Salary

Physiotherapists have a multi-step progression salary scale based on experience and role responsibilities.

• Salaries range from NZD $59,035 to $100,522 per annum

Designated or Senior Physiotherapists (e.g. Clinical Leaders, Professional Advisors) may earn above this scale, depending on the scope and location of the role.

Additional payments may apply for penal rates, call-backs and higher duties where relevant.

Allowances

• Higher duties and on-call allowances, where applicable

Leave

• Four weeks of paid annual leave (increases to five weeks after five years of service)

• Shift workers may receive up to five additional days of annual leave after 12 months of continuous shift work

• A minimum of ten days of paid sick leave per year

• Parental leave of up to twelve months, depending on service length

• Fourteen weeks of paid parental leave

Additional benefits

• Reimbursement of your professional registration and Annual Practising Certificate (APC) costs

• Health New Zealand provides professional indemnity cover

• 20 hours per annum for Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

• If eligible, a minimum 3% employer superannuation contribution

• Twelve paid public holidays, plus time in lieu if rostered on

Physiotherapy collective agreement

In New Zealand, the salary and working conditions of most public sector Physiotherapists are covered by a collective agreement between Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and the Public Service Association (PSA).

You can view the full Physiotherapists’ collective agreement on the Health New Zealand website.

Expanded scopes of practice

Some Physiotherapists may be eligible to work in expanded or advanced scopes of practice, such as:

• Extended rehabilitation programmes
• Prescribing within defined parameters (if approved)
• Advanced clinical specialties such as cardiorespiratory, neurology or paediatrics

Expanded scopes may require postgraduate study and approval from the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand.

Physiotherapy professional body

Visit Physiotherapy New Zealand for resources, networking and professional support.

Governance & professional standards

• Work within the scope of practice defined by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand

• Maintain competence in line with the Board’s standards and recertification requirements

• Comply with supervision requirements, particularly for new graduates and return-to-practice clinicians

• Hold an approved qualification and a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC)

Cultural competency & community engagement

• Understand and apply Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) principles in clinical practice

• Engage respectfully with Māori, Pacific Peoples and other local communities to support equitable health outcomes

• Support culturally safe care through reflective practice and ongoing learning

Assessment & rehabilitation planning

• Conduct functional, neurological and musculoskeletal assessments

• Develop, implement and review individualised treatment and rehabilitation plans

• Collaborate with patients and whānau (families) to set achievable therapy goals

Therapeutic intervention & education

• Deliver evidence-based physiotherapy interventions to improve mobility, strength and function

• Provide education on injury prevention, self-management and assistive equipment use

• Prescribe exercises and activities tailored to individual needs and goals

Monitoring & outcomes tracking

• Monitor progress against treatment goals using clinical outcome measures

• Adapt interventions based on response, recovery and feedback

• Contribute to discharge planning and recommendations for ongoing care or community support

Interdisciplinary collaboration

• Work as part of multidisciplinary teams across hospital, outpatient and community settings

• Liaise with medical, nursing and allied health professionals to support integrated care

• Contribute to team meetings, case discussions and discharge planning

Emergency & acute care support

• Respond to referrals for acute physiotherapy input (e.g. respiratory care, mobility assessments)

• Support early mobilisation and fall prevention strategies in hospital settings

• Contribute to safe transfer and discharge decisions

Teaching, leadership & quality improvement

• Supervise students and junior physiotherapists in clinical settings

• Participate in peer review, in-service education and continuing professional development

• Contribute to audits, research, risk management and service improvement activities

Documentation & professional conduct

• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records in line with organisational policies

• Respect patient confidentiality and comply with data privacy legislation

• Communicate clearly and professionally with patients, whānau and team members

Expanded scope & advanced practice

• Develop advanced clinical skills in areas such as cardiorespiratory, neurology or pain management

• Explore extended scope roles (e.g. prescribing, advanced assessment, vocational rehabilitation)

• Undertake postgraduate training and credentialling for advanced practice positions

Physiotherapist qualification

You must hold an approved qualification in physiotherapy. Common pathways include:

• A Bachelor of Physiotherapy or Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) from a New Zealand institution (e.g. University of Otago, Auckland University of Technology, Wintec)

• An internationally recognised physiotherapy qualification assessed as equivalent by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand

Registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand

All Physiotherapists must be registered with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand to practise legally.

Applicants must submit evidence of qualifications, identification and fitness to practise. International applicants may be required to complete an assessment process, including supervised practice.

Annual Practising Certificate (APC)

To practise as a Physiotherapist in New Zealand, you must hold a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC), which is renewed annually.

To maintain your APC, you must:

• Demonstrate ongoing competence

• Participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Useful links

• Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand

• Physiotherapy New Zealand

Internationally qualified candidates

Internationally qualified Physiotherapists include practitioners who hold recognised physiotherapy qualifications from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and South Africa, and:

• Have at least two years (approximately 3,680 hours) of relevant post-qualification clinical experience

• Are registered and in good standing with their home country’s regulatory authority (for example, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in the UK)

Applicants with less than two years’ experience can still apply and will be individually assessed by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand. This assessment may include a period of supervised practice or additional evaluations.

Qualifications from other countries are assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine if they meet New Zealand registration requirements. The Physiotherapy Board uses a standard set of criteria for this assessment. Learn more about how to register.

Physiotherapists with different or overlapping scopes of practice may be eligible to apply to work within the boundaries of their approved scope as defined by the Board.

Find out more about life in New Zealand

We have a page dedicated to providing candidates with information about the recruitment process, requirements to work in New Zealand, and key details about relocating. Learn more here.