Rural Emergency Physician - South Taranaki Rural Health

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Taranaki; Taranaki; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawera Hospital in South Taranaki is seeking a rural emergency department doctor for permanent or short-term placements. You’ll join a close‑knit team and deliver high‑quality, community‑focused care in a stunning regional setting.

The role offers clinical autonomy, strong teaching opportunities with students and registrars, and the chance to grow skills across acute and inpatient medicine while enjoying a balanced lifestyle in a welcoming New Zealand community.

Qualifications

• Experience in rural emergency medicine or similar setting.
• Ability to work with limited resources and high autonomy.
• Commitment to community-focused care.

Responsibilities

• Work one of three shifts: 8:00am–4:00pm, 1:30pm–9:30pm, or the night shift (8:30pm–8:30am).
• Act as the sole doctor on duty with broad clinical autonomy in rural ED.
• Support handover and collaboration with the Resident Medical Officer.
• Undertake fast-track service for lower-acuity patients with Nursing Specialists.
• Utilize telemedicine and inpatient unit to provide comprehensive care.
• Provide medical oversight for inbound patients until ward team arrives.
• Maintain and develop acute inpatient medicine skills alongside emergency care.

Skills

Rural Emergency Medicine

Job description

Overview

Hawera Hospital – Permanent and short‑term options available for rural hospital emergency doctors.

A position as a rural hospital emergency department doctor at Hāwera Hospital offers a truly unique and rewarding opportunity. You become part of a close‑knit, supportive team where collaboration is second nature and egos are left at the door. The friendly culture fosters camaraderie, respect, and a genuine commitment to shared success, both for colleagues and for the community we serve.

As a rural hospital, Hāwera offers the best of integrated care. You will work closely with our Rural Hospital Medical Specialists, the ED nursing team, General Practitioners, specialist nurses and allied health practitioners to enable continuity of care that is increasingly rare in larger urban settings.

Hāwera also provides excellent opportunities for teaching and mentoring, with regular placements of medical students and registrars. Whether you are an experienced clinician or early in your journey, there is space to contribute to the next generation of rural health professionals while keeping your own skills sharp and relevant.

Set in the stunning South Taranaki landscape, life here brings fresh air, beautiful coastlines, and a strong sense of place. Whether you are surfing after a shift, hiking up Mount Taranaki, or enjoying time with your whānau, this region offers lifestyle advantages that restore balance and connection. Medicine is personal, practical, and grounded in community.

Emergency Department

Hawera Emergency Department is an 11‑bed facility seeing approximately 1,500 patients each month. A dedicated team of Rural Health Specialists and ED Medical Officers work rostered rotating shifts, supported by the Taranaki Base Hospital ED SMO group to provide a 24/7 emergency service to the local rural community.

Role and Responsibilities

• Work one of three shifts: 8:00am–4:00pm, 1:30pm–9:30pm, or the night shift (8:30pm–8:30am).


• During most of the shift act as the sole doctor on duty, offering a high level of clinical autonomy and the opportunity to practise broad‑spectrum rural emergency medicine.


• Support handover and clinical collaboration with the Resident Medical Officer during overlap windows.


• Undertake fast‑track service for lower‑acuity patients in partnership with Clinical Nurse Specialists, focusing on higher‑acuity presentations.


• Use the evolving telemedicine service and the 15‑bed inpatient unit to provide comprehensive care to the South Taranaki community.


• Provide medical oversight for patients admitted to the rural inpatient ward until the ward team arrives the following morning.


• Maintain and develop acute inpatient medicine skills alongside emergency care.

Additional Information

Hawera Hospital is a vital centre of excellence for rural health, delivering compassionate, integrated care through strong partnerships across primary and secondary services. The organisation is committed to equity, upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and fosters an inclusive, innovative environment where healthcare professionals can grow from undergraduate to postgraduate levels.

We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

For more information on living and working in Taranaki please refer to internal resources.

To apply, please submit your application through our online careers portal. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Rory Kennelly (Head of Department, Hawera ED, GP and Inpatient Unit) at [e-mail] or Kate McCrea (General Manager – STRH) at [e-mail]. We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.