Waitematā
Waitematā offers a balanced lifestyle that combines the convenience of city living with the natural beauty and community spirit of suburban life.
Photo location: Waitematā Harbour & Rangitoto Island - Credit: Simon Watts
About the Region
The Waitematā District is in the Auckland region of Aotearoa, New Zealand. It is located on the North Island. The district includes the city's northern and western suburbs.
Auckland city has the largest and most culturally diverse population in Aotearoa. This diversity is reflected in the food, experiences and activities on offer.
Connecting central Auckland to the North Shore, the Auckland Harbour Bridge is a well-known landmark that spans across the Waitematā harbour.
Health New Zealand - Waitematā
About Health New Zealand
Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora is the Government organisation that provides publicly funded universal health care to 5 million Kiwis.
The management and delivery of health services are broken down into 'Districts' across the country, determined by both geographic location and population.
About the Health New Zealand - Waitematā
Health New Zealand - Waitematā is the largest and one of the most rapidly growing districts serving a population of around 650,000. It is also the largest employer in the region, with 8,600 people working across more than 80 locations. The district's catchment areas include North Shore (North Auckland), Waitākere (West Auckland), and Rodney extending to Wellsford in the north and as far south as the Auckland Harbour Bridge, incorporating Whangaparāoa in the east and the west coast beaches of Muriwai, Piha and Karekare.
Additionally, CADS, Forensic, and Dental Services are also provided across Auckland to Manukau.
Photo location: Waitematā Harbour - Credit: AucklandNZ
North Shore Hospital
North Shore Hospital is a large hospital with 663 beds, providing emergency care, surgical procedures, maternity care, mental health services, and more. North Shore Hospital is also home to several specialist centers, including the National Poisons Centre, the Northern Regional Spinal Unit, and the Waitemata Breast Centre.
Tōtara Haumaru (Shade of the Tree), a state-of-the-art, four-storey surgical facility officially opened its doors on the North Shore Campus at the end of June 2024 this year. Tōtara Haumaru has eight operating theatres, four new endoscopy suites and up to 150 new beds to help meet the needs of a vibrant, fast-growing and culturally diverse population of over 650,000 people. Additionally, the facility has a gorgeous view of the incredible, volcanically formed Lake Pupuke - not too far away from the world-famous Waitematā Harbour and some of the most spectacular beaches.
Waitakere Hospital
Waitakere Hospital is a smaller hospital and provides a range of services including 24/7 emergency care, maternity care, medical and surgical services, and more.
Waitakere Hospital also has a focus on community health, with several specialist centers providing services such as mental health care, paediatric services, diabetes management, and rehabilitation services.
Hospital Services
Waitematā’s population is generally healthier than that of New Zealand as a whole. We have the highest life expectancy in New Zealand at 83.9 years (2017-19), with an increase of 3.3 years since 2001.
We provide services in association with the other hospitals in the city for specialist services e.g. burns centre, neurosurgery, cardiovascular, transplant care. There are 1,050 beds across the 5 inpatient sites.
Here is a list of medical services and specialties offered in the Waitematā.
Services A to L
| Allied Health |
| After Hours and Emergency Departments |
| Age Related Residential Care |
| Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS) |
| Altered High Youth Services (CADS) |
| Anaesthesia |
| Asian Health Support Services |
| Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation (AT&R) Service |
| Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS) |
| Baby and Child Services: Paediatric Outpatient Clinics, Special Care Baby Units (SCBU), Rangatira Children’s Ward |
| Baby Unit - Specialist Care (SCBU) |
| Bowel Screening Waitemata |
| Breast Service: Mammography, Ultrasound, Fine needle aspiration, Breast biopsy, Breast cancer surgery and reconstruction |
| BreastScreen Waitemata Northland |
| Cardiology |
| Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS) |
| Child and Family Services |
| Community Child Health |
| Child Disability Service |
| Child Rehabilitation Service |
| Child, Women and Family Services |
| Children's Community Nurses Service |
| Clinical Records |
| Continence Service |
| Counselling (CADS) |
| Cultural support - Asian Health, Māori Health - He Kamaka Waiora, Pacific Support |
| Dental and Oral Health |
| Dermatology Service |
| Diabetes Service |
| Dietetics - Community |
| Dietitian Service |
| Dietitians - Adult Outpatients |
| District Mental Health Services |
| District Nursing Service |
| Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) Service |
| Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) - Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) |
| Eating Disorders |
| Elective Surgery Centre (ESC) |
| Emergency Department (ED) - North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals |
| Endocrinology |
| Gastroenterology |
| General Surgery |
| Gerontology Nurse Specialist (GNS) Service - Nga Kaitiaki Kaumatua |
| GP Liaisons |
| Gynaecology (Hine Ora) |
