New partnership targets long-term GP workforce sustainability through international recruitment

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) have announced a partnership focused on increasing the number of international GPs coming to New Zealand, to join our local GP workforce.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening New Zealand’s GP workforce by making it easier for international doctors to understand the roles, pathways and support available to them.

General practice offers a career with real impact combining clinical autonomy, professional development and strong community connection. The campaign positions New Zealand as a destination where doctors can practise high-quality, specialist medicine while enjoying a world-class lifestyle and a health system built around teamwork and continuity of care.

RNZCGP plays a key role in this partnership, supporting high-quality general practice through training, standards and advocacy.

Together with Health New Zealand the campaign reinforces a coordinated, long-term approach to international recruitment that supports workforce sustainability across both urban and rural communities.

College President Dr Luke Bradford says the initiative comes at a critical time for the workforce.

“New Zealand needs more skilled GPs. These stories show the professionalism, purpose and privilege of delivering continuity of care in our communities from major centres to the most remote parts of the motu.”

Astuti Balram (Acting Director- Living Well) says “Health NZ is about the whole health system – not just specialist hospital services.  We are delighted to be working with the college to attract more UK trained doctors to become NZ GPs.”

“GPs are central to high-quality primary care, and we need to continue to grow our workforce by recruiting local and international doctors. This work sits alongside our initiatives to strengthen primary and rural care, including funding up to 50 New Zealand-trained graduate doctors a year to train in primary care settings.”

The campaign, launched today, includes a new suite of resources and video testimonial stories aimed at attracting international doctors to work in Aotearoa.

The campaign highlights what overseas doctors can expect when working in community-based medicine offering practical insights into day-to-day clinical work, workforce pathways and lifestyle opportunities across both urban and rural settings.

Developed in alignment with Health New Zealand’s international recruitment programme, the resources are designed to support growing international interest in community-based specialist roles within a team-focused health system.

More information:

The video campaign can be viewed below:

• Andrew: https://youtu.be/oF9x4h7wxwg
• Jenny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6Kn06x5d-0&feature=youtu.be
• Luke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sArIJh9XPu8

Health NZ is also progressing a range of initiatives as part of the Primary Care Tactical Action Plan (PCTAP) to strengthen the GP workforce including:

• Funding 100 overseas-trained doctors already living in New Zealand to begin work in GP practices over the next two years.
• Funding up to 50 New Zealand-trained graduate doctors a year to train in primary care settings.