Occupational Therapist

• Waikato Hospital
• Acute Services
• Permanent, part time - 28 hours per week - 0.7 FTE

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

Te Whatu Ora Waikato Hospital is one of the largest tertiary hospitals in New Zealand specialising in a number of surgical areas and has one of the busiest emergency departments in New Zealand. Allied health has well developed surgical services and in recent years have developed our services within ED, proactively contributing to patient outcomes and supporting patients to remain in the community with appropriate supports and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

About the Role

The occupational therapy service provides 7 x day services both in the Surgical and the Emergency departments to support timely intervention, discharge planning, and admission avoidance.

This position requires rostered shifts that include regular weekend work.

Click here to view the position description.

About the Team/Service

• Friendly supportive team.
• Clinical training and professional development opportunities available.
• Regular supervision provided.

About you

• Registration and current annual practicing certificate with Te Poari Whakaora Ngangahau o Aotearoa (the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand).
• An ability to live and lead the Waikato District values of:
  • Whakamana - Give and earn respect.
  • Whakarongo - Listen to me; talk to me.
  • Mauri Pai - Fair Play.
  • Whakapakari - Growing the good.
  • Kotahitanga - Stronger Together.
• A commitment to achieving excellent clinical and business outcomes based on quality service delivery and outstanding and empathetic patients care.
• Ability to manage a complex caseload of patients across the age continuum.
• An ability to work autonomously completing comprehensive clinical assessments, as well as use adult teaching principles to engage health consumers.
• A strong team focus, and excellent communication and inter-personal skills.
• A full clean New Zealand driver’s license.
• 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 
• 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.

Working for 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 11:59pm on 28 February 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.