Careers in Paediatrics
Whether you’re working in our National Children’s Hospital, Starship, based at Auckland Hospital, or in smaller communities where healthcare access is critical, Paediatrics in New Zealand combines purpose with the chance to make a real difference in children’s lives.
Photo location: Roy's Peak, Wānaka - Credit: Tourism New Zealand
Paediatric Care in New Zealand
Working in Paediatrics in NZ offers a fulfilling blend of professional challenges and meaningful connections with children and families. With our world-class healthcare system and focus on cross-disciplinary, family-centred care, we offer opportunities to address a wide range of health conditions in a supportive and collaborative environment.
From addressing common childhood illnesses to managing complex developmental and rare medical conditions, health professionals working in paediatrics play a vital role in shaping the health and well-being of the next generation.
Settings to work in Paediatric Care
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Emergency Departments
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Paediatric Wards
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Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs)
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Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) based at Starship National Children’s Hospital
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Specialist Outpatient Clinics
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General Practices
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Community Health Services
Join our teams in Paediatrics
We're recruiting for a variety of roles throughout the country to support the care of New Zealand's children.
Find more information about each workforce below:
Paediatricians
Lead our teams in the collaboration and delivery of expert medical care, diagnosing and managing a wide range of conditions.
General Practitioners
Community-based specialised medical assessment, diagnosis, and management for children and young people.
Paediatric Nurses
Deliver specialised nursing assessments, treatments, and support for children and young people.
Midwives
Offer specialised care, support, and guidance to women and their babies throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
Physiotherapists
Deliver Physiotherapy assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation, working closely with families and multidisciplinary teams.
Occupational Therapists
Conduct assessments and deliver tailored interventions to enhance functional independence and overall wellbeing.
Our dedicated facility: Starship Children's Hospital
Starship Health Services
Neurological Services
Complex neurological and metabolic conditions are managed in Starship’s paediatric neuro services, which include Neurosurgery, Neurology, Endocrine, Metabolics, and Developmental Paediatrics. Ward 26A, featuring 4 intensive observation beds, is at the heart of this care. Nurses on this ward gain experience in high-acuity cases, delivering specialised care to children with intricate neurological and developmental needs.
Perioperative Services
Starship National Children’s Hospital’s perioperative unit is equipped to handle a wide range of emergency and elective surgeries. With a pre-operative area, seven operating rooms, and an eight-bay post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU), the unit caters to specialties such as cardiac, orthopaedics, plastics, neonatal, and oncology. The multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to deliver excellent care and outcomes for every patient.
Surgical Services
Children with disorders of bones, joints, and muscles receive expert care in this 49-bed surgical ward. Starship National Children’s Hospital provides treatment for patients requiring general surgery, ENT, plastics, trauma, and orthopaedic procedures. Stays typically range from 1–3 days, but complex cases may require longer hospitalisation. Nurses develop specialised skills such as tracheostomy and chest drain management, fluid balance monitoring, and enteral feeding.
Paediatric Congenital and Cardiac Service (PCCS)
As New Zealand’s sole provider of congenital cardiac care, Starship National Children’s Hospital offers comprehensive services from foetal diagnosis to adulthood. The unit specialises in treating congenital and acquired heart diseases in infants and children across New Zealand and the Pacific. Equipped with 22 beds and 4 intensive observation beds, PCCS delivers high-acuity care supported by a skilled multidisciplinary team.
Explore Aotearoa
New Zealand - Aotearoa has been in the top 5 countries in the Global Peace Index every year since it launched in 2009, and has a broad range of places to call home, from the bustling metropolis of our main centres, to the easy-going vibe of our coastal or rural communities.
Find out more information about what part of our beautiful country is the best fit for you.
Te Tai Tokerau Northland
Population: 194,600
Northland is a beautiful and diverse region of Aotearoa, New Zealand with plenty to offer visitors. Whether you're interested in water sports, historic sites, natural beauty or ancient Kauri trees—Northland has it all!
Waitematā
Population: 650,000
Waitematā is the largest and one of the most rapidly growing Districts serving the largest population of all Health New Zealand. Waitematā offers a balanced lifestyle that combines the convenience of city living with the natural beauty and community spirit of suburban life.