| Haematology Service |
| Helensville District Health Trust |
| He Puna Waiora (Mental Health) |
| Hibiscus Coast Community Health Centre |
| Hine Ora (Gynaecology) |
| Hyperbaric Unit (SLARK) |
| Infectious Diseases Service |
| Intensive Care & High Dependency Units |
| Isa Lei - Pacific Island Community Mental Health Services |
| Laboratory Services |
Services M to Z
| Māori Health - He Kamaka Waiora, Whanau Ora Cancer Care, Whitiki Maurea - Mental Health & Addictions |
| Maternity services - North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals |
| Mental Health |
| Needs Assessment & Service Co-ordination (NASC) |
| Obstetric and Gynaecology Services |
| Occupational Therapy - Community & Inpatients |
| Older Adults & Home Health (OA&HH) |
| Orthopaedic Services |
| Orthotics |
| Ostomy Service |
| Outpatients |
| Pacific Health: Pacific Island Mental Health & Addictions Service, Malaga a le Pasifika, Alcohol, Other Drug and Gambling Service (Tupu) |
| Paediatrics and Newborn Services |
| Pain Management Unit |
| Palliative Care Services |
| Pharmacy Services |
| Physiotherapy - Community, Inpatient and Outpatient |
| Physiotherapy - Pelvic Floor / Continence |
| Primary Health Care (GPs, PHOs) |
| Radiology |
| Regional Forensic Psychiatric Services |
| Renal Services |
| Residential Care - Age Related |
| Respiratory Medicine |
| Rheumatology Services |
| Specialty Medicine & Health of Older People Division |
| Slark Hyperbaric Unit |
| Smoke Free Service |
| Social Work - Community & Inpatients |
| Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) |
| Speech Language Therapy - Community & Inpatients |
| Surgery |
| Taharoto Road - District Mental Health - Adult Mental Health |
| Te Whanau O Waipareira |
| Tupu - Pacific Alcohol & Other Drug and Gambling Service |
| Takanga A Fohe - Pacific Mental Health & Addictions Services |
| Upper GastrointestinaI (UGI) & HepatoPancreatoBiliary (HPB) Service |
| Urogynaecology |
| Urology Services |
| Waimarino - Mental Health Services, Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI), Pacific Island & Maori Mental Health Support Services |
| Warkworth Community Services - District Nursing Service, Occupational Therapy - Community, Older Adults & Home Health (OA&HH) and Community Physiotherapy |
| Whanau Ora - Cancer Care Service |
| Whitiki Maurea - Maori Mental Health and Addictions Service |
| Wilson Centre - Child Rehabilitation and Respite Centre |
Relocating to the Waitematā District
Welcome to the Waitematā District where you can have a thriving healthcare career and a fulfilling life. The Waitematā District offers a bustling urban environment while being surrounded by picturesque coastlines and parks.
Photo location, from left: Motuihe Island - Credit: Graeme Murray; Devonport.
Getting around
The North Shore is well known for its beautiful beaches and warm climate, and Waitakere in the western part of Auckland is renowned for the lush Waitakere ranges.
Getting around
Photo location: Motuihe Island - Credit: Graeme Murray
When you arrive
Driving in New Zealand
You can legally drive in NZ for up to 12 months per visit with your current driver's license. After 12 months, you will need to convert to a New Zealand license. Learn more about driving in NZ here.
Other ways to travel
- Auckland Transport operates the public bus service in Waitematā. Purchase AT HOP cards as they are required to travel on buses in and around Auckland.
- Use the Smales Farm Bus Route in Takapuna, near the North Shore Hospital.
- The western line train route will come in handy when traveling in Waitakere.
- There are many taxis, shuttles and ridesharing services such as Ola, Zoomy and Uber.
Housing options
Living in the Waitematā District – part of New Zealand's biggest city, Auckland – means a unique lifestyle that comes with living in a vibrant urban centre with beaches and open spaces just around every corner.
Housing options
Photo location: Devonport, North Shore
When you arrive
Temporary accommodation options
Rentals
You may find that renting is a great way to explore and understand the area before deciding to purchase or build a house. Searching online for rentals is a good place to start. You may also wish to check out local rental agencies to help you find a place. Note that most rentals in Aotearoa are unfurnished however furniture and whiteware can be rented in some parts of the country.
Rental agencies
- Oneroof.co.nz
- Trademe.co.nz Waitakere and North Shore
- Realestate.co.nz North Shore and Waitakere
- Myrent.co.nz Waitakere and Takapuna, in the North Shore
- Homes.co.nz
Buying or building a house
Dreaming of a place to call your own? We know that moving to a new country is a major move, and buying or building a house makes it even more significant. If you're a healthcare professional on NZ's Green List of roles, you have a unique opportunity to fast-track your residency process. Normally, only residents and citizens can buy or build a house. When you can, use this tool to learn more about the process.
Take the next step
Made the decision to move to New Zealand - Aotearoa?
Fill out our five-minute form with your details, and we'll match you to your preferred location based on your experience and preferences.
Photo location + credit, from left: Auckland Harbour Bridge (Liam Spicer) ; North Shore, Takapuna (AucklandNZ)
We'd love to help, reach out to us!
Interested in relocating to the Waitematā District? 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.