Please refer your friend to us so we may be able to provide support and more information.

Yes- gaining New Zealand Nursing Council Registration is an expensive and long process as New Zealand has adopted a similar standard to the UK and Australian registrations. We understand the hardships, which include:-

- passing the required English test either OET or Ielts to even submit your Registration application to the Nursing Council (this can cost between $250 and $5000.00 depending on your current English level and the amount of times required to sit it.)

- Then attending a Competency Based Assessment Programme, average cost $5000.00 for Overseas RN, if you can gain a spot in a course.

- Moving to a New Country and the numerous costs involved.

I still do recommend however that People sort and are informed before arriving in NZ, and that if you are offered any contract saying its easy you seek advice and more advice. Too many nurses are being taken advantage of before and after they arrive in New Zealand and are getting forced to work as Health Care Assistants on minimum wage. It is also worth noting for those who are thinking of moving to New Zealand that they can start the registration process from their country of origin which can dramatically reduce the time spent on registration in New Zealand.

For the international nurses reading this please make sure you read the New Zealand Nursing Council and New Zealand Nurses organisation websites:

http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz

http://www.nzno.org.nz/

Trish Stevens

If there is such a thing as a nurses shortage in New Zealand, why is it nearly impossible for a qualified nurse to get a work permit! I have a friend that has been trying for months now and she will be going back to South Africa in December. Another skilled person lost! Getting registration was an absolute nightmare and the incompetence staggering. We should not complain, we are responsible for the situation we find ourselves in!

Le Bey Mc Callaghan