New Zealand needs orthoptists, and it can't train its own. There is no orthoptics degree in the country, so almost every orthoptist working here trained overseas, most of them in the UK or Australia. For qualified orthoptists, that means real opportunity: hospital and private roles across both islands, support with relocation, and a career that combines specialist clinical work with an outdoor lifestyle that's hard to match.
In this guide, we cover what orthoptists do in New Zealand, how registration works, what you can expect to earn and where the jobs are.
An orthoptist is an allied health professional who diagnoses and manages disorders of eye movement and binocular vision. Common conditions include strabismus (a squint), amblyopia (lazy eye), double vision and eye movement problems linked to neurological conditions such as stroke.
Orthoptists work with patients of all ages, but paediatric care is a big part of the role, particularly assessing and treating children's vision early, when treatment is most effective.
The two roles are often confused. An optometrist focuses on overall eye health and vision correction, carrying out eye examinations and prescribing glasses and contact lenses, usually in community practices. An orthoptist specialises in how the eyes move and work together, and most work in hospital ophthalmology departments alongside ophthalmologists, optometrists and nurses.
Orthoptists in New Zealand work across a broad clinical scope, and many run their own clinics independently. Day to day, the role typically includes:
Because orthoptic teams are small, you'll often see a wide variety of cases, from routine paediatric assessments to complex neuro-ophthalmology. Experienced orthoptists can move into extended-scope work, leadership or teaching roles.
Unlike doctors, nurses or pharmacists, orthoptists in New Zealand are not registered with a government-appointed council. Instead, the profession is overseen by the New Zealand Orthoptic Society (NZOSI), and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora roles ask for NZOSI registration on commencement of employment.
To work as an orthoptist in New Zealand, you'll usually need:
If you trained in the UK and are registered with the HCPC, or trained in Australia, you're already in the strongest position, as these are the routes most New Zealand orthoptists have taken. International applicants are actively encouraged, and Te Whatu Ora offers support with registration and relocation.
Visas: Check the latest occupation lists and visa options with Immigration New Zealand before you apply, as these change regularly. Our team can talk you through the current pathways.
In the public system, orthoptists are paid on the Degree-based Allied, Public Health and Technical Pay Scale under the PSA collective agreement. A 2025 Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora orthoptist role in Dunedin was advertised at $77,087 (Step 1) to $110,210 (Step 8) a year, plus KiwiSaver.
Where you start on the scale depends on your experience, so overseas orthoptists with several years in practice can expect to come in above the entry step. An Auckland role recruiting international orthoptists in 2025 advertised $88,627 to $110,210. Senior, advanced and leadership roles sit higher, and private ophthalmology practices set their own rates.
Pay scales are updated through collective bargaining, so check current advertised rates or speak with our team for the latest figures.
Most orthoptist jobs in New Zealand are in hospital ophthalmology departments run by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. Roles range from large urban tertiary hospitals, including the country's largest ophthalmology department, to regional services such as Dunedin and Canterbury. Recent vacancies have included Auckland (Counties Manukau), Dunedin, Christchurch and Hamilton.
You'll also find opportunities in private eye hospitals and ophthalmology practices, which often offer more predictable hours and a focus on surgical pathways such as cataract and refractive work.
Because the profession is small, with only a few dozen orthoptic positions nationally, vacancies can be hard to fill and teams are often keen to hear from experienced candidates even before a role is advertised. That's where working with a specialist recruiter can help.
Not ready to commit to a permanent move? Fixed-term contracts and locum placements are a popular way to experience New Zealand first. Many Te Whatu Ora roles are offered as one-year fixed-term or permanent positions, and short-term cover is often needed to support waiting lists or cover parental leave.
Locum work lets you try different regions, build New Zealand experience and decide where you'd like to settle. Read more about why locum work is booming in New Zealand.
Can I study orthoptics in New Zealand? No. There is currently no orthoptics training programme in New Zealand, so orthoptists train overseas, most commonly in the UK or Australia.
Do I need to register to work as an orthoptist in New Zealand? Yes. Employers require registration with the New Zealand Orthoptic Society (NZOSI) and an Annual Practising Certificate. Many roles let you complete registration when you start.
How much does an orthoptist earn in New Zealand? Public hospital orthoptists are paid on a collective agreement scale. Recent Te Whatu Ora roles were advertised between around $77,000 and $110,000 a year, depending on experience.
Can UK orthoptists work in New Zealand? Yes. UK-trained orthoptists make up most of New Zealand's orthoptic workforce, and international applicants are actively welcomed.
Is there demand for orthoptists in New Zealand? Yes. With no local training and a small workforce, vacancies can be hard to fill, particularly outside the main centres.
Whether you're an orthoptist in the UK, Australia or already in New Zealand, Prospero Health & Social Care NZ can help you find your next role. Our team works with hospitals and private providers nationwide, and we'll support you through registration, relocation and every step in between.
Browse our Medical Imaging and Allied Health jobs, register and upload your CV, or find out more about relocating to New Zealand.