Voluntary bonding scheme 2026 open for registrations of interest

Published: 4 September 2026

Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand, has advised the 2026 Voluntary Bonding Scheme is open for registrations of interest until Wednesday 23 September (5:00pm).

The Voluntary Bonding Scheme is a practical way to attract and retain recently qualified health professionals into the specialities, settings and communities that need them the most. Those who join the scheme during annual intakes can become eligible for retention incentive payments after three, four and five years of practice.

Each year Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand reviews the categories and priorities. The 2026 intake continues to prioritise primary and community healthcare including nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, general practice trainees, midwives and a range of allied health professionals working in priority services, rural and remote communities.

Primary and community healthcare specialties and settings include:

  • Nurses working in primary and community care settings nationwide including general practice clinics, aged residential care, homecare nursing, Hauora Māori and Pacific primary care providers, and more including:

    • Nurse practitioners newly qualified (2025)

    • Registered nurses new graduates (2025)

    • Enrolled nurses new and recent graduates (2024 and 2025)

  • General practice trainees working in targeted regional and rural communities  

  • Pharmacists new and recent graduates (2023-2025) working in pharmacies and primary care practices in rural and regional community settings (excluding the six main urban centres)

  • Midwives new graduates (2025), working in any New Zealand community including Lead maternity Carer (LMC)

  • Dentists and Oral health therapists new and recent graduates (2023-2025) working for Māori and Pacific oral health providers or in regional, rural or remote practice

It is one of the ways of encouraging and retaining talented people in areas that are more difficult to staff, and where they can make a big difference for patients and our communities.

For more information

If you have any pātai/questions, please email vbs@tewhatuora.govt.nz.

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