Te Toka Tumai Auckland
Population: 500,000
Auckland the "City of Sails" is Aotearoa, New Zealand’s largest city and commercial hub. It’s where metropolitan sophistication meets breathtaking natural beauty. Auckland is filled with a variety of warm and welcoming communities, packed with new places to explore.
Counties Manukau
Population: 500,000
Counties Manukau is a vibrant place where there's never a dull moment! Living and working here ensures you're always close to amenities, events and nature. You'll never run out of places to visit or things to do.
Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty
Population: 255,110
The Bay of Plenty is a place of beautiful harbours, long surf beaches and an easygoing lifestyle. We showcase the perfect place to explore a wide range of nature-based pursuits – this gives the people of the Bay of Plenty the chance for a better work-life balance.
Waikato
Population: 425,000
The Waikato region is known for its natural beauty, rich Māori culture, and agricultural heritage with something to offer visitors of all interests.
Tairāwhiti Gisborne
Population: 48,000
In family-friendly Tairāwhiti you will experience an easier pace to life that allows you to pause, reflect, and enjoy a true work-life balance. Gisborne’s relative isolation is its charm, surrounded by beaches & nature - don't worry though! Larger cities are only a quick flight away.
Lakes
Population: 110,000
The Lakes District is well known for its geothermal activity and natural hot springs. The area is located in the central North Island and is home to many geothermal attractions, such as geysers, hot mud pools, and steam vents. Visitors can also relax in the region's natural hot springs, which are believed to have healing properties.
Taranaki
Population: 130,000
Taranaki is a magical place with a majestic mountain at its heart, including the rugged coastline that's world-renowned for its surf. Its residents' love of art and culture, cafes and outdoor living mean it's also fantastic to work—and play!
Te Matau a Māui Hawke's Bay
Population: 180,000
Known for its world-class wineries, stunning beaches and temperate climate, Hawke’s Bay boasts a lifestyle that is unmatched. The region is a popular destination for food and wine tourism, hiking, cycling and cultural events such as the annual Art Deco festival.
Whanganui
Population: 65,000
Whanganui has something for everyone. Our centrally located region offers access to outdoor activities such as kayaking, skiing, surfing, tramping, cycling, fishing and hunting. Nestled between two snow-capped mountains, on the banks of Whanganui River there is always plenty to do and explore.
Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley
Population: 445,000
Wellington, the capital city of Aotearoa New Zealand, is a bustling and diverse hub of culture and cosmopolitanism, renowned for its lively cafés, restaurants, and internationally acclaimed sporting and cultural events, all set against the stunning backdrop of a natural harbour. To the north of Wellington lie the regions of Porirua, Kapiti, and Hutt Valley.
Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral
Population: 190,000
Get the best of both worlds - the perfect blend of rural and city living with the mountains, city and sea at your fingertips.
Wairarapa
Population: 48,000
From rugged coastlines, boutique vineyards to lush forests, Wairarapa is a slice of paradise for those who love the outdoors and seek a peaceful environment to recharge after a rewarding day's work.
Nelson Marlborough
Population: 150,000
Nelson Marlborough has been dubbed the artistic capital with a thriving urban centre and one of New Zealand's sunniest regions.
Te Tai o Poutini West Coast
Population: 32,000
Te Tai o Poutini West Coast has views of both the mountain ranges and the ocean! It is an untamed natural wilderness of beautiful rivers and rainforests, glaciers and geological treasures.
Waitaha Canterbury
Population: 600,000
The Canterbury region is a great place to live and work due to its natural beauty, vibrant economy, cultural diversity, strong community, and high quality of life.
South Canterbury
Population: 62,000
The South Canterbury District is an area of stunning beauty with great lifestyle opportunities, a safe and welcoming family-friendly environment, affordable living, excellent educational opportunities and a wide range of cultural and sporting facilities.
Southern
Population: 350,000
Well known for its beautiful natural scenery, which includes towering mountains, stunning fjords, majestic glaciers, and crystal-clear lakes. The region is also famous for its friendly communities, charming towns, and vibrant cities such as Dunedin and Invercargill.
| Photo location: Raglan - Credit: Camilla Rutherford |
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Moving to New Zealand - Aotearoa is a fantastic opportunity and a big step, we're here for you! Our dedicated team is here to provide guidance and support throughout your journey, so don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.