mere 2 weeks before my start date. Prudence was calmly supportive, and had introduced me to an Immigration Advisor who helped to expedite my work visa.

I had previously visited New Zealand for 2 weeks in April 2017 (on a Lord of the Rings tour), and very much enjoyed the scenery, culture, and people. Being blessed with a 4 day work week this autumn, I have had the opportunity to travel on the weekends, exploring the abundant natural beauty of this country. For one who had only done 1-2 hour walks in balmy Singapore, the highlight of my travels was making it over the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (21km, 7hour hike). In these months, I have learnt to deeply appreciate the care that Kiwis take to preserve their natural heritage, as well as the cultural tolerance that is taught from an early age.

I had previously worked in the public hospitals in Singapore, then transferred to the polyclinics for 2.5 years. The practice of medicine is very similar, and I am enjoying the increased scope and time for communication afforded by 15 minute consultation slots, and flexible management, at my practice. Nurses are a brilliant help here, very much like nurses back in the polyclinic. Acute cases are more varied and do take longer, as taking sick leave without the need for a medical certificate is widely recognised in NZ. HealthPathways provide clear local guidelines for the management of most conditions, and I have found their referral criteria to be particularly useful. The IT interface and community (nursing) support are comparatively more developed in New Zealand, as they have a few years’ head start on Singapore in this area. However, services such as imaging and operation lists in the public sector are comparatively slower.

In this season of life, I am enjoying the slower pace in a rural town, and brilliant night skies out in the country. I admit to missing the convenience of shopping malls, the easy access to evening events, and the wide range of foods places in Singapore.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to do your background research well, and be clear on what you are seeking. The Ministry of Health and MCNZ website give a good overview of their healthcare system, funding, and registration process. I also highly recommend the PDF download “Cole’s Medical Practice in New Zealand”. Accent also co-hosts regular Webinars to provide information on the job search criteria and relocation process. With her years of experience, Prudence was wonderful in matching what I was looking for, with a practice which I am very much enjoying.

Wishing you all the very best in your future journeys.

Accent Health Recruitment > Case Studies > Doctors > JT – General Practitioner from Singapore

My name is Max, I am a General Practitioner and I came to NZ in April 2017 from the Netherlands.

The process to come to NZ took me approximately 7 months. The easiest part of the process was finding a job and the most challenging part of the process was the passing the IELTS test (English test).

My first impressions of NZ were the overwhelmingly beautiful landscapes and New Zealanders are really kind and helpful people. The NZ way of life is different but it is a more relaxed lifestyle.

The best parts of NZ that I have seen so far are Fiordland and the Tasman region.

What I miss the most is old Dutch cheese!

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is – don’t hesitate! It’s an amazing country that offers new adventures every weekend and is very easy to live in.

Prudence and ACCENT Health Recruitment have been a tremendous help – right from the beginning of the process in the Netherlands until settling in here in Christchurch. Their personal approach has been much appreciated.

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

The health system with public vs private is a difference which is almost non-existent at home however there is a similar patient population with similar pathology.

The Acute Demand Management Services allows patients to be treated in the community who would otherwise require hospital admission. An interesting initiative that might be interesting for the overflowing Emergency Departments and hospitals the Netherlands.

My name is Igor Otahal and I am an Anaesthetist/Intensivist and I came to NZ in 30th July from the UK.

The process to come to NZ took me about 6 months from the job offer to the arrival. The easiest part of the process was being guided by the Accent Health Recruitment and following the pathway created by Prudence and her team.The most challenging part of the process was getting the documents for the MCNZ registration checked by the EPIC – the organisation contracted by the MCNZ.

Another challenge was finding the suitable furnished accommodation in Rotorua I guess due to quite specific property and rental market and my ideas about the standards for living brought from Europe.

My first impressions of NZ were relaxed no-fuss attitude wherever you look, the average age of the cars on the roads in rural areas and mileage is unbelievable. Resilience of people – not much of warm clothes when quite cold, bare feet, frequent use of gumboots….

