The nursing jobs in New Zealand are considered one of the high-demand jobs for roles like mental health nurses, ICU nurses, and aged care nurses. As of March 2024, over 78,700 nurses have received their active practicing certificates, yet they are still heavily reliant on overseas talent to fill critical system gaps.
The rising demand for healthcare, high nursing student dropout rates, an aging workforce, and increasing chronic illnesses have strained New Zealand’s local nursing workforce, creating a gap that’s now being filled by global talent.
Key Reasons Behind High Demand in Nursing Jobs in New Zealand
There’s a genuine need for more nurses in New Zealand, and it’s growing steadily. From too few local graduates to rising healthcare demands, several real-world factors are driving this demand.
1. Aging Population with Increased Health Requirements
The increasingly aging population of New Zealand has steadily increased the need for long-term medical care. This change in demographics has given rise to a constant call for more nurses in aged care settings, hospitals, and home care.
2. National Shortage of Qualified Nurses
With the increasing demand, New Zealand cannot yet meet it through higher local qualifications. The large portion of the nursing workforce that is already nearing retirement continues to create nursing job vacancies nationwide in New Zealand.
3. Pathways of Migration for Nurses
The country has streamlined immigration policies for qualified overseas nurses to fill the workforce gaps. Most of these jobs are among those included in the Green List of New Zealand, hence making hiring easier for international candidates
4. High Dropout Rates Among Nursing Students
New Zealand has very poor rates for nursing student retention, with 30% of all students dropping out of the program before graduation, higher for Māori and Pacific students. It adds to a shortage of locally trained nurses, thus relying more on sourcing to meet the increased demand worldwide by overseas-qualified professionals.
5. Increased Chronic Diseases and Complex Health Needs
Some 278,000 adults have diabetes, 195,000 have heart disease, and 536,000 asthmatics increase the incidence of chronic illness in New Zealand.
The population can be said to have at least one chronic condition approximately 28.8% of the time; this creates a need for skilled nursing.
6. Rural and Remote Area Healthcare Needs
New Zealand’s rural areas, home to about 600,000 people, face a severe shortage of healthcare professionals. This lack of access to care has driven up demand for nurses willing to work in these underserved regions.
7. Rising Mental Health Concerns
Mental health issues have taken a hike in New Zealand, with approximately 1 in 5 adults experiencing mental health conditions annually. This has resulted in a growing demand for Mental Health Nurses to address the increasing need for care.
Which nursing roles are in high demand in New Zealand?
Roles like Mental Health Nurses, ICU Nurses, and Aged Care Nurses are in especially high demand across New Zealand. Here’s a quick look at the key nursing specializations driving the country’s healthcare system.
Registered Nurses
Some of the duties associated with a registered nurse are assessing the client's condition, providing direct care, administering prescribed medicines, and ensuring coordination of treatment plans. Registered nurses work in a hospital, community clinic, or aged-care facility.
Nurse Practitioner
In advanced professional roles, nurse practitioners are qualified to assess, diagnose, prescribe, and manage complex health conditions. They are also crucial in health care provision at health centers that are either underserved or in rural settings.
Mental Health Nurse
These nurses work with patients suffering from social and psychological disorders. They are often found in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and community outreach teams.
Aged Care Nurse
This is a nurse who works in residential care facilities, treating elderly patients with chronic illnesses, mobility issues, and daily living difficulties.
ICU/ER Nurse
In critical and emergency care, they provide treatment in intensive care environments and emergencies where time is critical.
Average Nursing Salary in New Zealand
The average nursing salary varies based on role, experience, and location. Nurses in specialized roles or with advanced qualifications tend to earn significantly more.
The average nursing salary in New Zealand varies based on experience and specialization, and registered nurses earn around NZD 55,000 to NZD 75,000 annually. Nurses in specialized fields like ICU or mental health can earn upwards of NZD 85,000.
Nursing Job Vacancy in New Zealand: What you should know
As of late 2023, the nursing job vacancy in New Zealand was around 6.1%, where approximately 1,817 full-time equivalents (FTEs) were vacant. The most in-demand roles were in mental health and addiction nursing, critical care and emergency services, and aged care.
With these gaps, the field opens up in terms of employment for local and overseas nurses. One of the easiest visa pathways and sponsorship opportunities in the world is what New Zealand offers as a destination for international nursing professionals, and it has been highly open to filling these important vacancies.
