In March, the Minister of Health announced a number of initiatives to support an increase in timely access to primary care for all New Zealanders, including supporting more doctors and nurses into the primary care workforce.
One of those initiatives included the development of a new domestic primary care pathway to support New Zealand medical graduates to train and work in general practice and other eligible primary care settings. From 2026, the pathway will provide up to 50 funded placements each year.
The pathway is being designed with strong input from the sector. In May, Te Whatu Ora hosted a national workshop with more than 30 representatives from primary care, training, regulation, unions and districts, where they tested ideas and agreed the key building blocks.
Te Whatu Ora has also established a Primary Care Medical Training Pathway Reference Group. This group brings together GPs, training directors, unions, regulators, and others, and provides advice, insights and connections to ensure the pathway works for those delivering and training in it.
To help Te Whatu Ora understand the potential interest from primary care employers, they are asking for expressions of interest (EOIs) from general practices who may want to host placements from 2026.
This is an initial indication of interest and more information will be available in the coming months to help support practice decisions to commit to a placement. That will include details on the required criteria, funding and the support that will be available for practices to provide training supervision and pastoral care for doctors in training.
Hosting a trainee is an opportunity to:
You can register your interest to support the placement of a graduate doctor. Please signal your initial interest by Friday 26 September.
If you have any questions you can email the team at workforce@tewhatuora.govt.nz.
The pathway will begin in 2026 and is open to New Zealand trained doctors at the PGY2 stage. After completing the usual PGY1 year in hospital, trainees will move into primary care placements.
All Medical Council requirements for registration will continue to be met, and training flexibility will be maintained. From 2027, the annual recruitment cycle will include the option to signal a preference for the primary care pathway. A separate process for RMOs to signal their interest in the pathway will open later this year.
Te Whatu Ora's immediate focus is on securing placements for the first intake in 2026, while also building a sustainable model for the long term.
A separate EOI process is being developed for resident medical officers (RMOs) to signal their interest in joining the pathway for the 2026 intake.
More information will continue to be updated as the programme develops.
Thank you for your continued support in shaping this important initiative. Together we are taking practical steps to strengthen the future of the primary care workforce.
Te Pae Tata was launched by the health minister in Taupō last week. It is the first New Zealand Health Plan published under the new Pae Ora legislation.
Read moreRead the latest clinical updates for Taranaki including the opening and education session with Active+ and a database of NGOs operating within Taranaki.
Read moreWaikato DHB has made a report available to PHOs illustrating the average wait times (in days) for first specialist appointments (FSA) in secondary care.