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Pharmacists
Pharmacists in New Zealand play a vital role in healthcare, providing expert advice on medications, patient care, and treatment options. Settings include both hospital-based and community pharmacy-based.
Salaries ranging from NZD$77,000 to NZD$116,000 based on experience and progression.
Designated Pharmacist roles, such as Team Leader or Professional Advisor, are also on a 10-step scale.S
Salaries ranging from NZD$111,000 to NZD$151,000.
Additional penal and call-back rates apply as outlined in the Pharmacists' Collective Agreement.
Allowances
Higher duties and on-call allowances.
Leave
4 weeks of paid annual leave — increases to 5 weeks after 5 years of service.
Shift employees are entitled to up to an additional 5 days’ annual leave on completion of 12 months of employment on shift work.
A minimum of 10 days of paid sick leave per annum.
6 to 12 months of parental leave, depending on the length of service.
Up to 14 weeks of paid parental leave
12 paid public holidays and time in lieu or an alternative holiday if rostered on.
Additional benefits
Reimbursement of your Professional Registration costs.
Health NZ covers your professional indemnity insurance.
Time allocated for your Continuing Professional Development.
If eligible, a minimum of a 3% superannuation contribution from Health New Zealand as your employer. Find out more on our Visas and settling in New Zealand page.
In New Zealand, the salary and other benefits of some roles are determined by collective agreements between unions and employers. The full Pharmacists collective agreement can be found on the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora website.
Further development opportunities may include the following.
Further study
Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Master's in Pharmacy study options are offered at the University of Auckland and the University of Otago.
Clinical Pharmacists work directly with healthcare teams to optimise medication therapy, particularly for complex cases.
Pharmacist prescriber
Clinical Pharmacists with experience working in multidisciplinary clinical health teams can further specialise as Pharmacist Prescribers, by completing additional studies.
The 2 currently accredited programmes are:
Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy in Prescribing offered by the University of Auckland
Postgraduate Certificate in Pharmacist Prescribing offered by the University of Otago.
Other accredited study programmes can be found on the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand website.
Hospital Pharmacists in New Zealand ensure the safe and effective use of medicines in our hospitals.
Their key responsibilities include:
dispensing and managing medications, ensuring they are safe and appropriate for each patient
collaborating with healthcare teams to advise on treatments, adjusting doses, and suggesting alternatives when needed
teaching patients about their medications, including usage, side effects, and adherence to their treatment plans
providing detailed medication information and preparing custom medications when required
tracking patients' responses to treatment, preventing medication errors, and adjusting therapies as necessary
supervision, training and support of technicians, intern pharmacists and students
participating in an on-call service
partaking in interdisciplinary education
some hospitals have additional roles for pharmacists, such as Medication Safety, Informatics, Electronic Medicines Management, Cold Chain and clinical trials oversight.
Clinical Pharmacists
A clinical pharmacist in New Zealand focuses on optimising patient care through safe and effective medication use.
Their key responsibilities include:
assessing patient needs, reviewing prescriptions, and adjusting treatment plans to ensure optimal outcomes
tracking patient responses to medications and working closely with healthcare teams to provide medication-related advice
teaching patients about medication usage, side effects, and the importance of adherence
reviewing patient medication histories during transitions of care to prevent errors
conducting medicine chart reviews, participating in consultant-led ward rounds, multidisciplinary team meetings, and answering medicine information enquiries
monitoring drug levels in the bloodstream to ensure therapeutic, safe and effective dosing.
Prescribing Pharmacists
When a clinical pharmacist becomes a prescribing pharmacist, their scope of practice expands, allowing them to independently prescribe medications under specific conditions.
Their increased responsibilities include:
prescribing pharmacists can assess patients' medical conditions, diagnose ailments within their area of expertise, and determine appropriate medication therapies
they are authorised to prescribe medications directly to patients, without needing a doctor’s approval. This can include adjusting dosages, switching therapies, and initiating treatments for conditions they are trained to manage
they also provide ongoing patient care by monitoring the effectiveness of the prescribed treatments, making necessary adjustments, and following up with patients to ensure the therapy is achieving the desired result
Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
All Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora employees are expected to have an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and be committed to implementing the principles within professional practice.
If you are applying to register with the Pharmacy Council for the first time, we must ensure you are fit for registration. It is a requirement of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act.
Registration pathway for Canada, Ireland, the UK and USA candidates
To apply for registration as a Pharmacist in New Zealand under the Recognised Equivalent Qualifications Route (REQR), pharmacists must:
hold a pharmacy degree from Canada, Ireland, the UK, or the USA, or have completed an approved programme (PEBC, OSPAP, or NAPLEX) in one of these countries
be currently registered and in good standing with the pharmacy registration authority in their home country.
Applicants must pass the CAOP (Competency Assessment of Overseas Pharmacists) exam, delivered by the Australian Pharmacy Council. After passing, they have 2 years to apply for registration in New Zealand. Supporting documentation includes:
certificates of professional status
criminal conviction records
CAOP results
a work history.
A pharmacist must also hold an annual practising certificate, initially under supervision, until all conditions are met for an unconditional practising certificate.
Registration pathway for Australian candidates
The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act (TTMRA) 1997 allows pharmacists registered and in good standing in Australia to apply for registration in New Zealand.
Applications are made online and typically processed within 1 month, during which the applicant is deemed registered.
Required documentation includes:
a certified ID
a passport photo
certificates of good standing from other countries where the applicant has been registered.
Once registered, pharmacists must complete a competence programme within 3 months.
This includes 140 hours of supervised practice to familiarise themselves with New Zealand laws, ethics, and pharmacy practices, followed by a law and ethics interview.
If the programme requirements are not met, the Pharmacy Council may impose conditions or suspend the registration.
Clinical Pharmacists needed as the New Zealand Government boosts cancer medicine funding
In October 2024, the New Zealand Government announced a major boost in funding for cancer medicines over the next 4 years. We are excited to announce the introduction of up to 26 new cancer treatments, significantly improving access. By helping manage treatment regimens to maximise efficiency and minimise side effects, you will be an integral part of helping those affected by cancer and improving their quality of life.
With increased funding and access to cancer medicine, we need more Clinical Pharmacists to support the delivery of these treatments.
Hospital Pharmacists often work in Health New Zealand-owned public hospitals, collaborating with healthcare teams to manage and monitor safe and effective therapies for inpatients.
Clinical Pharmacists work in hospitals or clinics and optimise drug treatments, manage chronic conditions, and collaborate with healthcare teams to tailor medication plans for patients.
Community Pharmacists normally work in privately-owned pharmacies in cities and towns, they dispense medications, provide health advice and manage over-the-counter sales.
Apply for a Pharmacist role
New Zealand trained candidates
If you trained in New Zealand or Australia, search current vacancies with our districts to apply for.
Looking to move to New Zealand to work as a Pharmacist?
Pharmacists are on Tier 1 of New Zealand's Green List and eligible for a fast-tracked Straight to Residence Visa.
This means you and your family can apply for New Zealand residency before you arrive, provided you have a job offer from an accredited employer, like us.
Whether you prefer the vibrant urban centres of Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch, the scenic landscapes of Otago and Nelson, or the close-knit community atmosphere in areas like Hawke's Bay and Taranaki, there’s a location to suit your lifestyle.
Whether you prefer the vibrant urban centres of Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch, the scenic landscapes of Otago and Nelson, or the close-knit community atmosphere in areas like Hawke's Bay and Taranaki, there’s a location to suit your lifestyle.
