Linda(35)

I worked eight years as an ICU nurse at HagaZiekenhuis in The Hague. The workload was enormous — understaffing, overtime, and the feeling that you were never doing enough. After a burnout in 2022 I knew I had to change something. Not just my job, but my country. A colleague who had moved to Australia told me that New Zealand is desperate for nurses. That was the beginning.

The first step was registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ). As a Dutch nurse with a Bachelor of Nursing degree, I had to complete a Competence Assessment Programme (CAP). This included an evaluation of my education, work experience and an English language test (IELTS Academic with at least 7.0 on each component). The whole procedure took five months and cost around NZ$1,500 in registration fees.

Once I had my NCNZ registration, I could apply for jobs. Dunedin Hospital had vacancies for ICU nurses and offered an Accredited Employer Work Visa. The immigration process was relatively fast — four weeks for the visa, because healthcare workers are on INZ's Green List. The Green List means you qualify for residence faster, sometimes after just two years.

Dunedin is a small university city on the southeast coast of the South Island. It's not Auckland or Wellington — it's quiet, affordable and surrounded by spectacular nature. The rent for my two-bedroom apartment in the center is NZ$380 per week, a fraction of the big cities. The hospital is within walking distance. The city has a Scottish atmosphere, with stone buildings and an active student life.

Working as a nurse here is a breath of fresh air. The salary is better than in the Netherlands — as an ICU nurse I earn NZ$85,000-95,000 per year, plus weekend and night shift allowances. But the biggest difference is the appreciation. The patient-to-nurse ratio is better, there's time for care, and my colleagues are incredibly supportive. ACC covers all work-related injuries, and KiwiSaver pension builds up automatically.

My tip for Dutch nurses: start your NCNZ registration now, because it takes time. Make sure your IELTS score is in order — the 7.0 requirement per component is strict but achievable with good preparation. And consider a smaller city like Dunedin. The big cities are expensive and busy. Here I have a better salary, an affordable home, the ocean around the corner and colleagues who know my name. After two years on the Green List I'll apply for my residence — New Zealand already feels like home.