Health New Zealand spent just over $216 million on locum doctors last year, up from the nearly $209 million spent in 2024, and just over $186 million in 2023.

Health NZ clinical national director Dr Richard Sullivan says they are aiming to hire more permanent staff. 

But, Sullivan told Mike Hosking, locums will likely always be necessary, "getting people in certain parts of the country is a problem, always has been a problem, probably always will be a problem."

LISTEN ABOVE

• New report shows spending on locum doctors up 16 percent