Southland
The far south, and a hospital that teaches
Southland is the bottom of mainland New Zealand, with Fiordland on one side and Rakiura Stewart Island off the other.
Housing here is among the most affordable in the country, and the hospital at Invercargill teaches as well as treats.
Southland at a glance
Main centres:
Invercargill, Gore, Te Anau
Population:
Regional population: 104,800
Largest urban centre: 58,000
Health district:
Otago and Southland (Southern)
Main hospital:
Southland Hospital, Invercargill
Summer average high:
19°C in January
Winter average high:
10°C in July
Sunshine:
1,610 hours a year
Rainfall:
1,110 mm a year
Living in Southland, Fiordland, farmland and an island at the bottom
Invercargill is the main city, flat and spread out on the southern plains. Gore sits inland and Te Anau is the way into Fiordland.
Fiordland National Park covers the western side of the region, with Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and the Milford and Routeburn tracks. Much of it is roadless.
Rakiura Stewart Island lies across Foveaux Strait, where kiwi are seen in the wild and the southern lights show up on clear nights.
Southland Hospital, secondary care that also teaches
Health New Zealand describes Southland Hospital in Invercargill as a secondary-level facility with acute medical, surgical, paediatric, maternity and mental health services. It's also a teaching hospital.
That combination offers a broad secondary caseload with teaching opportunities, within a service small enough for you to become part of the team rather than feel anonymous within it.
Southland sits within the Southern district, which Health New Zealand calls the largest geographical district in New Zealand with a strong rural presence. Some roles reflect that.
Where your money goes furthest in Southland
Housing in Invercargill is among the most affordable in New Zealand. If you're moving from an expensive international city, that difference can have a meaningful impact on your day-to-day life and what is possible for your family.
The city has full schooling, sports clubs and services, and the commute is short by any measure.
Southlanders are direct and welcoming, and the region has been actively recruiting people to move down here for years. Newcomers aren't a novelty.
The fuller picture
This is the far south. Summer evenings stay light until nearly 10pm, and winter brings crisp clear days and the chance to see the southern lights.
Invercargill Airport has regular flights north, and Queenstown is around two and a half hours away by road.
Southland Hospital works at secondary level and tertiary work goes to Dunedin.
It suits doctors who want affordability, space, a friendly community and some of the most dramatic scenery in the world on their doorstep.
Talk to us about Southland
We'll talk through what the work and the lifestyle look like day to day, and answer any questions you have about settling in. For international doctors, registration, immigration and relocation sit alongside the role conversation.
What kind of hospital is Southland Hospital?
Health New Zealand describes Southland Hospital in Invercargill as a secondary-level facility with acute medical, surgical, paediatric, maternity and mental health services. It's also a teaching hospital.
Is Invercargill affordable?
Housing in Invercargill is among the most affordable in New Zealand. If you're moving from an expensive international city, that difference materially changes what daily life looks like.
What is there to do in Southland?
Explore Fiordland National Park, home to Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and the Milford and Routeburn tracks.
Across Foveaux Strait, Rakiura Stewart Island offers the chance to see kiwi in the wild and the southern lights on clear nights.
Contact Us
nz@nzdr.nz
+64 21 288 6937
www.nzdr.nz
Auckland, New Zealand
