Ready for your next adventure?
Build your Emergency Medicine experience in a supportive regional hospital, enjoy a varied clinical caseload, and discover life in New Zealand’s beautiful subtropical Whangārei!
Head Medical is seeking motivated doctors for Emergency Medicine opportunities commencing February 2027 in Whangārei, New Zealand. These positions are ideal for doctors looking to develop their acute care skills while enjoying an exceptional outdoor lifestyle.
Essential requirement: You must have completed a minimum of 12 months’ Emergency Medicine experience post Foundation training.
- Relaxed coastal lifestyle, beautiful beaches, and native forests, around two hours north of Auckland.
- Busy Emergency Department seeing approximately 40,000 patients annually, with structured teaching, simulation, and case review.
- Work alongside experienced consultants and senior registrars in a supportive team, with opportunities to strengthen clinical judgement and decision-making.
- Salary NZD $105,672–$147,778 (commensurate with experience)
The Hospital and Role
Whangārei Hospital is a 246-bed regional hospital providing comprehensive secondary care to a population of approximately 194,000. As the major referral centre for Northland District Health Board, it offers a varied and rewarding clinical environment for doctors looking to broaden their Emergency Medicine experience.
The Emergency Department sees around 40,000 presentations each year, approximately 25% of which involve paediatric patients. You will encounter a broad range of acute presentations and work closely with consultants and senior registrars, developing your assessment, management, and clinical decision-making skills within a multidisciplinary team.
The hospital serves a large geographical area of approximately 12,600 square kilometres, with emergency services extending to regional hospitals in Kaitaia, Dargaville and the Bay of Islands. The wider service includes a seven-bed Intensive Care and High Dependency Unit, alongside helicopter retrievals and inter-hospital transfers.
Education is an important part of the department, with an active clinical training programme that includes:
- Weekly teaching sessions.
- Simulation-based learning.
- Journal clubs and case reviews.
- Video-conferencing education.
This is an excellent opportunity for a doctor with established Emergency Medicine experience who wants to consolidate their skills, gain exposure to a diverse patient population and continue developing within a regional hospital setting.
The Location
Imagine finishing a shift and having beautiful beaches, coastal walks, and native forests on your doorstep. Whangārei offers a relaxed pace of life, a subtropical climate and an outdoor lifestyle that makes it a wonderful base for exploring New Zealand.
The wider Northland region is known for its spectacular coastline, rich Māori heritage, and welcoming communities. Highlights include:
- Poor Knights Islands: internationally renowned diving and marine reserves.
- Tutukākā Coast: stunning beaches, coastal walks, and water activities.
- Bay of Islands: sailing, kayaking and charming seaside towns, including Paihia and Russell.
- Whangārei itself: a lively town with a waterfront marina, cafés, restaurants, local markets and arts and cultural attractions.
A domestic airport and road connections to Auckland provide access to the wider country, with Auckland approximately two hours away by car.
Whether you are looking to strengthen your Emergency Medicine experience, prepare for future training opportunities or simply enjoy a different pace of life, Whangārei offers an appealing balance of professional development and adventure.
Is this opportunity right for you?
To be considered for this opportunity, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have completed Foundation training or an equivalent programme.
- Have a minimum of 12 months’ Emergency Medicine experience gained after completing Foundation training.
- Meet the qualification and registration eligibility requirements for the Competent Authority Pathway with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).
What Head Medical can do for you
Head Medical is a specialist international healthcare recruitment company and has been helping doctors relocate to Australia, New Zealand and beyond since 2008. From identifying the right opportunity through to regulatory applications and relocation, we provide free guidance and support throughout the process. We also have qualified and licensed Immigration Advisers within our team who can assist with migration planning and visa applications for Australia and New Zealand. The services of our licensed Immigration Advisers are provided as an additional service, with any applicable fees discussed in advance.