Seven years on, he is still here and getting ready to open his own private medical practice, Oamaru Doctors, in Coquet St.
Dr Rohrbach came to New Zealand from Germany.
He saw an advertisement for a locum at Central Medical in Oamaru, applied for the position, and has had seven ''wonderful'' years at the practice.
But it was time to branch out and opening his own practice had always been a goal.
''It's what I always wanted - have my own place, be my own boss,'' he said.
He has employed two other doctors, one local and one locum, two nurses and two receptionists.
Dr Rohrbach studied at Heidelburg University under a scholarship scheme with the German Army.
After graduating, his scholarship bound him to work with the military as a doctor and he was posted to places such as Kuwait and Kosovo.
Dr Rohrbach said being a GP allowed him to look after people for a long time, which he loved.
''I can look after [people] from just after they are born to when they are very old and that's wonderful.''
He loved the rural setting of Oamaru and his family were very happy there.
''I have a 10-acre block out of town running a few horses, my wife is rowing in the Oamaru Harbour - everything is here. We're not missing out on anything.
''When you ask yourself, 'What would I gain somewhere else?' and the answer is nothing and you like it here and you have your friends, the decision is easy.''
Work on the new practice was running ''very smoothly'' and on track to open on May 1.
Dr Rohrbach said patients were booked in and support had been ''huge''.
