Thousands of placements are now available in hospitals, clinics and medical centres across New Zealand. Experience life across opportunities in rural and urban locations, on both the North and South Islands. Spend more time doing the things you love, or with the people you love.
Take control of where and when you work for a better work-life balance. Placements last anything from a few hours to a year. Make good money while considering your next move. We can show you ways of working that you may not have considered with vast opportunities across New Zealand.
Explore diverse and interesting areas of medicine. Discover a new career path and try different working environments with New Zealand's diverse communities. Feel appreciated and share your time and skills with remote and urban populations that needs your expertise.
You can choose when you want to work, how long you want to work for and then you can choose when you go back. It’s enabled me to have more time to spend with the family.
Specialist Consultant
Specialist Consultant
Specialist Consultant
Get time back for the things you love outside of medicine, enhance your lifestyle, and reclaim work-life balance. But don't take our word for it, 91% of our locum doctors said their lifestyle was improved.
Locum doctors can earn fantastic rates with flexible hours and locations across Australia and New Zealand. No matter your future financial goals - locuming is a great way to boost your earnings. In Australia, locums may earn up to $4000/day.
For most placements, your travel and accommodation costs are covered. This means you get to explore new places with no cost to you.
Life as a doctor demands you give everything. Dr Sam Hazledine learned this first as an intern. Years later Medrecruit was his response. Sam successfully lobbied the World Medical Association to amend the Declaration of Geneva (the modern-day Hippocratic Oath) to include:
I will attend to my own health, wellbeing, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard.
Medrecruit continue to advocate for, educate and work towards better health and wellbeing for all doctors. With a multitude of locum opportunities across New Zealand, there are countless ways to pursue a lifestyle and career that suits your needs.
Not sure working as a locum doctor is the right fit for your medical career at present? We have a wide variety of permanent doctor jobs available across New Zealand and Australia. From vibrant city centers to idyllic rural communities, we offer the perfect opportunity for you to gain experience in your career and make a lasting impact.
Enjoy the stability of long-term employment while still satiating your passion for practicing medicine. Our extensive network of healthcare facilities and hospitals ensures that we can match your skills and interests to the ideal permanent role, providing a fulfilling and rewarding experience. Think permanent work might be the right fit for you?
Yes! Most locum placements offer travel and accommodation arrangements. We can help negotiate this for you. This is usually hospital accommodation or a nice bed and breakfast, and flight or petrol reimbursement.
Locum placements can be as short as a couple of days, though most doctors prefer slightly longer placements (a few weeks or months) so there’s time to get to know the area and the team. Medrecruit also works with doctors to find permanent roles.
Your registration number, a current CV and three references are the essentials of any job application. Other paperwork that's commonly required is:
What you'll need can vary slightly between Australian states and New Zealand. Some states/locations also require you to complete an online training course (eMedical Courses). We're here to help guide you through the requirements, and we'll give you a checklist detailing everything you need.
No, our service is free for doctors! We're paid by hospitals and clinics for our services and are preferred suppliers in several states and areas. Because we have a huge network of doctors, we save clinics and hospitals time (and money) by taking the stress out of the hiring and credentialing process.
This depends on where you work – the hospital or clinic chooses how a doctor is paid. This will work one of three ways:
Your recruitment specialist can tell you which method you’ll be paid for each job you undertake.
Locum doctor salaries in New Zealand are influenced by specialisation, experience, location, and the placement's duration.
Specialisation: Specialists often earn between $1,500 - $2,000 NZD per day.
Experience: RMOs might earn NZD$55 - $115 per hour, with senior medical officers and medical officers earning up to NZD$2,000 per day.
Location: In remote or rural regions, locum doctors often earn up to 50% more than in urban areas due to medical professional shortages.
In New Zealand, GP locum rates can vary, but they generally range between NZD$550 - $750 NZD per session in 2025, or up to $1,500 NZD per day, depending on the location, duration, and specific practice needs. Rural and hard-to-staff areas might offer higher rates to attract practitioners.
To be qualified to locum in New Zealand, you must hold a valid medical degree and be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand. For international doctors, recognising qualifications and ensuring eligibility is vital. Once registered, it is vital to connect with a locum agency, like Medrecruit, to match you with suitable roles. New Zealand often has locum opportunities in both urban centres and rural areas.
Being a locum doctor offers flexibility and earning potential, but can have drawbacks like inconsistent work schedules and lack of job security. Some also find frequent relocations and adapting to new environments challenging.
