Migration, medicine and colonial legacies: occupational licensing for international medical graduates (IMGs) in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

This article explores the experiences of international medical graduates (IMGs) in Aotearoa New Zealand, who must undertake the New Zealand Registration Examination (NZREX) pathway to gain medical registration. Drawing on mixed methods research, the paper examines how occupational licensing frameworks can reproduce colonial hierarchies, privileging qualifications and experience from the Global North. Many other IMGs face prolonged underemployment, identity loss and systemic disadvantage. These outcomes reflect broader tensions between migration, development and recognition. The article argues for policy reforms to address brain waste and ensure equitable professional opportunities for migrants in Aotearoa New Zealand and other postcolonial settings.