Head Medical have Emergency Medicine opportunities suitable for post foundation doctors seeking an out of programme experience. You will work in a supportive environment, allowing you to broaden your clinical and procedural skills and have access to a broad range of Education and teaching opportunities.
You will be based in Gisborne; is a small city (regional population 47,000 with 30,000 in the city itself), but for those who love the outdoors and a beautiful natural environment, you won’t get a better location to enjoy the relaxed NZ lifestyle!
- Relaxed coastal living
- Enjoy paddle-boarding, surfing, fishing, hiking, swimming, cycling, jet-skiing, golfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, boating.... and more
- See diverse marine life; dolphins, whales and orcas
- 2025 commencement - 12 month contract
The Hospital
Gisborne Hospital is a 115-bed acute care facility serving a diverse population of 50,000 across a wide geographical area, including the East Cape. With Māori making up 65% of admissions and 46.2% of the region’s population, the hospital has a strong focus on Māori health, culture, and customs. This provides valuable professional and social experiences, especially for those new to New Zealand. As a well-equipped secondary hospital, it offers a broad range of services, including general medicine, surgery, obstetrics, paediatrics, orthopaedics, mental health, intensive care, emergency care, and rehabilitation. On-site diagnostics include a new MRI and CT scanner.
The Emergency Department treat approx.25,000 patients per year, with a 25% admission rate. There is a substantial portion of high acuity medical patients, trauma, and paediatrics. This is a great opportunity to further develop your skills and work with specialists who are eager to teach and provide support – there are also ample procedural opportunities.
The Location
Gisborne offers a vibrant café culture, fresh local cuisine, and award-winning boutique wines. With excellent schools and affordable real estate options—from beachfront homes to rural lifestyle blocks—it’s an ideal place to settle. The region enjoys warm summers, mild winters, and is one of New Zealand’s sunniest spots, famous for being the first to see the sunrise.
Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy surfing, paddleboarding, fishing, sailing, mountain biking, and more, while the area also attracts visitors for its music festivals, vineyard tours, and surf competitions. Gisborne has regular flights to Auckland and Wellington (1-hour), providing easy international and domestic connections. Nearby, the stunning Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay are just a short drive away.
Over the years, many international medical specialists—particularly from the UK and USA—have been drawn to Gisborne’s exceptional lifestyle, adding to the region’s strong and diverse medical community.
Find out more about Gisborne and the Tairawhiti region here.
What Head Medical can do for you
Arranging a position overseas is very exciting, but we understand that it can also be daunting and time consuming. We’re the UK’s specialist in international medical recruitment and we’ve helped many Doctors relocate since we first started out in 2008 (you can read what people have said about working with us on our testimonials page). We know it’s important to balance career opportunities with lifestyle and we’ll talk through your plans and will get to know you to make sure we find the right role in the right location. Once we have secured a job for you, we’ll manage the Medical Registration and Visa application process, and support you (and your family) with the relocation itself.