Occupational Therapist

• Occupational Therapy Rotational Position Maternity leave fixed term for experienced staff or new graduates
• Taranaki Base Hospital, New Plymouth 
• Permanent 1FTE (80 Hours per fortnight)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

This role is to cover Maternity leave for 12 months in the Occupational Therapy rotational setting.

Inpatient rotational setting rotates every 6 9 months and includes the following areas

         Inpatients main areas of rotation includes, medical, orthopaedics, /surgical and rehabilitation and includes community services.

         As part of orientation Therapist completes a general orientation to the area of work, our service provides supervision, attending in-services and training.

         Occupational Therapy department is part of the physical Allied health team and we work closely with our colleagues and wider teams.  

Please click here to view the position description

About the Team/Service/ Location

Te Whatu Ora Taranaki employs approximately 350 allied health professionals across its services, and were growing our inpatient physical health rehabilitation team by 60%.  You will be joining a friendly team that is diverse in skills and experience, a team that welcomes collaboration, and that values the contribution of each team member.  To hear more about our culture, view the video on ourcareers page.

At Te Whatu Ora Taranaki, we believe having workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and serve our community.  We are a pro-equity Health Organisation, with a focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.  

When you choose to work with us, we will offer you: 

            Orientation and induction to our organisation and your department 

            Internal / External Professional development 

            Access to clinical training and education

For more information on living and working in Taranaki click here

About you

You will need to have: - 
Essential:

            Current New Zealand Annual Practising Certificate registration

            Current New Zealand drivers license

            A commitment to translating evidence into practice.

            A commitment to biculturalism.

         A commitment to achieving equitable outcomes for Maori.

         An understanding of healthcare in New Zealand.

         Computer literacy: Microsoft word, Microsoft outlook.

Desired:

         Experience working in the above clinical areas.

         Knowledge of standardised assessment and outcome measures.

         Knowledge of ACC and MOH health funding streams.

         Prioritise using time management and delegation skills.

         Demonstrate ability to facilitate team working.

You will be able to: -

         Work as effective team member.

         Show evidence of ongoing learning.

         Demonstrate an understanding of significance of and obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including how to apply Te Tiriti principles in a meaningful way to your role.

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 Māori, 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 Monday 2 November 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Karien at karien.visagie@tdhb.org.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.