• Taranaki Base Hospital, New Plymouth
• Permanent or fixed-term role for 9 months commencing August 2026 (negotiable FTE)
• Join our dynamic, progressive, and multidisciplinary team!

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the role

We are looking for a motivated and experienced Geriatrician to work with dedicated teams of medical, nursing, and allied health staff, primarily caring for older people with complex health and rehabilitation needs.

As a senior medical officer you will be expected to:

• provide consultant services to patients requiring specialist care
• interact daily with other departments
• mentor junior medical staff attached to the service
• have the ability to work in specialist inpatient, outpatient, intermediate care, and community settings
• cover for colleagues in their absence.

You will be known by your peers as someone who:

• works well in multidisciplinary teams to provide patient-centred care
• strives to improve the way services are developed and delivered
• has excellent communication skills and the ability to interact with a wide variety of people from diverse backgrounds
• engages with other providers, consumers, and health organisations to improve the quality and responsiveness of services
• focuses on achieving results and developing and maintaining good working relationships in the workplace.

There are no after-hours duties attached to this role.

About the Team/Service/Location

The OPHRS service is co-managed with Mental Health Services Older People. The MHSOP service provides advice, assessment, treatment, care, and support via a range of professions and assists people in Taranaki who are over the age of 65 and experience significant mental health problems.

Taranaki Base Hospital, located in New Plymouth, is the largest healthcare facility in the Taranaki region and serves as the hub for a wide range of medical and surgical services. Managed by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora – Taranaki, the hospital provides emergency, maternity, mental health, oncology, and specialist outpatient care. It is also a teaching hospital, supporting the development of future healthcare professionals through student placements and clinical training.

Complementing Taranaki Base Hospital, Hāwera Hospital provides inpatient care, maternity services, a 24-hour emergency department, and a range of outpatient, community, and specialist services for South Taranaki.

Together, these facilities deliver high-quality, patient-centred care and play a vital role in meeting the growing healthcare needs of the Taranaki region. To hear more about our culture, visit our careers page by clicking here.

Why Taranaki?

Taranaki boasts some of New Zealand’s most iconic natural landscapes, including Mt Taranaki, and many adventure activities. The rugged and wild coastline is home to more than 12 world-class surf breaks. Taranaki is a place where you can ski and surf in the same day. For a more relaxing experience, there are many walks (bush, coastal, or mountain), as well as art trails, festivals, award-winning museums and galleries, and a thriving cafe culture.

To read more information about Taranaki, click here.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to apply

To apply please click ‘apply now’. All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by Sunday, 26 July 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Claudia Matthews, Service Manager – Medical and Acute Services 06 753 6139 or claudia.matthews@tdhb.org.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.

We only accept online applications. Please apply via our website.