21st WONCA World Rural Health Conference, 10-13 April 2026: Read More – WONCA 2026 | Home
Rural practices succeed when there’s support they can count on – a GP joining the team to ensure patients continue receiving the care they need, a nurse practitioner stepping in over holidays, or a solo doctor finally taking long-overdue leave. Behind these critical workforce wellbeing moments is NZLocums, the rural recruitment arm of Hauora Taiwhenua, ensuring practices across New Zealand have the workforce they need.
This commitment was reaffirmed in June 2025 when Health NZ confirmed a 12-month extension of our Rural Recruitment and Locum Support Service contract, securing continued support for rural practices across the country.
“In a time when Health NZ is closely scrutinising every dollar spent, we’re proud that our work is being recognised for its value,” says Dr Grant Davidson, Hauora Taiwhenua Chief Executive. “This renewal is a direct result of the great work our team has done – exceeding all of our contract targets.”
NZLocums have delivered no-cost recruitment support to rural practices under pressure, from locum cover to permanent placements of doctors and nurse practitioners, strengthening in times of need rural clinical teams nationwide for 24 years.
“The increasing limitation now isn’t our ability to deliver – it’s the number of available locums and the willingness of internationally qualified doctors to come to New Zealand,” adds Luke Baddington, GM Workforce Recruitment.
“Despite these constraints, our team has consistently delivered, and we’re incredibly proud of the impact they’ve had.”
Alongside NZLocums, NZMedJobs recruits doctors for urban and regional practices across New Zealand, ensuring an integrated national approach to clinician recruitment.
“We collaborate across both teams to ensure doctors are placed where they’re most needed, with wraparound support that makes a difference to practices and patients alike,” says David Davenport-Brown, Relationship Manager – Urban.
Understanding each practice’s environment and needs is essential, it is the practices that feel the difference most. Gary Reed of Clutha Health Services praises the team:
“They have a really comprehensive understanding of how the practice operates and likely which of the locums would be the best fit for both parties.”
“From placement offer to confirmation, their communication is always timely, responsive, and thorough. There is never any uncertainty or ambiguity in the arrangements, which makes life extremely easy for us at our end, which is very much appreciated, and we thank the team for their professionalism and approachability.”
The renewed contract means practices across New Zealand can continue to rely on NZLocums and NZMedJobs as trusted recruiters of GPs and nurse practitioners – supporting both rural and urban communities. By matching the right clinicians to the right practices, the team helps ensure continuity of care, flexibility for overstretched doctors, and stronger, more sustainable primary care services nationwide.
Whether you’re a clinician ready to explore rural practice or a service in need of support, visit htrhn.org.nz/recruitment or contact enquiries@nzlocums.com
