Dental House Officer - 2026 Training Year

Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldier’s Hospital, Dental House Officer
Permanent, Full-time, rostered including on-call shifts
12 month placement

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 seeking a Dental House Officer to join our Dental service here at Hawke's Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, commencing 12 January 2026.

This role offers a broad spectrum of dental care, including special needs, paediatric dentistry, oral surgery, and dental trauma. You’ll also have the opportunity to collaborate with the maxillofacial service locally and through Hutt Valley. There will be opportunities to perform dental procedures under general anaesthesia and nitrous oxide sedation, expanding your skillset and exposure.

The broad range of experiences and multidisciplinary team environment is a great foundation for future hospital endeavours, general dental practice and for future specialist study. It’s an ideal opportunity for those early in their career looking to build autonomy while being supported. We actively encourage and support our junior dentists within our service to do further education, for example the Primary Examinations through the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons.

About the Team/Service/ Location
You would join a team consisting of 1 Dental Registrar, 4 Senior Dentists and a Dental Public Health Specialist. This role contributes to the hospital’s out-of-hours on-call service for dental and maxillofacial.

The Hospital Dental Service provides care over sites in Hastings, Napier and Wairoa, with a clinical focus on medically compromised patients, tamariki (children), and individuals with complex and special needs. We deliver care in both outpatient and theatre settings, providing diverse clinical experiences.

As a Dental House Officer, you’ll have the opportunity to attend maxillofacial theatres and outpatient clinics, and will be supported by a regional maxillofacial service. You will also be part of a 1:4 on-call roster, providing acute dental and maxillofacial services. Our team enjoys a close working relationship with the Community Oral Health Service, including delivering community-based clinics and participating in combined professional development.

Working in Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s Dental Service means you’ll be supported in a positive learning environment, where you’ll have opportunities to take on increased clinical responsibility and develop your independence as a clinician.

Hawke's Bay Hospital is a 400-bed secondary level accredited public hospital in Hastings, located on the east coast of the North Island. Serving a population of over 180,000 people, we provide both acute and elective care, with a wide range of medical and surgical specialties (excluding cardiothoracic and neurosurgery), as well as paediatrics and obstetrics & gynaecology. We are supported by a strong regional ICU team, ensuring comprehensive care for a diverse patient population.

Hawke’s Bay offers excellent work-life balance, sun, beaches, exceptional outdoor adventures, great schools, mountains and skiing close by, wonderful food and stunning wineries, vibrant cities and plenty more to boast about. For more information on living and working in Hawke’s Bay click HERE

About you

You are registered, or eligible for registration, with the Dental Council of New Zealand

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 review the run description, click HERE. To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Dr Kris Sweetapple – Clinical Director of Hospital Dentistry at kris.sweetapple@hbdhb.govt.nz or the RMO Recruitment Consultant via email onrmo.recruitment@hbdhb.govt.nz. 

Application Requirements

Cover letter & up-to-date CV detailing full dates of prior employment.
3x Reference Request forms (including one from your most recent supervisor). Ensure all reports are received by the stated closing date. References should be returned to the RMO Recruitment Consultant, email above. Download the Reference Request Form here.
Important Dates