Head Medical have General Medicine opportunities suited to post foundation doctors seeking an out of programme experience. There are several educational opportunities and clinical skills sessions available.
Gisborne is a small city, perfect 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
- Work closely with consultants in General Medicine as well as specialists in Respiratory, Cardiology, and ICU
- Enjoy paddle-boarding, surfing, fishing, hiking, swimming, cycling, jet-skiing, golfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, boating.... and more
- 2025 commencement - 12 month contract
The Role
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.
There are three acute medical teams with an unselected medical take and an open ICU with intensivist support on site, making for varied pathology and excellent learning. You will work closely with consultants in General Medicine as well as specialists in Respiratory, Cardiology, and ICU. As an integral member of the team, you will participate in medical admissions and management with an unselected medical take, giving you exposure to a wide range of medical presentations and procedures. There are also a number of educational opportunities including journal club, protected teaching and clinical skills sessions.
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.