Principal Advisor at Te Whatu Ora, All Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Multiple permanent, full-time positions based anywhere in New Zealand.
• High-impact work at the centre of government accountability, supporting thousands of OIAs, WPQs, ministerials and briefings each year.
• Senior-level influence as the organisation's subject matter expert on government processes, providing trusted advice to Ministers and leaders.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders.

We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations — from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care.

About the Role

This is a key leadership role within a fast-paced Government Services environment that manages high volumes of Official Information Act requests, Written Parliamentary Questions, ministerials and briefings each year, supporting Ministers and the public with accurate, high-quality information.

As Principal Advisor, you will play a critical part in ensuring Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and its Ministers meet their machinery‑of‑government obligations by delivering timely, high-quality and nuanced advice and ministerial products. You will act as a subject matter expert on government processes, legislation and parliamentary protocols, providing authoritative guidance on complex or sensitive matters.

Your responsibilities will include leading the monitoring and reporting of product quality and timeliness, identifying and mitigating risk, and ensuring compliance with legislation and guidance. You will work closely with Ministerial offices and internal teams to ensure the right people are briefed on issues of significance. You will also coach and mentor colleagues, helping lift capability across the Government Services function.

You will thrive in this role if you enjoy solving complex problems, navigating political environments, and providing calm, expert leadership in a high-demand setting where accuracy, judgement and clarity are essential.

About you

As a Principal Advisor, Government Services, you will have a minimum of 5 years of experience in a government services environment with expert knowledge of the machinery of government, as well as:  

• Relevant graduate and post‑graduate qualification
• Experience managing high-risk and complex Official Information Act (OIA) requests
• Strong understanding of the OIA
• Experience working with Ministerial offices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong coaching and mentoring experience
• High‑level judgement and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced setting
• Excellent stakeholder management and interpersonal skills
• Strong analytical, critical‑thinking and problem‑solving skills
• Collaborative, collegial approach and strong attention to detail
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

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 11:59PM Wednesday 18 February 2026. For further information, please contact Nicole Rickard on Nicole.Rickard@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz.

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected kaimahi will be given preference and priority for this position.

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