My name is Cody. I am a community-based (outpatient) hospice Registered Nurse. I came to NZ in August 2025 from Seattle, Washington, USA. The process to come to NZ took me 15 months.
The easiest part of the process was getting my credentials verified through CGFNS, the first step of the process of getting RN licensure in NZ. I've been through this process previously for Canada, and it was a nightmare in comparison! NZ overall has streamlined many parts of the process in ways that far surpass lots of other countries I considered.
The most challenging part of the process was the wait for paperwork to be processed and the wait through the actual job search.
ACCENT recruiters have great connections, and the NZ nursing job market seems like the sort where you would really want to have ACCENT on your side. My recruiter was Hayley, and she was fantastic. She was not only helpful for locating an interested organisation, she was able to talk me through how things work in this country as it pertains to the job hunt.
The best parts of NZ are - so much! The culture, weather, climate, scenery, food, the healthcare system, my improved access to healthcare for myself, my increased sense of safety and well-being, my improved work/life balance, the opportunities for outdoor activities, the mindfulness of waste and the environment. I could go on.
The easiest part of the process was getting my credentials verified through CGFNS, the first step of the process of getting RN licensure in NZ. I've been through this process previously for Canada, and it was a nightmare in comparison! NZ overall has streamlined many parts of the process in ways that far surpass lots of other countries I considered.
The most challenging part of the process was the wait for paperwork to be processed and the wait through the actual job search.
ACCENT recruiters have great connections, and the NZ nursing job market seems like the sort where you would really want to have ACCENT on your side. My recruiter was Hayley, and she was fantastic. She was not only helpful for locating an interested organisation, she was able to talk me through how things work in this country as it pertains to the job hunt.
The best parts of NZ are - so much! The culture, weather, climate, scenery, food, the healthcare system, my improved access to healthcare for myself, my increased sense of safety and well-being, my improved work/life balance, the opportunities for outdoor activities, the mindfulness of waste and the environment. I could go on.
My initial impression of where I'm living is that it's not shockingly different at first glance. A lot of culture shock I've experienced has come through the process of living and integrating, coming to be familiar with the culture and the finer details of daily living in NZ.
I'm living in Wellington, which in many ways is very similar to where I lived in the US before my arrival. It's a beautiful country. Driving on the right-hand side of the road hasn't been as scary or challenging as I assumed! And the people I've met have been impressively patient, kind, and welcoming.
I like the area I live in because it's exactly what I wanted and hoped that it would be. It's like a baby foreign cousin of Seattle. Small but compact, big steep hills, lots of green space, interesting and cool (temperature-wise) weather, forward-thinking people, universities present with young minds filling the city.
I'm living in Wellington, which in many ways is very similar to where I lived in the US before my arrival. It's a beautiful country. Driving on the right-hand side of the road hasn't been as scary or challenging as I assumed! And the people I've met have been impressively patient, kind, and welcoming.
I like the area I live in because it's exactly what I wanted and hoped that it would be. It's like a baby foreign cousin of Seattle. Small but compact, big steep hills, lots of green space, interesting and cool (temperature-wise) weather, forward-thinking people, universities present with young minds filling the city.
Where I plan to visit is Rotorua - it is one of the first on my list. Since moving to Wellington, I've discovered and gotten very into mountain biking. We've got a wonderful mountain biking park here. Rotorua has the largest mountain biking park in the country, so I'd really love to check that out.
The work/life balance has made a tremendous difference to my life. A better balance is ingrained into the culture here, and to a great extent it's actually legislated!
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to be prepared for the wait and trust that your recruiters are doing a wonderful job.
I could honestly write an entire dissertation in an attempt to answer questions about the differences between my current role in NZ and my previous role in the USA.
What I will say is that yes, it is massively different. However, it is navigable and similar enough for me to feel as though I'm easily translating all of my skills and experience.
I've noticed that a smaller number of years nursing in the US seems to translate into a greater amount of experience in NZ. This is something I've heard from other immigrant healthcare professionals as well, particularly those coming from much larger countries or cities.
Another big and relatively simple difference to explain is that the culture of healthcare here is more humble compared to what I've experienced across the US (Texas, Arizona, California, Washington state). For example, doctors I've come across as a nurse and as a patient largely prefer to be called by their first names (I still struggle with this one).
My experience here has also been that it seems to be more open to change on an administrative/operational level. Some of the processes aren't as refined, but it's been much easier for me to propose and implement practical improvements.
Whereas in the US, I always felt like I was up against a much bigger, more rigid, and more complex machine.
There are pros and cons. I've had some pressure points here. I think that's to be expected. But by and large, I am much happier working here, and I wouldn't change it for anything.
Cody
The work/life balance has made a tremendous difference to my life. A better balance is ingrained into the culture here, and to a great extent it's actually legislated!
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to be prepared for the wait and trust that your recruiters are doing a wonderful job.
I could honestly write an entire dissertation in an attempt to answer questions about the differences between my current role in NZ and my previous role in the USA.
What I will say is that yes, it is massively different. However, it is navigable and similar enough for me to feel as though I'm easily translating all of my skills and experience.
I've noticed that a smaller number of years nursing in the US seems to translate into a greater amount of experience in NZ. This is something I've heard from other immigrant healthcare professionals as well, particularly those coming from much larger countries or cities.
Another big and relatively simple difference to explain is that the culture of healthcare here is more humble compared to what I've experienced across the US (Texas, Arizona, California, Washington state). For example, doctors I've come across as a nurse and as a patient largely prefer to be called by their first names (I still struggle with this one).
My experience here has also been that it seems to be more open to change on an administrative/operational level. Some of the processes aren't as refined, but it's been much easier for me to propose and implement practical improvements.
Whereas in the US, I always felt like I was up against a much bigger, more rigid, and more complex machine.
There are pros and cons. I've had some pressure points here. I think that's to be expected. But by and large, I am much happier working here, and I wouldn't change it for anything.
Cody
