Emergency Medicine Opportunities in Coastal Whakatāne, New Zealand
Head Medical is delighted to be recruiting for post-foundation doctors to join the Emergency Department at Whakatāne Hospital, located in the heart of the stunning Bay of Plenty. If you’re seeking hands-on ED experience in a supportive hospital, close to world-class beaches, laid-back coastal living, and a strong cultural community, this could be the perfect next step in your career.
- Stunning coastal lifestyle – white sand beaches, native forests, and marine wildlife at your doorstep
- Supportive team environment – hands-on Emergency Medicine experience working closely with consultants
- Gateway to Aotearoa – explore the Bay of Plenty, with easy access to Tauranga, Rotorua & Auckland
- Commencing October 2025 – 12 month contract
- Salary -$96,870-$131,535 NZD per annum ( depending on experience)
The Role
You’ll join a small but dynamic ED team at Whakatāne Hospital (110 beds), supporting a broad regional population with diverse presentations.
• Work closely with consultants across adult and paediatric emergency presentations
• Attend clinical meetings and benefit from ongoing supervision and learning opportunities
• Develop a deeper understanding of Māori health – 26% of the local population – with a real focus on equity and community-led care
• Exposure to trauma, acute medical and surgical emergencies – ideal for those building a career in acute care
The Location
Whakatāne offers an unbeatable combination of lifestyle and location. Situated in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, it’s known for its warm climate, natural beauty, and relaxed pace of life — ideal for doctors looking to strike the right balance between meaningful work and quality downtime.
Enjoy:
- Over 50km of pristine coastline – including Ōhope Beach, regularly voted New Zealand’s most loved beach
- Incredible outdoor lifestyle – surfing, paddleboarding, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and kayaking all on your doorstep
- A welcoming and laid-back community – perfect for those looking to settle somewhere peaceful yet well-connected
- Proximity to key hubs – just 1 hour to Tauranga (NZ’s fastest growing city) and 3.5 hours to Auckland
- Easy travel options – daily flights to Auckland make international and domestic connections simple
Whether it’s an early morning surf, a weekend hike, or simply soaking up the coastal charm, Whakatāne offers the kind of lifestyle most only dream of.
Find out more about the region here Bay of Plenty and Whakatane
What Head Medical can do for you
Arranging a position overseas is very exciting, but we understand that it can also be daunting and time consuming. We’re the UK’s specialist in international medical recruitment and we’ve helped many Doctors relocate since we first started out in 2008 (you can read what people have said about working with us on our testimonials page). We know it’s important to balance career opportunities with lifestyle and we’ll talk through your plans and will get to know you to make sure we find the right role in the right location. Once we have secured a job for you, we’ll manage the Medical Registration and Visa application process, and support you (and your family) with the relocation itself.