Specialists (SMO)
Calling all Senior Medical Officers - take your career to new heights!
Aotearoa, New Zealand offers a broad range of opportunities for Senior Medical Officers (SMOs), Medical Specialists, Consultants and Fellows in a range of environments from fast-paced metropolitan centres to community-focused healthcare in urban, rural, and remote settings.


About the role - Senior Medical Officer
Senior Medical Officers (SMOs), often referred to as Specialists or Consultants.
SMOs are on Tier 1 of New Zealand's Green List which means you are eligible for the Straight to Residence Visa and can apply for New Zealand residency before you arrive, provided you have a job offer from an accredited employer, like us!
Specialists
We’re looking for talented Senior Medical Officers, Medical Specialists, Consultants and Fellows across 36 vocational scopes of practice.
Read more

Scopes of practice
Get registered and work as a Specialist in Aotearoa, New Zealand!
- Anaesthesia
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- Clinical genetics
- Dermatology
- Diagnostic and interventional radiology
- Emergency medicine
- Family planning and reproductive health
- General practice
- General surgery
- Intensive care medicine
- Internal medicine
- Medical administration
- Musculoskeletal medicine
- Neurosurgery
- Obstetrics and gynaecology
- Occupational medicine
- Ophthalmology
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Otolaryngology, head and neck surgery
- Paediatric surgery
- Paediatrics
- Pain medicine
- Palliative medicine
- Pathology
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Psychiatry
- Public health medicine
- Radiation oncology
- Rehabilitation medicine
- Rural hospital medicine
- Sexual health medicine
- Sport and exercise medicine
- Urgent care medicine
- Urology
- Vascular surgery
Read more about the vocational types here.
We'd love to hear from you today!
Check out some of our most in need specialist roles below, all are on the Straight to Residency visa pathway.
Explore Aotearoa
Whether you like the big city, the beach, the mountains, or all of the above - we have a broad range of places to call home.
Find out more information about what part of our beautiful country is the best fit for you.

Te Tai Tokerau Northland
Population: 194,600
Northland is a beautiful and diverse region of Aotearoa, New Zealand with plenty to offer visitors. Whether you're interested in water sports, historic sites, natural beauty or ancient Kauri trees—Northland has it all!

Waitematā
Population: 650,000
Waitematā is the largest and one of the most rapidly growing districts serving the largest population of all Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand's districts. Waitematā offers a balanced lifestyle that combines the convenience of city living with the natural beauty and community spirit of suburban life.

Te Toka Tumai Auckland
Population: 500,000
Auckland the "City of Sails" is Aotearoa, New Zealand’s largest city and commercial hub. It’s where metropolitan sophistication meets breath taking natural beauty. Auckland is filled with a variety of warm and welcoming communities, packed with new places to explore.

Counties Manukau
Population: 500,000
Te Whatu Ora - Counties Manukau serves as a major source of employment within the Counties Manukau area, with over 8,000 individuals being employed across the region.

Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty
Population: 255,110
The Bay of Plenty is a place of beautiful harbours, long surf beaches and an easy-going lifestyle. We showcase the perfect place to explore a wide range of nature-based pursuits – this gives the people of the Bay of Plenty the chance for a better work-life balance.

Waikato
Population: 425,000
The Waikato region is known for its natural beauty, rich Māori culture, and agricultural heritage with something to offer visitors of all interests.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne
Population: 48,000
In family-friendly Tairāwhiti you will experience an easier pace to life that allows you to pause and reflect, and enjoy a true work life balance. Gisborne’s relative isolation is its charm, surrounded by beaches & nature - don't worry though! Larger cities are only a quick flight away.

Lakes
Population: 110,000
The Lakes District is well known for its geothermal activity and natural hot springs. The area is located in the central North Island and is home to many geothermal attractions, such as geysers, hot mud pools, and steam vents. Visitors can also relax in the region's natural hot springs, which are believed to have healing properties.

Taranaki
Population: 130,000
Taranaki is a magical place with a majestic mountain at its heart, including the rugged coastline that's world-renowned for its surf. Its residents' love of art and culture, cafes and outdoor living mean it's also fantastic to work—and play!

Te Matau a Māui Hawke's Bay
Population: 165,000
The Hawke's Bay region is home to many world-class wineries and vineyards, and is also famous for its beautiful landscapes, stunning beaches, and art deco architecture. Additionally, Hawke's Bay is a popular destination for food and wine tourism, outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling, and cultural events such as the annual Art Deco Weekend festival.
Whanganui
Population: 65,000
Whanganui has something for everyone. Our centrally located region offers access to outdoor activities such as kayaking, skiing, surfing, tramping, cycling, fishing and hunting. Nestled between two snow-capped mountains, on the banks of Whanganui River there is always plenty to do and explore.

Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley
Population: 445,000
Wellington, the capital city of Aotearoa New Zealand, is a bustling and diverse hub of culture and cosmopolitanism, renowned for its lively cafés, restaurants, and internationally acclaimed sporting and cultural events, all set against the stunning backdrop of a natural harbour. To the north of Wellington lie the regions of Porirua, Kapiti, and Hutt Valley.

Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral
Population: 190,000
Get the best of both worlds - the perfect blend of rural and city living with the mountains, city and sea at your fingertips.

Wairarapa
Population: 48,000
Located in Masterton in the Wellington Region, Te Whatu Ora Wairarapa is one of the smaller hospitals in the country with 89 inpatient beds providing comprehensive health services throughout the Wairarapa District.

Nelson Marlborough
Population: 150,000
Nelson Marlborough has been dubbed the artistic capital with a thriving urban centre and one of New Zealand's sunniest regions.

Te Tai o Poutini West Coast
Population: 32,000
Te Tai o Poutini/West Coast has views of both the mountain ranges and the ocean! It is an untamed natural wilderness of beautiful rivers and rainforests, glaciers and geological treasures.

Waitaha Canterbury
Population: 600,000
The Canterbury region is a great place to live and work due to its natural beauty, vibrant economy, cultural diversity, strong community, and high quality of life.

South Canterbury
Population: 62,000
The South Canterbury district is an area of stunning beauty with great lifestyle opportunities, a safe and welcoming family-friendly environment, affordable living, excellent educational opportunities and a wide range of cultural and sporting facilities.

Southern
Population: 350,000
Well known for its beautiful natural scenery, which includes towering mountains, stunning fjords, majestic glaciers, and crystal-clear lakes. The region is also famous for its friendly communities, charming towns, and vibrant cities such as Dunedin and Invercargill.

Registration pathways
The Medical Council of New Zealand has three scopes of registration: Vocational, General and Special Purpose.

Getting registered
To practise medicine in Aotearoa New Zealand you must be registered and have a practising certificate.
Benefits and salary range
- Senior Medical Officers usually earn between $165,000 and $245,000 a year
- Most of our workforce receive a minimum of six (6) weeks annual leave and the salary is based on working 40 hours a week
- Other benefits include:
- Maternity leave for one year with six weeks full pay
- Long Service Leave
- Onerous Duties Leave
- Ongoing Professional Development and Education
- Research and Publications
Required qualifications and experience
To work in Aotearoa, New Zealand you will require an appropriate registration.
SMOs will need to complete a vocational training programme, after which the Medical Council of New Zealand (Medical Council) may register them to practise within a defined scope of practice in a particular branch of medicine.
You will also need to have a current Annual Practising Certificate
Other helpful links

Our Application Process

How Kiwi Health Jobs works for you!
When you submit an application, you will be redirected to Kiwi Health Jobs, our centralised recruitment portal. The Kiwi Health Jobs team are here to simplify the recruitment process by providing guidance, answering queries and connecting you to the right people in the Districts that you are most interested to work in.
Kiwi Health Jobs also advertises a wide range of vacancies across Health Sector, that includes vacancies at public, not-for-profit and private employers.
Join our webinars
Te Whatu Ora’s Health Immigration Service, Kiwi Health Jobs, Immigration NZ and the Medical Council of New Zealand have run joint webinars to take you through the different steps towards starting a new adventure in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Learn more about moving to our beautiful country, directly from the people who process your applications.

It's easier than ever to come to Aotearoa New Zealand to work in Healthcare

NZ Residency
NZ Immigration has included Senior Medical Officers in the Green List of occupations with a straight to residency pathway to New Zealand. To make things easy, our dedicated Health Immigration Service can offer immigration guidance for you and your family along the way.




Fulfilling career, amazing lifestyle
Take your skills and career to new heights and connect with nature

True balance
Have your pick of the Kiwi lifestyle to suit your interests! You could live in the bustling metropolis of our main centres, or relax into the easygoing vibe of coastal or rural communities.
We can make your move to New Zealand as easy as possible by providing a relocation support package, practical advice, and assistance with immigration and border requirements.

Live the dream
There’s a little bit of everything on offer, from lively modern cities to rural towns that feel like a trip back in time.
Our services are offered from hospitals and clinical centres across the region, so there’s a lifestyle to suit everyone. Make the most of the diversity and amenities in our larger cities or take a break from the fast lane and settle into the friendly local communities.
If you’re tempted by sunny weather, a thriving arts and culture scene, breathtaking scenery and day trips galore, you’ll love it here.

Register your interest
If you're a Senior Medical Officer looking to continue your career and a fresh start, why not make the move to Aotearoa New Zealand? Send us a message below if you have any questions about any stage of the process.