Public Health Medicine Specialist - Tairāwhiti - NPHS at Te Whatu Ora, Gisborne

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Shape the future of population health. Lead with purpose. Live somewhere extraordinary. 

• Join the National Public Health Service (NPHS) in the Te Manawa Taki region — the “heartbeat” of Aotearoa. 

• Permanent, full-time regional role supporting the Tairāwhiti district, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while enjoying an exceptional lifestyle.  

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 

As a Public Health Medicine Specialist and designated Medical Officer of Health, you will provide senior statutory and clinical leadership across the region.  We also welcome expressions of interest from Public Health Medicine Registrars completing advanced training in Aotearoa, with consideration given to those nearing Fellowship. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• Statutory public health leadership and decision-making 

• Communicable disease control and outbreak management 

• Health protection, prevention and equity-focused initiatives 

• Clinical governance and supervision of Registrars and House Officers 

• Regional portfolio leadership including quality, planning, policy and strategic programmes 

• Providing on-call and on-duty MOoH cover across Te Manawa Taki within a manageable roster 

• Expert advisory support to NPHS and wider health system partners 

You will contribute to nationally planned, regionally delivered and locally tailored public health services, working toward Pae Ora (healthy futures) for all. 

About the Service / Location

The National Public Health Service (NPHS) within Health New Zealand |Te Whatu Ora, works towards Pae Ora (healthy futures) for all by engaging with the wider determinants that impact people's health, focusing on Oranga/wellbeing, prevention, protection, and population-level intervention. We are connected across boundaries to deliver public health services that are nationally planned, regionally delivered and locally tailored.  

Te Manawa Taki stretches from the Coromandel in the north, Taranaki in the west and Tairāwhiti in the east, encompassing Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Taranaki and Tairāwhiti districts. It is a region rich in culture, landscape and opportunity. 

Tairāwhiti offers beautiful surfing beaches, warm summers, cool winters and a relaxed coastal lifestyle. The region is renowned for its award-winning wineries, strong tertiary education opportunities, nationally recognised kapa haka excellence and deep-rooted Māori culture, with more than half the population identifying as Māori. Tairāwhiti is a place of strong community connection, rich cultural identity and genuine belonging. This is a place where professional purpose meets lifestyle balanc

About You 

You are an experienced Public Health Medicine Specialist who: 

• Demonstrates strong understanding and application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles 

• Builds trusted relationships across diverse stakeholders 

• Leads with integrity, accountability and strategic insight 

• Is comfortable working within complex organisational environments 

Essential requirements include: 

• Relevant graduate and postgraduate qualifications in Public Health Medicine 

• Vocational registration as a specialist medical practitioner (e.g. FNZCPHM, FAFPHM or equivalent) 

• Current Annual Practising Certificate 

• Eligibility for designation as a Medical Officer of Health 

• Significant senior-level public health experience 

• Demonstrated experience leading programmes of work and strategic change 

 Working for Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora 

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 Thursday, 19 November 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Priyanka Sharma via priyanka.sharma@tewhatuora.govt.nz