Gastroenterologists

Salary

Senior Medical Officers receive a base salary relative to their level of experience. This is agreed upon at the time of the job offer. There is a 15-step pay scale that SMOs continue to progress through on a yearly basis.

In New Zealand, the salaries and benefits of some roles are determined by collective agreements between unions and employers.

Employment agreements — Health New Zealandexternal link

Additional allowances are paid on top of base salary and vary due to location and service, and are often not specified in the collective agreement.

Allowances

There is a range of additional allowances for:

• on-call
• evening, night and weekend work
• call back
• job size
• recruitment and retention
• special contribution.

Leave

Leave entitlements include:

• 6 weeks of paid annual leave
• a minimum of 10 days of sick leave per year
• 10 days of paid continuing medical education leave (CME), plus the ability to use annual leave tacked onto the end of your CME travel
• 6 to 12 months of parental leave, depending on the length of service, including 6 weeks of fully paid parental leave
• 12 paid public holidays and time in lieu or alternative holiday if rostered on
• long service leave and sabbatical opportunities.

Additional benefits

Additional benefits include:

• an annual continuing medical education (CME) allowance of NZD $16,000 (pro-rated for part-time employees)
• membership subscriptions of medical professional bodies are reimbursed by Health NZ
• your professional indemnity insurance is covered by Health NZ
• if eligible, up to a 6% matching superannuation contribution from Health NZ as your employer
• a relocation package for international candidates.

About KiwiSaver (superannuation savings scheme)

Leadership and career development opportunities

Health NZ encourages Senior Medical Officers to be involved in the design, implementation and performance of facilities and technology involved in the delivery of healthcare services to ensure an effective, efficient and safe workplace.

Specific opportunities vary by location and service; however, they can include:

• support and encouragement for research and publications
• mentorship opportunities for apprentice Junior Doctors/Registrars
• regional and national networks allowing for subspeciality research and practice.
• ongoing development and support for career growth with on-the-job coaching and a variety of in-house training programmes.

Essential qualifications

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) or equivalent international medical degree
• Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) with accreditation to practice as a gastroenterologist, or equivalent international specialist qualification

Medical Council of New Zealand registration

To practice as a Gastroenterologist in New Zealand, you must be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand.

Eligibility for registration

The Medical Council of New Zealand assesses international qualifications for comparability with New Zealand and Australian standards. Gastroenterologists trained in countries with comparable training programmes may be eligible for streamlined registration pathways.

For detailed information about registration requirements and the application process, visit the Medical Council website.

Registration — Medical Council of New Zealandexternal link

Professional requirements

Once registered, Gastroenterologists must:

• maintain current Annual Practising Certificate
• participate in continuing professional development programmes
• meet recertification requirements as specified by RACP or equivalent college
• maintain professional indemnity insurance (covered by Health New Zealand)
• comply with the Medical Council of New Zealand professional standards.

Clinical care delivery

Gastroenterologists in New Zealand provide comprehensive care across inpatient and outpatient settings. Clinical responsibilities include conducting ward rounds and consultations, performing endoscopic procedures, responding to acute referrals, and providing specialist opinion to colleagues across multiple departments.

Endoscopic procedures

Gastroenterologists perform diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy including gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and where appropriate, advanced procedures such as ERCP, EUS, large EMR, variceal banding, oesophageal dilatation and stenting, and PEG insertion. Procedural work is supported by dedicated endoscopy facilities and experienced nursing teams.

Subspecialty services

Many roles include delivery of subspecialty care in areas such as inflammatory bowel disease and hepatology. This includes running specialist clinics, performing procedures such as fibroscan and elastography, and participating in bowel cancer screening programmes where applicable.

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Active participation in multidisciplinary meetings and case conferences is integral to practice. Gastroenterologists work closely with pathology, surgery, radiology, oncology teams, specialist nursing staff, and allied health professionals to deliver coordinated, patient-centred care.

Emergency and on-call services

Gastroenterologists participate in on-call rosters providing coverage for acute gastroenterology services. On-call responsibilities include urgent consultations, acute endoscopy services, and telephone advice to colleagues. Some positions may also include general medicine on-call duties depending on scope of practice and service needs.

Teaching and supervision

Clinical supervision and teaching of resident medical officers, gastroenterology registrars, and medical students form valued components of consultant practice. Many centres maintain affiliations with medical schools and serve as accredited training sites for The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) Fellowship programmes.

Quality assurance and service development

Participation in regular peer review, clinical audit activities, and departmental quality improvement programmes supports continuous enhancement of clinical services. Gastroenterologists contribute to development of clinical guidelines, protocols, service planning initiatives, and ongoing service development to meet patient needs.

Research and academic activities

Opportunities exist to engage with clinical research programmes and collaborate with universities. Research activities may include clinical trials, investigator-led research, reviews of treatment approaches, and quality improvement projects aligned with organisational ethics standards.

Registering to work as a Senior Medical Officer in New Zealand

To work as a Senior Medical Officer in New Zealand, you will need to obtain vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).

Pathways to vocational registration

Direct pathway to vocational registration

• If you are an international medical graduate (IMG) with specialist qualifications from countries with medical systems deemed equivalent to New Zealand's (such as Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada and some European countries), you may be eligible to apply directly for vocational registration without needing first to obtain general registration.
• In this pathway, MCNZ will assess your specialist qualifications, clinical experience, and the medical system where you trained. If these are deemed equivalent, you can apply directly for vocational registration in your specialty.
• This pathway allows experienced specialists to bypass general registration and the provisional general phase, which is typically required for doctors without a recognised specialist qualification.

Provisional vocational registration pathway

• If MCNZ determines that your qualifications and experience are largely equivalent but that you need some orientation or assessment within the New Zealand healthcare system, you may be granted provisional vocational registration.
• This means you will practice in your specialty under supervision for a period, typically between 6 to 12 months, before being granted full vocational registration.
• During this provisional vocational registration period, a specialist who practises in the same area of medicine as you will supervise you.

General registration pathway

• If you do not meet the criteria for direct vocational registration, you may need to obtain general registration first if your qualifications and experience are not recognised as equivalent.
• This process to gain vocational registration includes:
  • a period of provisional general registration (with supervised practice) if necessary
  • after obtaining general registration, you can later apply for vocational registration once you have completed any further assessments or additional supervised practice required by the MCNZ.

Self-assessment

The Medical Council of New Zealand have a self-assessment tool to help you easily determine which registration pathway you should take.

Registration self-assessment tool — Medical Council of New Zealandexternal link

Find out more about life in New Zealand

We have a page dedicated to providing information to candidates about our recruitment process, what you need to work in New Zealand and key details about moving here.

Living in New Zealand — Information for international candidates