Wellington, Sept 21 NZPA - A New Zealand doctor has had to help out Western Australia's Health Department because of a staff shortage across the ditch.

Western Australia's Health Department has resorted to recruiting a fly-in, fly-out surgeon from New Zealand to cover the state's northern area.

The move comes after all efforts to find an Australian specialist were exhausted, the department told Australia's ABC Kimberley.

A surgeon from Auckland will work every third month along with another surgeon from eastern Australia.

It was not an ideal situation but it reflected how difficult it was to recruit doctors to country areas, medical director Felicity Jefferies said.

"This is a bit of a first with the doctor from New Zealand, but we have recruited specialists from other states quite frequently for fly-in, fly-out, just because it is really difficult."

Even Perth was struggling to find specialists so it was especially hard for remote locations, Ms Jefferies said.

It was the first time the department had gone to such lengths to find staff.