Charge Nurse Manager - Puāwai, Midland Regional Forensic Psychiatric Service

• Puawai Forensic Service Inpatient – Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre, Waikato Hospital
• Permanent – 80 hours per fortnight

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

The Charge Nurse Manager (CNM) plays a pivotal leadership role in fostering effective partnerships with tāngata whaiora, whānau, and staff across the service. This role supports teams to work collaboratively and deliver equitable, person-centred care.

As a key senior leader within the service, the CNM provides clinical, professional, and operational leadership, supporting staff, tāngata whaiora, and whānau, while working in close collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, high-quality care within a secure forensic environment.

Key responsibilities:

• Build, lead, and sustain a high-performing team that upholds the culture, values, mission, and vision of the service.

• Manage workflow and workload across the clinical area to ensure safe, efficient, and effective service delivery.
• Provide strong clinical leadership, including oversight of practice standards, professional development, and performance.
• Lead and oversee clinical and environmental risk management, ensuring safety for tāngata whaiora, staff, and others within a secure forensic setting.
• Engage and work collaboratively with key stakeholders, including tāngata whaiora and whānau.
• Actively support Māori health gains and contribute to achieving equitable health outcomes by understanding and embedding the new Waiora model of care in their area and practice.

Click here to view the position description.

About the Team

We are seeking a suitably qualified nurse to lead one of our medium secure wards on our Waikato campus. With the growing prison population across our region and the increasing demand on services, we need a leader who is motivated to deliver, able to work effectively with ambiguity, open to change, and skilled at working collaboratively across agencies to achieve shared outcomes for the population we serve.

About Hamilton

Hamilton, where Waikato Hospital is situated, is a vibrant city nestled alongside the scenic Waikato River, offering a perfect mix of nature and culture. Explore the stunning Hamilton Gardens, home to themed gardens from Italy to Asia, or visit the Waikato Museum to delve into the region's rich history. The city also boasts the Hamilton Zoo, where you can walk through an aviary filled with native birds. Hamilton is a lively hub, with a variety of cafes, restaurants, and bars, along with events like rugby, cricket, and the famous National Agricultural Fieldays and Balloons over Waikato festival. With its vibrant atmosphere and proximity to outdoor adventures, Hamilton is an ideal place to live and work.

For more information on living and working in Waikato click here

About you

• Experience in upholding Te Tiriti principals and frameworks, and the application of Mātauranga Māori and Kaupapa Māori approaches, particularly as they apply in healthcare settings. 
• A Registered Nurse who has demonstrated clinical experience in a mental health setting
• Ability to display initiative and resourcefulness that will allow you to navigate the variety of challenges you could face.
• Experience in leadership.
• Experience in either forensic mental health environments or corrections environments is an advantage.
• Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth.

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 25 February 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Robyn Payne at Robyn.Payne@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

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