New Zealand Veterinary Jobs

Find your dream job as a veterinarian, veterinary nurse, or veterinary technician in New Zealand

Everything you need to know about working as veterinarian, veterinary nurse or veterinary technician in New Zealand.

Locum and Permanent Vacancies

Whether you’re planning a much-needed working holiday or you’re thinking about moving to New Zealand permanently, we’d love to hear from you!

  1. A free, professional service for all veterinary professionals
  2. Explore a beautiful country
  3. Develop your career at the same time
  4. A wide variety of opportunities exist for all types of veterinary professionals – small animal, large and production animal, as well as mixed animal veterinarians

Are you eligible to work in NZ? Find out!

Ready to take the next step? Give us your first name and email address and we’ll send you the following:

  1. Veterinary Council of New Zealand’s List of Recognised Institutions for Registration as a Veterinarian in New Zealand
  2. A checklist of what’s required to work here
  3. Minimum Standards for Practising as a Veterinarian in New Zealand
  4. Competency Standards and Performance Indicators for Veterinarians working in NZ

Why New Zealand?

Working in New Zealand is an amazing experience with a relaxed lifestyle that allows you to truly appreciate the stunning landscape. Beautiful beaches, mountains for winter sports, and lush bush for hunting and tramping make this a wonderful place to live. It’s no wonder why people from around the world have come to visit, study, and work in this absolutely gorgeous place!

It’s great news that Registered Veterinarians are so highly valued in New Zealand and included on the country’s “green skills shortage list”! This provides fantastic opportunities for veterinary professionals from overseas to gain employment and offers an exciting prospect to explore a new culture and develop your career. It’s easy to determine your eligibility and visa type, simply take a look at NZ Immigration’s website – a quick search will provide all the information and advice you need!

VetStaff can help you make sense of these requirements too, for free. Simply fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch.

What would be your ideal role and experience?

Veterinary professionals have the opportunity to explore a variety of roles and experiences. From small rural towns to bustling cities, there are countless veterinarian job options available to suit any lifestyle and preferences. No matter what scenery or situations one may be drawn to, you can make a lasting impact on your community while enjoying the beautiful experiences on offer.

Large Animal Veterinarians

NZ is a great place for veterinarians who are interested in large animal practices. Dairy remains the primary large animal production followed by sheep, beef, deer industry and alpaca farming; milking goat sectors have been consistently growing as well.

Equine Veterinarians

Equine Veterinary staff are in high demand, given the country’s strong equine sector. With a population of almost 5 million, the country has built a strong reputation as producing horses and riders winning at international level, particularly in eventing. During the busy breeding season,  from September to December, many equine practices will take on extra staff, making this an attractive prospect for specialists looking to make use of their expertise. Working in New Zealand’s equine sector promises not only an exciting challenge but also plenty of rewarding experiences.

Companion / Small Animal Veterinary Professionals

New Zealand is a nation of pet-lovers. “Nearly two thirds of Kiwi households have at least one companion animal, a figure unchanged in the last five years. With 41% of New Zealand households having a cat, our rates of cat ownership are higher than both Australia and the US, and more than double the rate of the UK. Dogs are also an increasingly popular pet, with 34% of New Zealand households having at least one dog, up from 28% in 2015.” Source: Companion Animals New Zealand, October 2020.

But why is pet ownership so popular? With a relaxed pace of life, good work-life balance, and plenty of outdoor space, NZ is a great place to own a pet. Small Animal Veterinarians are also in demand.

Fancy a Working Holiday?

Taking a working holiday is a great opportunity to combine travel with career development.

If you’re considering a working holiday, VetStaff can help make your dreams come true. We’ll create an individualised itinerary that allows you to explore multiple places throughout the country and gain experience in different practices. Your journey can be tailored to fit your interests and goals while you take in all the culture, adventure and beauty New Zealand has to offer. You can hear first hand stories from people who have already taken advantage of VetStaff’s locum opportunities to get a feel for what an amazing and rewarding experience it brings.

Want to know more?

Fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch.

Why VetStaff

VetStaff is a free service for job seekers to use in New Zealand and is focused 100% on finding the best fit for both you and the clinic . Our broad networks and industry know-how give us an edge when it comes to matching veterinary professionals with the perfect opportunities.  We specialise in filling the HR and recruitment roles of vet clinics that don’t have dedicated teams of their own, striving to create mutually rewarding experiences.

At VetStaff, we want to make sure you feel supported throughout your entire journey with us. We understand that transitioning into a new role can be daunting, let alone a new country. Our team  strives to ensure your experience is as rewarding and successful as possible. That’s why we provide three months of mentor support once you’ve been placed in a role. Our experienced mentors (who are Registered Veterinarians and Registered Veterinary Nurses in their own right) will help answer any questions you may have and provide valuable guidance every step of the way.

Applying for veterinary jobs can be quite a process, and finding the right fit makes all the difference to the experience. Luckily, we know New Zealand veterinary clinics like no one else and we are pretty much on a first name basis with the HR Managers, hiring managers, and the practice managers in vet clinics across the country!   When you use VetStaff, we guarantee that your values will match the clinic’s values.  No other recruitment agency knows New Zealand’s vet clinics like VetStaff does.

As we work closely with so many vet clinics around NZ, we know about these opportunities first; giving our veterinary professional candidates the real edge in finding the dream job for them!

There are many more reasons to choose VetStaff…

What’s it like to work in NZ?

Find out what it’s like to work in New Zealand from veterinarians, veterinary technicians and  veterinary nurses first hand.

Australian Small Animal Veterinarian, Dr Yvonne Clark, BVSc, calls New Zealand home.  Listen as she shares her experiences working as a veterinarian in New Zealand and other countries.  Dr Clark has worked in the UK, Australia, Sardinia, NZ and the Cook Islands.

..., Listen Now

Dr Rose Unsworth, BVMS Glasgow, has worked as a Small Animal Locum Veterinarian in clinics all over the world.  Now she and her Small Animal Locum Veterinarian husband, call New Zealand home.  Dr Unsworth talks about some of the differences about working in NZ compared to other countries.

.., Listen Now

Large Animal Veterinarian, Dr Krispin Kannan BVSc MBA, shares what it’s like doing his OE (overseas experience) in the Northern Hemisphere after only working in New Zealand clinics.  When Krispin graduated he could very easily have ended up as a Small Animal Surgeon.  Instead, he’s now one of New Zealand Veterinary Influencers and at the forefront of ‘cow wearables’.

.., Listen Now

Dr Kristen Baxter has a Bachelor or Science – Agriculture – cum laude from McGill University in Montreal with a major in animal and molecular biology, she’s a graduate from Massey’s Bachelor of Veterinary Science class of 2007, and in 2017 she was selected to participate in Zoetis’ Leadership Development Programme.  In this episode Kristen shares the environmental and sustainability changes she’s been able to implement on-farm in New Zealand.

.., Listen Now

Locuming in New Zealand – the legal difference between being an Independent Contractor and an Employee.  This episode addresses the four legal tests NZs Inland Revenue Department uses to determine whether the legal income-earning contract someone is using is the correct one and fit-for-purpose (or not!).

.., Listen Now

Are you eligible to work in NZ? Find out!

Ready to take the next step? Give us your first name and email address and we’ll send you the following:

  1. A list of recognised institutions
  2. A checklist of what’s required to work here
  3. Minimum standards for practising as a Veterinarian in New Zealand
  4. Competency standards and performance indicators for veterinarians working in NZ