Veterinarians who choose to live and work in selected rural areas in the South will be given a cash bonus under a new scheme set to start paying out graduates in three years' time.
But a senior vet in Clutha is angry and frustrated South and West Otago have missed out on the scheme which he believes is to address a long-standing shortage of vets in the area.
The voluntary bonding scheme aims to encourage graduates to stay in an eligible practice by providing a taxable payment of $11,000 for every year, up to five years they choose to work in an understaffed area.
Agriculture Minister David Carter said the scheme was a win-win situation.
"The vets who opt in get a significant financial incentive while eligible vet practices have confidence they can retain graduates."
Because it encourages new vets to stay in practice, Mr Carter said rural areas would benefit by having vets settle and become part of the community.
The first year will be a transitional one, to allow the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and vet organisations to gather information and review eligibility for the scheme.
"This scheme will adapt to meet the changing needs of New Zealand's rural communities. The areas of greatest need may shift over time and we need to reflect that."
Mr Carter said the scheme targeted vet practices working with farmed animals.
But Clutha Veterinary Association senior vet John Smart was fuming rural Clutha was not able to tap into the scheme.
"I think we might have to moan long and hard to whoever came up with the areas."
While he fully supported the concept, Mr Smart said it was concerning more rural areas had not been included from the start.
"It's a good idea, having this kind of thing, but I'm not so happy about being missed out," he said.
Clutha Vets, like many other rural-based practices, often struggled to find staff willing to base themselves in the area for long periods of time.
It was only through the association's extensive contacts in the United Kingdom that it could find enough staff to work in this part of the world.
"We've only been surviving really because of the contacts we have over there."