The best parts of NZ are people, focus on environment, landscape, history.What I miss the most is my familyMy advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to seek the help from the people knowing the business and with the record of doing the job for many like me. Accent has been great from the moment of distributing the CV, helping with the interview, later communicating with the Medical Council, assisting with travel, accommodation, telephone etc. The support didn’t disappear even after the job started, there is the genuine interest in the progress of my job and life here in NZ.

So far there are only few minor things that could be called bad but many moments on the positive side. Friendliness and support, easy attitude to life, less materialistic orientation than in Europe are the observations leading to the smooth transition.

One can’t avoid being infected by the outdoor activities available in Rotorua and round. Good access to ski fields at the North Island is another positive. I was lucky to appear working where I am. I wasn’t specific about any location.

The atmosphere at my work is great, there is much more pragmatic approach to the issues and people seem working with a pleasure that is slightly different thinking about my previous place. I came from the similar size hospital in similar rural setting. The job is inevitably more general, covering all needs of the patients no matter what the previous interest or specialisation I had.

The intensity of on-calls is high, there are no non-consultant doctors in anaesthetics so everything is done by our own. It doesn’t bother me, I always loved hands-on work. Some my current colleagues came from the UK, they had to go through the adaptation process as well, they helped to avoid any surprises.

Generally colleagues accept what you are and give you a lot of freedom and trust. Sticking to the team spirit and focus on the job done is expected on the other hand.NZ healthcare system faces the same issues as any other healthcare systems in the world. Mainly the lack of easily accessible human resources – doctors, nurses, allied health professionals. To mitigate for this there is a lot of pathways, standards and protocols developed that is useful most of times but could be slightly rigid in some situations.

My name is Daphne and I am a General Practitioner from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I came to New Zealand in October 2018 and began to work as a GP in Gisborne, on the East Coast of the North Island. The process to come to New Zealand took me a couple of months and the most challenging part was waiting on the Medical Council’s approval and the refiling of those documents after repeatedly checking in with my referees. By far the easiest part of the process was keeping in touch with Prudence.

My first impressions of New Zealand was that it was very diverse, from the nature, to the people, to the healthcare system, from both perspectives as a GP and as a patient, through to its bureaucracy. I immediately loved working and living in Gisborne and my colleagues were very friendly and welcoming. In essence there are not a lot of major differences between my work as a GP in The Netherlands versus my current role here in New Zealand. Healthcare standards are high and on the same level, or close to the same level, as in The Netherlands. I have found that the financing of the healthcare system is quite different which for example can cause patients to delay seeking medical attention.

To me the best parts of New Zealand are the nature, especially the Gisborne beaches and the good people that live here. What I miss the most about home are my friends, family and good cheese! My advice, if you are planning to come to NZ, is to practice your patience with all the waiting on the Medical Council’s processes.

“Kia ora, my name is Rachel and I am a Psychiatrist from the United States.

I arrived into NZ with my husband and young son in March 2014, a process which took us about four months.

The easiest part of the process was applying for a work visa after I already had a job offer, however the most challenging part of the process was deciding what to bring in 9 suitcases! If you have the opportunity, ship your own belongings here (furnishings and house items were more expensive than we expected).

My first impressions of New Zealand were how clean and fresh the air was, the scenery was really green and vibrant and the people were easy-going and friendly.

I love practicing in a nationalised health care system, learning about traditional Maori culture and language, and raising children in a safe and friendly environment is great!

I do miss being nearer to my family, however it has been a wonderful experience so far and I’m so very glad we made the decision to move to New Zealand.”

Hello – my name is Stan, I am a Family Practice Doctor (General Practice Doctor)

I came to NZ in June 2017 from Goodyear, Arizona, USA

The process to come to NZ took me 8 months and the most challenging part of the process was getting a visa and provisional General Practitioner’s registration in New Zealand.

My first impressions of NZ were how beautiful it is and it’s so abundantly green.

The best parts of NZ are the people and their hospitality and the natural beauty along with its bucolic peacefulness.

What I miss the most is my family and friends and USA’s Costco!

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to be prepared to want to stay, but also be prepared for a cultural shock. Be adaptable and adventurous.

