District Chief Nurse

Contract: Permanent - Full time

Location: Wairarapa Hospital

Service: Hospital Specialist Services

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we're building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whanau-centred care, and excellence.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior nurse with relevant leadership experience. You will be responsible for providing strong, visible, professional and clinical leadership, and to motivate and inspire nursing colleagues and the wider health workforce. Part of the local district leadership team, the Chief Nurse has a critical position in providing and demonstrating leadership including accountability for managing health resources, championing patient experience and the Code of Consumer Expectations. You will empower nursing to deliver high quality patient and whanau care.

The Chief Nurse is a senior clinical leadership role, reporting directly to the Group Director of Operations (GDO) Wairarapa Hospital

This is a permanent, full time position working 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. There is a requirement to participate on the shared Senior Leadership "on-call roster" across a full week, Monday to Sunday.

About the Location

With a largely rural population of almost 50,000 residents, made up of five characterful towns and many rural and coastal communities. Wairarapa is a vibrant place to live, work and enjoy the range of leisure pursuits and entertainment options available.

Learn more about living in the fabulous Wairarapa

About you

The ideal candidate should be a dynamic senior leader with relevant experience. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to negotiate, resolve conflict and positively influence and motivate others. You will be a problem solver and system thinker who can effectively mitigate a wide range of risks and issues. You work in a collegial manner and have the desire to work with others to achieve results and share knowledge and expertise to support the growth of the team.

• Minimum qualification is a master's degree in nursing, Public Administration, Health Management or equivalent, or demonstrate that you are working towards.
• Registered Nurse with current Practicing Certificate.
• At least 5 years' clinical leadership experience with evidence of ongoing personal, professional and leadership development.
• Competency with te ao Maori, tikanga, and te reo Maori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth
• Experience in quality improvement projects or initiatives such as patient and whanau outcomes and experience, which give effect to Te Tiriti principles and equity-based frameworks, and/or the application of Matauranga Maori and Kaupapa Maori approaches, particularly as they apply in healthcare settings.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Maori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click "apply now." All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 11.59pm, 26 October 2025 If you have any questions about the role, please contact Leeann Campbell Recruitment Specialist leeann.campbell@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz