New Zealand has a very well developed healthcare system and is famous for having an extremely comprehensive healthcare system modelled on the UK National Health Service.

The clinical practice in New Zealand tends to be a mixture of the UK evidence-based healthcare model and the more innovative US style of medicine.

The major provider of healthcare services in New Zealand is the Public Health System but private healthcare facilities are widely available. This is a comprehensive free-of-charge healthcare service for all New Zealand citizens covering both hospital-based and community-based medical services.

Those who have experienced working in New Zealand will always compare it very favourably to working in other countries. As a rule, New Zealanders (both patients and staff) are very laid back and so this creates a very informal and friendly working environment. 

Due to the fact New Zealand is sparsely populated and has a relatively large land mass area, the role of a Family Practitioner (GP) in many parts of New Zealand is extended beyond that performed by GPs in other parts of the world. It is not uncommon for Family Practitioners to perform minor operations, obstetrics and some may even provide limited anaesthetics services too.

The actual hospitals in New Zealand as a rule tend to be very well equipped with all the latest technology and facilities.

With comprehensive healthcare available to all New Zealanders, the standard of healthcare is extremely high. Over the last ten years there has been a large increase in the availability of protocols, clinical guidelines, evidence based methodology and innovative research coming out of New Zealand and now it is widely acknowledged that the clinical practice in New Zealand is as up-to-date as anywhere else in the western world.

Healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses hold far greater power and authority in New Zealand within the hospital system than is usually found in other countries. Professional groups representing nurses and doctors are very strong here with most of the hospital directors and senior managerial staff being doctors and nurses themselves and so protect the interests of healthcare workers well.