Discover a career as a Pain Medicine Specialist in New ZealandYou help people reclaim quality of life from complex pain conditions – now it's time to find balance and purpose in your own. Whether you're seeking more time, a collaborative team or the chance to explore Aotearoa's stunning natural beauty, we have something for you.At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, you'll join pain services committed to multidisciplinary care, equity and innovation. We're welcoming Pain Medicine Specialists who want to build a meaningful career and life in New Zealand.Opportunities across Health New ZealandPain Medicine Specialists work in public hospital-based pain services, often with close links to anaesthesia, rehabilitation and primary care. Depending on your location and experience, you may be involved in:
Comprehensive assessment and management of chronic pain conditions
Multidisciplinary team clinics with psychology, nursing and physiotherapy
Neuromodulation and interventional pain procedures
Acute pain services and perioperative consultations
Pain education, service development and research
Services vary by region, but most centres offer opportunities to contribute to service innovation, equity-focused care and teaching of registrars or allied health staff.What it's like to work hereYou'll work alongside committed teams delivering evidence-based care for complex and persistent pain. Many services are part of regional networks supporting patients across primary, secondary and tertiary settings.You'll benefit from:
Protected time for CME, supervision or service improvement
Collaborative working with pain psychology, nursing and allied health
Access to procedural support through anaesthesia or radiology services
Flexibility to shape your scope of practice and areas of interest
Peer support through national special interest groups and the Faculty of Pain Medicine
Call New Zealand homeIf you receive a job offer, our Health Immigration Service offers free support to help you and your whānau (family) relocate. Pain Medicine Specialists are on Tier 1 of New Zealand's Green List, making you eligible for the Straight to Residence Visa – so you can apply for residency before you even arrive.Whether you're based near mountains, forests or coastlines, New Zealand offers time, space and a strong sense of community.Salary & benefitsBase salary: NZD $170,000 – $250,000+ (based on the ASMS MECA)Additional compensation: On-call, availability and penal rates where applicableYou'll also receive:
Annual CME allowance (up to NZD $16,000)
CME leave (up to 10 days per year)
Six weeks of annual leave per year
Twelve public holidays (plus time in lieu if rostered on)
Paid parental leave and long service entitlements
Professional indemnity cover and MCNZ registration costs covered by employer
What you need to work hereTo practise as a Pain Medicine Specialist in New Zealand, you must be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) and hold a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC).Most international applicants will need either:
Fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM ANZCA)
Or a comparable specialist qualification in anaesthesia, rehabilitation medicine, psychiatry or general practice, with recognised pain medicine training
Working for Health New Zealand | Te Whatu OraTe Whatu Ora means "the weaving of wellness." We are building a single, unified health system that delivers equitable and high-quality care across the motu (country). Our people are at the heart of everything we do.We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to building a diverse workforce. We welcome applications from all people – including Māori, Pacific Peoples, those from ethnic communities, disabled people and the Rainbow community.Our values are grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and our commitment to health equity for Māori and all New Zealanders. Through collaboration, innovation and shared purpose, we aim to create a health system where everyone can thrive.Ready to make a difference?Our international recruitment team can support you through the application, registration and immigration process – and help you find the right place to call home.Apply now – and make a difference somewhere different.
