Registered Nurse - North Otago

From the Alps to the Ocean, the Waitaki district is a hidden gem! Think stunning landscapes, iconic adventures, rich heritage, and a welcoming community. If you’ve ever dreamed of living somewhere where work-life balance truly exists, this is your chance. Check out this beautiful part of the world Waitaki, New Zealand.

Join an experienced safe, supportive, and fun team doing their mahi alongside pēpi, tamariki whānau and other health and social services across the Waitaki district. If you want your workday to truly make a difference and help every Plunket pēpi have the best start in life, this is your opportunity! We’re looking for a Registered Nurse to join our passionate team in the Waitaki district (Oamaru South to Palmerston) in a 0.7 FTE permanent role.

Te Whiwhinga Mahi | The Opportunity

Join Plunket’s passionate team and help give every pēpi the best start in life. You’ll work alongside whānau, tamariki, and other health and social services, making a real difference every single day.

Plunket Nurses assess the growth and development of tamariki and are trusted clinical advisors who walk alongside whānau.

You will meet with whānau across the Waitaki district with a focus on Oamaru south to Palmerston (both home visits and in clinics) where you'll foster trusting relationships in the community and adopt a holistic approach to deliver culturally appropriate and personalised support. Working alongside a highly motivated and experienced team (another Plunket Nurse and Health Worker) you'll be committed to delivering engaging care where whānau have a safe space to celebrate successes and share parenting challenges.

Working in the community during a cost-of-living crisis means you will undoubtedly meet whānau who are facing significant challenges. Our clinical responsibilities co-exist with the need to deliver social support to ensure pēpi are being raised in safe and healthy homes. We offer6 week orientation with ongoing preceptor support to help you find your feet.

As a Plunket Nurse, you’ll:

• Assess Tamariki growth and development
• Support whānau through parenting challenges
• Provide holistic, culturally responsive care
• Work across the Waitaki district (home visits and clinics)

You won’t be doing this alone – you’ll have an experienced, supportive team and a strong leader who’s got your back.

He Kōrero Mōu | About You

Community Nursing requires a particular set of skills, you may start the day with 5 whānau booked in for visits, one might need to cancel, another might be late, and the last appointment might present significant concerns and take longer than anticipated. So, you will need to be resourceful, resilient and comfortable making decisions to ensure we maintain a high-quality experience and minimise risks for our clients.

We are confident we can give you great support with our experienced team - so we are open to both new graduates and experienced nurses.

It is vital you enjoy working with pēpi, however most of your interactions will be with caregivers. To deliver the right support, you'll need to have exceptional active listening skills, be able to ask questions tactfully. Working with whānau from all walks of life will require you to build trust and communicate effectively with different people.

With a growing Māori and Pasifika population in the Waitaki District, speaking Te Reo Māori or a Pacific Language would be advantageous, however is not a requirement.

Ngā Hua Mahi o Te Whānau Āwhina | What We Offer

• Competitive pay: $66,222–$94,842 (depending on experience)
• 6-week orientation and ongoing preceptor support
• Professional growth: We’ll fund your Postgraduate Certificate in Well Child Tamariki Ora along with access to a professional development fund.
• Wellbeing perks: Two Wellbeing Days (use sick leave proactively), community of practice groups
• Cultural support: Dedicated spaces for kaimahi Māori, Pasifika, Asian, and more
• Bonding scheme for new grads: Up to $14,165 over 5 years

Mō Tō Tātou Rōpū | About Our Team

We’re a close-knit, experienced team who care about each other as much as we care about whānau. Whether you’re a new graduate or a seasoned nurse, you’ll find a place to grow, share knowledge, and make a real impact.

Me Pēhea Te Tuku Tono | How to Apply

Applications must be made online, for any specific questions about the mahi, contact Paul Watson, Clinical Leader on Paul.Watson@plunket.org.nz or phone 027 475 3612. Applications close: 27th January 2026.

He huanui oranga mo ngā mokopuna whakatipuranga roto i ngā hapori heke iho, heke iho 

Setting the path of wellness in our communities for the early years, for generations to come

Whānau Āwhina Plunket is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of pēpi, tamariki and their whānau/family. We have committed to adopting a pro-equity approach where we give life to the Treaty principles of tino rangatiratanga, partnership, active protection, equity and options in our mahi/work to ensure healthy tamariki, confident whānau and connected communities. This journey is creating exciting career opportunities - If you would like to contribute to the important mahi we do, nau mai, haere mai.