Head Medical is delighted to be recruiting for post-foundation doctors to join the Psychiatry Department at Whakatāne Hospital, located in the heart of the stunning Bay of Plenty. This role is perfect for someone ready to deepen their clinical experience in a supportive, hands-on environment while enjoying world-class beaches, relaxed coastal living, and a vibrant cultural community.
- Stunning coastal lifestyle – white sand beaches, native forests, and marine wildlife at your doorstep
- Supportive team environment – hands-on experience working closely with consultants
- Gateway to Aotearoa – explore the Bay of Plenty, with easy access to Tauranga, Rotorua & Auckland
- Salary -$96,870-$131,535 NZD per annum ( depending on experience)
- Commencing March 2026 – 12 month contract
The Role
The Bay of Plenty region is served by two hospitals: Tauranga Hospital, a 359-bed Level 2 facility, and Whakatāne Hospital, a 110-bed rural hospital. The Psychiatry teams at both sites are known for their supportive, collaborative environments and are made up of experienced consultants, registrars, house officers, psychologists, social workers, and community mental health professionals.
You will have the opportunity to rotate through inpatient and community-based services, attend regular multidisciplinary meetings, and participate in cultural competency training with a strong focus on Māori mental health. The teams are passionate about teaching, equity in healthcare, and fostering a nurturing space for junior doctors to grow clinically and professionally.
Working closely with consultants based in Whakatāne, you’ll be involved in:
- Liaising with GPs, nursing staff, psychologists, patients, and families
- Attending psychiatry and psychology meetings
- Managing both inpatient and outpatient services
- Gain exposure to mental health and addiction services
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.