New Job. New Lifestyle. New Zealand.
We're seeking an experienced Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist to be based in Palmerston North, in the central North Island. This is very much a generalist role working across both obstetrics and gynaecology.
- Just a 2 hour drive from NZ’s capital city of Wellington
- Permanent position, commencing January 2020
- FRANZCOG or equivalent specialist qualifications, e.g. FRCOG with CCT
- Must have a range of generalist skills
- Special interest in obstetrics and obstetric ultrasound
- Easy commute to and from work
- Affordable housing and excellent schools
- Welcoming, multicultural community
- Excellent central location to explore the rest of the North Island, including the west coast beaches in Foxton and Himatangi, the fabulous Hawke’s Bay vineyards, premier ski resorts, as well as the lakes in Taupo and Rotorua.
Palmerston North Hospital is a busy 350 bed secondary hospital, that provides some tertiary services. They offer almost all subspecialties (except neurosurgery and cardiac surgery). It is also a teaching hospital, associated with both Auckland and Otago medical schools.
The obstetric service provides a range of primary and secondary inpatient and outpatient care including obstetric ultrasound and a multidisciplinary antenatal diabetic clinic. These services are provided from Palmerston North Hospital. The neonatal unit accepts babies from 28 weeks gestation. Primary Birthing units are located in Palmerston North, Levin and Dannevirke.
Gynaecology services, including colposcopy, urogynaecology, fertility and hysteroscopy clinics, are provided at Palmerston North Hospital on an inpatient and outpatient basis for women throughout the district. Outpatient clinics are also provided at Horowhenua Health Centre (Levin) and at Dannevirke by the consultant team.
For this role, you will have broad specialist experience in both Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a sound understanding of contemporary models of care.
In addition, you will also have proven leadership skills and experience working in a multidisciplinary team environment; an interest in medical education and teaching, including providing supervision and education to medical students, registrars and other clinical staff; and of course, a commitment to contributing to ongoing quality improvement programmes.
What’s on offer?
- Total package ranges NZ$180,000 - $300,000 per annum, depending on experience
- This includes: Base salary from NZ$164,369 to $244,560 pa, depending on level of experience; On call calculated on top of your base; Continuing Medical Education Allowance NZ$16,000 + 10 days CME leave pa.
- Plus relocation assistance
The Location
Palmerston North (population: urban 80,000, regional 168,000) is a vibrant, youthful city, recognised by the Pan Pacific Safe Communities Network as an international safe community and is located in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand, set at the foot of the Tararua mountain range. It has all the facilities that you would expect of a city, yet is still compact, accessible and easy to navigate.
The Manawatu region attracts people from far and wide. There is a lot to offer families of all ages. Living here is affordable, with high quality housing and the primary, secondary and tertiary education facilities have an excellent reputation. Massey University attracts international students with its variety of programmes in business, technology, sciences (including the only Vet school in NZ), agriculture and horticulture. The Newcomers Network welcomes and embraces new arrivals and cultures to the city, connecting you to others who have already made the move. It’s also home to the military community as both the Army and Air Force have bases here. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants, and a wealth of sporting activities and community festivals, if you want to get involved. The commute to work is only 10-15 minutes from anywhere in the city.
If you prefer to live in a smaller township, just a 15 minute drive away from Palmerston North is Feilding, voted New Zealand’s most beautiful town 16 times, with its gorgeous gardens, Edwardian buildings and quiet neighbourhoods, and Farmers Markets at the weekends, it’s a great place to be based with a real sense of community.
Whether you decide to live in Palmerston North itself or Feilding, or any of the other small towns in the Manawatu region, the location in the middle of the North Island means you will be within easy driving distance of premier ski resorts at Turangi, Turoa and Whakapapa to the north, the lush Hawke’s Bay wine region to the east, clean and quiet unspoilt beaches (Himatangi, Foxton, Otaki) along the West Coast, and of course, to the South is NZ’s capital city of Wellington (2 hour drive). The local airport has daily commuter flights to Wellington and Auckland, making international flight connections easy.
View this short video to see more: “Move to Manawatu” (courtesy of ManawatuNZ.co.nz)
Explore Palmerston North and the Manawatu region here
Requirements for this role
Ideally, you will hold FRANZCOG and full Vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).
Alternatively, if not NZ-trained, you will hold equivalent specialist qualifications from either the UK (via CCT), Australia (FRANZCOG), Canada (FRCSC) or the USA (American Board Certified) that will enable specialist registration in Obstetrics and Gynaecology with the Medical Council of New Zealand via the Provisional Vocational registration (long term) pathway or Locum Tenens (short term) registration pathway.
These are the two specialist pathways for Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in NZ and we can assist with medical registration and work visa applications, if appointed.
** Primary Source Verification using EPIC **
From 1st November 2017, all relevant qualifications must be verified by ECFMG using the EPIC system on behalf of the Medical Council of New Zealand.
If you are committed to working in New Zealand, we encourage doctors to start this process off as soon as possible if you hold qualifications from outside NZ. Candidates are invited to log on to EPIC and complete this step online. EPIC verifies your identity and your qualifications directly with you. Log on to EPIC here and read the FAQs section about how to get started.
Photo credit: The Square, Palmerston North - ManawatuNZ.co.nz