Questions about your new Workplace:

Are there any differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in the US?

The documentation standards are very different, and so are the differences in medication availability, formulary exceptions, and specialist availability. Here, nurses are your main patient care personnel.

Are there any similarities that have helped you orientate/transition easily?

The fundamentals of good clinical acuity and acumen are always welcome. Taking a good history and physical exam saves a lot of headache. Speaking Mandarin Chinese has helped me with many patients who are mostly Mandarin speaking here.

Is there anything specifically done differently in NZ that has interested you and the way you practice your profession?

The infectious disease is a good 20 years less wide world resistant. That means VRE, MRSA, PRSP are rare. As long as good health policy for immigration is kept this should remain pretty stable.

Vaccination rates are better than the US, mainly because NZ still has some US vaccine preventable disease outbreaks.

Also, children’s’ safety here is very much dependent on parents, with the notable exception of bicycle helmets; I have seen a very high rate of injuries from trampolines. Often children here are intrepid and expose themselves to high risk recreation.

I love my new life. I enjoy my practice of Emergency Medicine. I especially love the experiences my family and I are having in this AMAZING country of New Zealand. Thanks Accent Health Recruitment for making this DREAM possible.

Hi there, my Name is Mike I am an Emergency Medicine Physician. I came to NZ in August from Utah, USA with my wife and 6 children. The process to come to NZ took me 12 Months from start to finish.

The easiest part of the process was finding a Job – This was greatly due to the help from Prudence and others at Accent Health Recruitment. The most challenging part of the process was doing all the paperwork and medical clearances to obtain Visas for myself and my family.

My first impressions of NZ were: GREEN, CLEAN, FRIENDLY!! The best parts of NZ are the people (tough, friendly, do-it-yourselfers, always willing to help out). The incredibly beautiful land (pristine beaches, snow-capped volcanoes and massive mountain ranges, rivers so clean you can drink from them while you hike, huge trout ready to be caught in lakes and rivers, endless hiking and biking trails, and amazing birds that sing you to sleep and wake you in the morning with their melodic songs.

What I miss the most is friends and family that can’t afford the cost of visiting us in this magical place.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is remember that money cannot buy happiness. I definitely took a significant pay cut coming here, but I would do it again if offered the choice. The lifestyle has been amazing. In the six months that I have been here, I have taken a 10-day vacation with my family visiting the amazing beaches of Northern New Zealand, Sand-surfing at the Te Kuiti Stream Sand dunes, visiting the majestic Kauri Tree Forests (Think Sequoia Size Trees) of the Northeast coast, and watching the sunset from the Cape Reinga Light House at the northern tip of New Zealand. I also took one week to spend with my 12-year old son fly-fishing in the lakes and rivers of the Lake Taupo Region, and Bungy Jumping over the Waikato River, and exploring the glow-worm filled caves of Waitomo. One night we relaxed in the volcanically heated river that flows into the Waikato River at Hot Springs Park in Taupo.

I then took another week to join my 14 and 16-year-old sons on a school-sponsored adventure week in the Tongariro National Park. We hiked the Tongariro Crossing, Rappelled from cliffs in a rainforest, explored caves with a river running through them, and white-water rafted on the mighty Tongariro River. Finally I just returned from 15 days with my family exploring the South Island of New Zealand. We cruised Milford Sound, camped at the base of Mt Cook, Swam in Glacier-filled lakes and streams, rode the mountain luge above Queenstown, played hide-and-seek among the rock formations of Castle Hill (see the final battle scene in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe), and watched seals frolicking in the waters on the Kaikoura Peninsula. We also kayaked on the turquoise waters of the Clutha River and played with Kea birds on Key Summit above Milford Sound.

If you add that up, I have had 39 days of vacation in my first 6 months here in New Zealand. This does not include any time taken for CME. Each year I am given 10 days and a certain amount to spend on CME. In the next six months I will be attending conferences on the Gold Coast of Australia, in Hong Kong, and in Fiji.

