Kitchen Assistant , Thames

• Casual Kitchen Assistant at Thames Hospital
• Come and join our small team and you will gain valuable experience in the food service industry
• Our hours of work are between 0600-1830 so no late nights, a good rate of pay including a higher rate on the weekends. Staff benefits from a number of business in the Waikato

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

This is a casual position covering staff leave, so flexibility and availability at short notice are essential. You’ll be part of a team that delivers meals to inpatients 7 days a week and supports café service Monday to Friday. Shifts fall between 0600 - 1945 and you’ll be rostered across a variety of duties.

If you have excellent customer service skills and are keen to gain new skills in a commercial kitchen, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Be extremely reliable with a strong attendance record
• Work well within a team and be available at short notice
• Maintain a high standard of personal presentation
• Provide excellent customer service with a positive outlook
• Perform general kitchen duties in a commercial environment
• Follow food safety procedures and operate equipment safely
• Maintain hygiene standards and use PPE appropriately

Click here to view the position description.

About the Team

Our small team of around 10 staff provides a meal service 7 days per week for inpatients and 5 days per week for the café. Our hours of operation are 0600–1830, with multiple shifts available each day.

Come and join our small, supportive team and gain valuable experience in the food service industry. This is a great opportunity to work in a commercial hospital kitchen with no late nights, a good rate of pay (including higher rates on weekends), and access to staff benefits from a number of businesses across the Waikato.

About You

You will have – Essential:

• The right to work in NZ at the time of application
• Minimum 6 months in a front-facing customer service role
• Ability to read, understand and follow written and verbal instructions
• Clear spoken English
• Basic digital skills for food safety monitoring, payslips, leave applications, and online learning

Desired:

• Qualification and/or experience in hospitality or catering
• NZQA Unit Standards 20666 and 167 (Food Safety)

You will be able to – Essential:

• Demonstrate understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and apply its principles meaningfully
• Take care of your own physical and mental wellbeing
• Work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Build positive relationships across diverse groups
• Show personal responsibility and a strong drive to deliver
• Demonstrate self-awareness and a commitment to continuous improvement
• Uphold high standards of behaviour, integrity, and professionalism
• Undertake shift work, including weekends and public holidays

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 20 October 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Shivani Kulkarni at Shivani.Kulkarni@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz.

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