Counties Manukau District Health Board says it is struggling to compete with relocation packages offered by other health boards in the fight to attract mental health staff.
Health boards around the country individually negotiate contracts with new recruits.
Counties Manukau chief operating officer Ron Dunham said the board found it hard to compete with packages offered to prospective psychiatrists by boards outside Auckland.
Mr Dunham said these boards sometimes offered overseas relocation allowances and airfares for family as well as individuals.
Meanwhile, Auckland's three health boards have teamed up to attend recruitment expos in Britain.
They are also spending $20,000 to make a television series aimed at motivating high school students into health careers.
