Nuclear medicine technologist is a small occupation in New Zealand, with about 35 people working in this job.

Despite the small number of jobs, there is a shortage of nuclear medicine technologists, and the job appears on Immigration New Zealand's long-term skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled nuclear medicine technologists from overseas to work in New Zealand, so chances of new  and experienced nuclear medicine technologists finding work are high.

Few people training in nuclear medicine 

The shortage is partly due to the fact that the number of people training in nuclear medicine is low. This is unlikely to change because the Bachelor of Medical Science (Nuclear Medicine), gained through the University of Newcastle in Australia, has to be completed extramurally as you work.

However, once qualified, nuclear medicine technologists can register and work in both Australia and New Zealand without needing further training.

With the increase in PET (positron emission tomography) imaging, it is expected that the Government will raise public funding for nuclear medicine technologist training facilities.

Growing opportunities for nuclear medicine technologists in Wellington

Opportunities for nuclear medicine technologists are increasing in Wellington due to the addition of a new PET/CT (computed tomography) camera at a private hospital. The scanner helps doctors to determine what stage a patient's cancer is at, and the best way of managing that cancer. More nuclear medicine technologists are needed to prepare patients for the procedure, and to operate the camera.

Nuclear medicine technologists may work in private or public hospitals.

Most nuclear medicine technologists are employed in the main regions where demand is highest due to population:

• Auckland (34% of nuclear medicine technologists)
• Canterbury (15%)
• Wellington (12%).

However, there are 14 nuclear medicine departments across New Zealand in: 

• Invercargill
• Dunedin
• Christchurch
• Blenheim
• Wellington (2)
• Palmerston North
• Hawke's Bay
• Taranaki
• Hamilton (2)
• Auckland (3).  

Nuclear medicine is a rapidly changing field and technologists need to learn about new digital techniques and equipment on the job. The role has also expanded from its focus on scanning organs such as the brain and liver. More time is now spent on:

• using chemicals to target specific tumour types
• doing bone and heart scans
• using PET cameras.