International Pharmacist - New Zealand roles

Shape Your Hospital Pharmacy Career in New Zealand

Use your pharmacy expertise where it can make the biggest difference, working alongside patients and healthcare teams every day. At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, you can grow your clinical skills, build specialist knowledge and help improve health outcomes across a diverse range of services.

We have opportunities available across New Zealand for qualified Pharmacists who want to move beyond dispensing, play a more active role in patient care and build a rewarding career within supportive multidisciplinary teams.

Why join us?

• Work more closely with patients throughout their healthcare journey
• Contribute your expertise to clinical decision-making
• Join collaborative teams alongside doctors, nurses and allied health professionals
• Build experience across different clinical specialties and services
• Develop advanced practice, specialist and leadership skills
• Explore pathways towards pharmacist prescribing
• Access nationally consistent salary scales and employment conditions
• Enjoy immigration and relocation support if moving from overseas
• Build a rewarding career while making more time for life outside work

About the Opportunity

Hospital Pharmacists are valued members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams. You will use your clinical expertise to support safe, effective and appropriate medicine use while contributing directly to high-quality patient care.

Your work may include:

• Working directly with patients and their whānau (families)
• Contributing to clinical decision-making and treatment planning
• Providing clinical pharmacy services across different specialties
• Supporting the safe and effective use of medicines
• Working alongside doctors, nurses and other health professionals
• Contributing to quality improvement and service development

You may also have opportunities to:

• Rotate through different services and patient care settings
• Build specialist clinical pharmacy expertise
• Develop advanced practice skills
• Work towards pharmacist prescriber status
• Contribute to research, education and quality improvement initiatives
• Progress into specialist, clinical leadership or professional advisory roles

Salary, Leave and Benefits

Pharmacists' terms and conditions are primarily governed by the applicable APEX or PSA collective agreement.

• Core Pharmacist roles: NZD $81,000 – $122,000 per annum, based on a 10-step salary scale
• Designated roles: NZD $117,000 – $159,000 per annum for roles such as team leaders, clinical leads and professional advisors
• Additional compensation: Penal rates, on-call allowances, call-back rates and other applicable payments

Leave and time off:

• Four weeks of annual leave, increasing to five weeks after five years of service
• Up to five additional days of annual leave for eligible employees working rostered shifts
• A minimum of ten days of paid sick leave
• Fourteen weeks of paid parental leave salary top-up alongside the Government's 26-week payment
• Twelve paid public holidays, plus time in lieu if worked

Professional support:

• Reimbursement of your Annual Practising Certificate (APC) and required competency fees
• An 80% employer-paid subsidy for your primary professional membership, such as the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand
• Professional indemnity insurance for your work in public practice
• A 3% employer superannuation contribution for eligible KiwiSaver or approved scheme members

Growth and development:

• Dedicated paid work time to complete required Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Access to departmental funding for conferences, workshops and postgraduate study
• Recognition steps that reward clinical expertise and professional leadership
• Pathways towards pharmacist prescribing, clinical specialisation and advanced practice

What You Need to Work Here

To practise as a Pharmacist in New Zealand, you'll need to:

• Be eligible for registration with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand
• Hold a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC) before practising
• Meet the requirements of the registration pathway that applies to where you completed your pharmacy training
• Meet the relevant professional, competency and fitness-to-practise requirements

Registration pathways differ depending on whether you trained in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States or another country.

Support for Australian Pharmacists

If you are registered in Australia, the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act provides a streamlined pathway into practice in New Zealand.

• Benefit from deemed registration while your New Zealand application is being processed
• Transition into practice through a streamlined registration pathway
• Access opportunities throughout New Zealand's hospital network
• Build your career within one connected national health system

Support for International Pharmacists

We welcome internationally trained Pharmacists who want to broaden their clinical practice and build their future in New Zealand.

• Access streamlined registration pathways if eligible
• Develop experience across different specialties and healthcare settings
• Explore advanced clinical, specialist and leadership opportunities
• Continue your prescribing journey where an appropriate pathway is available
• Receive complimentary immigration support from Health New Zealand
• Access streamlined residency pathways where eligible

Call New Zealand Home

Build more than a career in New Zealand. Combine meaningful clinical work with welcoming communities, a strong focus on wellbeing and easy access to beaches, mountains, trails and outdoor adventures.

Making the move is easier with:

• Immigration Tier 1 Green List eligibility for Pharmacists
• Access to the Straight to Residence Visa for eligible candidates
• Complimentary support from our in-house Health Immigration Service
• Guidance throughout the immigration and relocation process
• Support for you and your whānau (family) as you prepare for life in New Zealand

Australian citizens can live and work in New Zealand without applying for a visa before arrival. Australian permanent residents may also be eligible to live, work and study in New Zealand, subject to Immigration New Zealand requirements.

Working for Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

Te Whatu Ora means "the weaving of wellness." We are building a unified health system that delivers equitable, high-quality care across the motu (country).

When you join us, you will be part of:

• A nationwide health system focused on improving outcomes for all New Zealanders
• Collaborative teams working across professions, services and regions
• An organisation committed to equity, clinical excellence and innovation
• A workforce helping shape the future of healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all people, including Māori, Pacific Peoples, people from ethnic communities, disabled people and members of the Rainbow community. Our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi guides our work to improve health outcomes and achieve equitable access to care for Māori and all New Zealanders.

To help keep our patients, whānau (families) and workforce safe, preferred candidates may be required to complete relevant pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Professional registration verification
• Qualification and competency checks
• Police Vetting
• Reference checks
• Health screening appropriate to the role

Ready to Make a Difference Somewhere Different?

Whether you are ready to apply now or are simply exploring your options, we would love to hear from you.

Our International Recruitment team can support you with:

• The application and recruitment process
• Understanding your professional registration pathway
• Immigration and visa requirements
• Relocation planning
• Finding the right location and opportunity for your career

Apply now and shape your Hospital Pharmacy career with Health New Zealand.