My experience practicing in the Emergency Department here in New Plymouth, New Zealand has been fascinating. Three things have been especially different from my practice in the USA. First is pain control. In six months, I have given out less than 10 prescriptions for pain medications stronger than codeine. As I mentioned above, Kiwis are TOUGH. I had one 65 year old woman who was working on passing a 8mm kidney stone and when offered a narcotic pain shot, she responded, “Oh no, I think a little paracetamol (tylenol) is all that I will need.” She was not an exception, but the rule. Ibuprofen is considered the BIG GUN pain killer around here. The nurses hesitate to give more than 2mg of Morphine or 20mcg of Fentanyl intravenously at a time, and the patients are fine with such doses. Rarely does any patient require more than 10 mg of Morphine during an ED stay. Hydromorphone is not available here in an intravenous formulation, and no one seems to mind. The second major difference has been resource utilization. In the two emergency departments where I work, we do not have radiology available between 11PM and 8AM. This means that to get X-rays or CT scans during these hours we have to call a radiographer in from home. Such calls are discouraged unless the information gained from the study being ordered will change the management of the patient immediately. Ultrasounds are even more difficult to obtain. They are simply not available on an emergent basis. This has led to me learning how to use the bedside Ultrasound much more proficiently. I often do my own DVT studies and abdominal scans and then treat the patient based on the results while they await their official ultrasound which may take 2-3 days to obtain. CT scans of the abdomen/pelvis are rarely ordered before obtaining a surgical consultation. Many more patients are admitted to the hospital for serial abdominal exams rather than obtaining a CT scan to further evaluate their abdominal pain. The third huge difference has been end of life care. New Zealand has a very developed hospice system and the population has been well-educated about medical futility. It is extremely rare to have a patient with a terminal illness come into the Emergency Department in hopes of receiving intensive medical interventions. They may come in occasionally for emergent pain control, but most are admitted directly to the hospice hospital where they receive excellent psycho-social and palliative care during their last days or weeks of life. There is an extensive network of traveling nurses who also provide such care in the patient homes.

One other aspect of my work which I love is the mixture of people with whom I work. Just the other day while at work, I heard English being spoken with a Kiwi, Australian, French, Ghanaian, Irish, British, South African, Canadian, Scottish, and American accent. How fun it is to work with people from all over the world each with a unique perspective but all committed to providing excellent care to our patients.

In addition to all the fun we have had traveling as a family here in New Zealand, we have also thrived in the local community. We love serving in our local church congregation which has a nice mix of families including Maori, Tongan, Samoan, African, Canadian, European Kiwi, and American. We are raising chickens (chooks) on our lifestyle plot and our boys sell the eggs for income. Several of our children are heavily involved in the local youth music scene playing in a youth orchestra and having opportunities to perform musically at community functions. Other children have enjoyed the youth sports programs playing basketball, running cross-country, learning to surf and even trying their hand at Cricket. My wife has been in high demand for her talents as a professional pianist. She has worked accompanying other local musicians and teaching students from the community. She has even been invited to perform a concerto this year with the regional adult orchestra.

My Name is Ceyan and I am a General Practitioner.

I came to NZ from Singapore in July 2019 after an 8 month process. The easiest part of the process was the Skype interview as it was very convenient and securing a job offer thanks to ACCENT.

The most challenging part of the process was renting a house

What first struck me about NZ was the beautiful landscape and wide range of outdoor activities on offer. What I miss the most is the shopping malls and food.

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is if you are coming to Wellington, to book at least 3 weeks Airbnb. It’s not easy to rent a house here.

My role and team size is very similar to Singapore, however the guidelines are slightly different and the practice in NZ is more advanced. The previous family medicine training I had in SG has helped a lot, and the patients are really nice and easygoing.

My favourite things to do here in NZ are cooking, gardening, hiking, mountain biking and taking lots of photos. Wellington is spacious and much less crowded than my home city and the view is amazing.

The biggest differences in my life now compared to Singapore is that I used to stay in a condo but now I live in a house with a big garden. I will do gardening on the weekends which I have never done before. I will keep on exploring, probably will invite some of my friends and barbecue in the garden in the near future.

