Vacancies on the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal at Ministry of Health, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

The Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) is seeking candidates who wish to be considered for appointment as health practitioner members of the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal - Te Rōpū Whakatika Kaimahi Hauora (the Tribunal).

The Tribunal is established under section 84 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the Act). The purpose of Tribunal is to hear charges laid against health practitioners by professional conduct committees established by responsible authorities, and the Health and Disability Commissioner's Director of Proceedings.

About the roles - Kōrero mō te tūranga
Being a member of the Tribunal is rewarding and challenging. You will be committed to improving the health of New Zealanders by protecting the consumers of health services, through hearing charges arising from the conduct of health practitioners. The Tribunal's decisions also play an important educative role in setting and maintaining professional standards.

The functions and powers of the Tribunal are set out in sections 85, 91, 100, and 101 of the Act. More information about the Tribunal is available in the attached terms and conditions of appointment and on the Tribunals website.

Members are appointed to the Tribunal by the Director-General of Health for terms of up to five years and may be reappointed.

Member roles are not full-time positions. Hearing length differs depending on the case, but can range from one day up to three weeks, with the majority of hearings lasting one or two days. Once allocated, the fixture length will not exceed the timeframe advised.

In most cases, travel to a hearing venue will be required for face-to-face hearings, although some hearings will occur via audio-visual link. Remuneration rates are attached.

The Ministry recognises that diversity enables boards and statutory bodies to be high-performing. We are committed to ensuring appointments reflect the diversity of New Zealand's population, including gender, ethnicity, disability, age, and geographic location. We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, particularly those who can reflect the needs, values, and beliefs of Māori, and who demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to meeting obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

About you - Kōrero mōu
Under section 86 of the HPCA Act, members of a Responsible Authority board are not eligible to be appointed as Chair, Deputy Chair, or a member of the Tribunal.

For this round of recruitment, the Ministry is seeking applications for the following health practitioner member positions:

• Dispensing Optician (2)
• Occupational Therapist (4)
• Optometrist (3)
• Osteopath (1)
• Paramedic (2)
• Pharmacist (5)
• Podiatrist (5)
• Psychologist (3)

Successful applicants must be registered health practitioners with a current practicing certificate.

Preferred skills and attributes include:

• At least five years' clinical experience
• A strong understanding of your scope of practice, competencies, and relevant code of ethics or conduct
• An ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and its application in health care and regulatory settings
• Experience working with Māori models of health care and a commitment to cultural safety and inclusivity
• Awareness of a range of cultural perspectives in health care and their impact on service delivery
• Familiarity with, or knowledge of, relevant legislation
• Sound judgement, including the ability to analyse and evaluate evidence

How to apply - Me pēhea te tono
Applications must be made using the Ministry online Career Centre by midnight on Monday, 18 May 2026.

Your application must include:

• A covering letter, and
• A current CV.

Due diligence checks will be undertaken for shortlisted applicants. Personal information will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. As part of the appointment process, the Ministry may request that the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service conduct national security checks.

Please note that the appointment process can be lengthy. Outcomes of the recruitment process will be confirmed following consideration by the Director-General of Health.

Who we are - Ko wai mātou
If you would like further information or clarification, or if your circumstances change and you wish to withdraw your application, please contact the Statutory Appointments and Integrity Services team at appointments@health.govt.nz

We value diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and will provide support to ensure the recruitment process is accessible where needed.