National Chief Nurse - Mental Health and Addictions at Te Whatu Ora, All Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Contribute to transforming the future of health in this pivotal role
• Work from where you are based
• Full time, permanent opportunity

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

We are in search of an experienced Senior Nurse Leader to step into this crucial role as National Chief Nurse – Mental Health and Addictions. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing strong professional leadership, motivating, and inspiring nursing staff, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality care across the system. This role also encompasses:

• Providing strong, visible, inclusive professional and clinical leadership, and to motivate and inspire nursing colleagues and the wider health workforce across Mental Health, Addiction and Intellectual Disability services (MHAIDS).
• Being collectively responsible as part of the national clinical leadership team, for the delivery of safe, high quality, compassionate patient care, clinical strategies and achievement of Health New Zealand| Te Whatu Ora goals including the management of health resources, as it relates to the Nursing workforce, collaborating with colleagues to achieve this.
• Ensuring interprofessional partnership in all levels of decision making, driving a ‘whole of system's approach, enabling reduced variation and consistent services at district and regional level and supporting reduced variation nationally

You'll support the development of a quality sustainable clinical workforce, in particular to increase the proportion of Māori and Pacific staff.

This is a once in a life-time change, that will touch the lives of everyone in Aotearoa, and future generations. We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.

About the Team/Service/ Location

The National Chief Nurse - Mental Health and Addictions, will report directly to the National Chief Nurse. This role is part of the National Clinical Leadership team within the Office of the Executive National Director.

The National Clinical Leadership team are responsible for the distributive multidisciplinary clinical leadership model across Health NZ/Te Whatu Ora. Responsible for professional leadership of approximately 50,000 employed clinical staff and clinical governance, including clinical quality and safety, of services provided to patients and whanau across both the organisation and the wider funded Health sector. 

About you

The ideal candidate should be a dynamic senior leader with relevant experience within the New Zealand Public Sector. You will bring senior leadership experience with the ability to provide clinical expertise to colleagues and other clinical staff to support the ongoing development of clinical and professional leadership at a regional and district level. You have established networks and can lead and support the development of a high quality, sustainable workforce across MHAIDs services. You will demonstrate a commitment to being a good Te Tiriti partner in all your actions including an understanding of the significance of and obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the ability to apply Te Tiriti and Pae Ora principles in a meaningful way in this role

• At least 5 years' clinical leadership experience
• A registered nurse with extensive experience in and knowledge of the health sector and MHAIDs services
• Minimum qualification is a Master's Degree in Nursing or Health Science, Public Administration, Health Management or equivalent (or evidence of working towards completion)
• Registered Nurse with current Practicing Certificate
• Evidence of ongoing personal, professional and leadership development
• Experience in strategic decision making and health service planning including experience in a mental health nursing leadership role
• Clinical knowledge base and solid understanding of clinical practice across all MHAID services
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical performance systems and measures
• Proven ability to develop successful business cases for investment

Working for 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, 15 March 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Anesha Pillay via Anesha.pillay@tewhatuora.govt.nz