Accent Health Recruitment > Case Studies > Doctors > Ceyan – General Practitioner from Singapore

Hi, my name is Petra, and I am a GP. Together with my partner Stefan – I came to NZ in November 2017, from the Netherlands.

The process to come to NZ took me about 10 months (from first contact with Prudence to our arrival in Christchurch).

The easiest part of the process was getting all the necessary information from Prudence and her colleagues; they were always well informed, quick in answering all my questions and very friendly!

The most challenging part of the process was to say goodbye to our family, friends and to our lives in the Netherlands. We sold our house, furniture and cars, and we decided to put most of our belongings into storage. At times this was stressful, but gave us both a sense of freedom.

My first impressions of NZ were of the friendly people, and how easy it was to be able to blend into the ‘kiwi lifestyle’. We never thought we would be the proud owners of four camping chairs and a foldable camping table, a bike rack and several hiking backpacks.

But most of all, the natural beauty and all the possibilities NZ has to offer was what struck me when we did our first (day)trips!

We live in Christchurch, only 20 minutes away from the beach. We can reach the ski slopes in only an hour and a half. Lake Pukaki and the Alpes are only a few hours’ drive by car!

Even when you only want to go on a daytrip, there are numerous options to explore.

What I miss the most about the Netherlands are the excellent roads and highways; the Christchurch roads (especially since the earthquakes) have some potholes, and cracks.

Also, when driving your bike to work, be aware of some risks; car drivers don’t always pay attention to bicycles!

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is: JUST DO IT!

When you have the opportunity to live and work in NZ don’t think twice, this will be the experience of a lifetime. Also, don’t be scared the first time you pay for your groceries: they’re slightly more expensive than you’re probably used to…

It’s stressful to move to another country, adapt to your new setting and start working in a (possibly) completely different environment.

But it’s all worth it!

Working in NZ: How does it compare

Although the role the Dutch GP’s play in the Netherlands is quite similar to the NZ GP’s (i.e. the ‘gatekeepers’ of the health care system), there are several differences between my current work in NZ and my previous role in The Netherlands.

The patients I see here in NZ express their thankfulness more than Dutch people do. They’re also very friendly and not as direct as some Dutch people can be. I took me some time before I got to know the NZ health care system, which in general is completely different compared to the Dutch system. Also, about half of the medication prescribed by physicians here in NZ was new to me, so this took me a while to get used to.

Secondly, I was surprised by the excellent GP guidelines here in NZ. They are very clear, detailed, and contain information about when to refer, and when not to.

And surprisingly, some (non-acute) referrals to the hospital can be declined after reviewing them; this would never happen in the Netherlands.

Because people pay per consult, patients think first before they make an appointment, resulting in less ‘nonsense’ consultations as I’d sometimes see in my previous role.

On the other hand, this sometimes can be a bit of a barrier for a patient to make an appointment with his doctor if they’re having financial difficulties.

I so very grateful to Prudence and Accent Health Recruitment for their assistance in my entire process of getting here.

Hi there! My Name is Roland and I am a General Practitioner. I relocated to NZ with my wife and baby daughter in August. The process to come to NZ took me 12 months with the easiest part being securing a job with the help and guidance from Accent. A Skype interview was arranged and the job offer came through promptly.

The most challenging part of the process was obtaining my MCNZ registration and visa, as there were quite a number of forms to complete at various stages.

My first impressions of NZ were that it was cold here (as we arrived near the end of winter) and having come from a tropical country, we were definitely not used to it.

The best parts of NZ are the beautiful, natural landscapes. The best part is that all these are very easily accessible by road. The pace of life here is also much more relaxed as compared to Singapore. What I miss the most is the food in Singapore!

My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to enjoy yourself and take time to explore both islands. Do drive carefully though as the roads here can be winding in the mountainous regions, and the sceneries along the way are so beautiful you’ll be tempted to take your eyes off the road!

I am also very grateful to Prudence and Accent Health Recruitment for their assistance in my entire process of getting here. There was a tremendous amount of paperwork involved but it was definitely made easier by the help rendered. Remember to be patient through the process of application as well. It takes time but you will get here eventually.