Casual Kitchen Assistant - Taumarunui

• Taumarunui Hospital
• Casual Kitchen Assistant  position 

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 someone with excellent customer service skills to join our 7 day a week dietary service team as a kitchen assistant. The position requires you to be on call to cover leave as required, there are no set hours and at times you would be required to be available at short notice 

Duties include food preparation, meal service, food and safety hygiene and general kitchen duties.

Click here to view the position description.

About our Service

Taumarunui Hospital is a rural hospital 160 kilometres south of Hamilton. It serves the King Country and northern Ruapehu district. It has a 10 bed inpatient unit and a busy emergency department. In addition, there is a two bed primary birthing unit, outpatient service and visiting specialists. The Taumarunui kitchen also supplies meals for the Meals on Wheels service for our community.

Our Benefits

• Full training including food and safety hygiene is offered.
• Ability to undertake NZQA training
• Pleasant working environment & team to be part of

About Taumarunui

Taumarunui Hospital provides essential 24/7 emergency services and supports high-acuity patients through air and road ambulance retrievals to Waikato Hospital for complex care. The hospital also offers a range of specialty outpatient clinics with senior visiting doctors, as well as general laboratory and radiology diagnostics. With a growing number of nurse-led services, Taumarunui Hospital follows the Taumarunui Integrated Health Care model, developed in collaboration with local community and primary health services to ensure coordinated and effective patient care.

Located in the heart of the North Island, Taumarunui is the perfect base for those who love the outdoors. Positioned along the Adventure Highway, the town offers access to some of New Zealand's most breathtaking landscapes, including views of Mt. Ruapehu and the peaceful Wanganui River. Taumarunui is the gateway to Whanganui National Park, Tongariro National Park, and the Pureora Timber Trail, providing endless opportunities for outdoor adventures like canoeing, jet boating, fishing, mountain biking, and scenic walks. With its blend of natural beauty and adventure, Taumarunui is the ideal location for those looking to build their career while embracing a vibrant, outdoor lifestyle.

For more information on living and working in Waikato click here

About you

 To be considered for this role, you need:

• to work well in a team environment.
• good physical fitness to work in an environment involving some heavy lifting as well as frequent standing and a humid, busy environment.
• to be able to follow direction and carry out tasks in a timely efficient manner.
• the ability to build and maintain positive respectful relationships with customers and team members.
• to be reliable with an excellent attendance record.
• An understanding of hospital kitchen functions, and previous experience in similar roles would be an advantage.

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 online” or apply via our Waikato Careers website by clicking here.

All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal before 11:59 pm on 6 May 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Kaitlin Basson at Kaitlin.Basson@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

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