New Zealand offers nursing opportunities in emergency departments, community nursing, aged care, mental health, and other healthcare services. Current advertised vacancies include roles with Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) and private healthcare providers. Applicants should check each employer’s official careers page for the latest requirements and closing dates.
1. Latest nursing vacancies available
The following vacancies were listed on official employer career pages when checked on 26 October 2026. Closing dates can change, so confirm the listing before publishing or applying.
1. Registered Nurse – Emergency Department
Health New Zealand | Dunedin Hospital, Otago
-
Employment: Fixed-term, 0.6 FTE (48 hours per fortnight), until November 2027.
-
Salary: NZ$83,725–$109,407 per year, pro rata, plus KiwiSaver.
-
Requirements: New Zealand Nursing Council registration, current Annual Practising Certificate (APC), strong communication skills; acute-care experience is an advantage.
-
Role: Emergency nursing, triage, resuscitation, trauma care and professional development.
Official vacancy and application
Health New Zealand
2. Registered Nurse – District Nursing Service
Health New Zealand | Levin and Horowhenua
-
Employment: Permanent part-time, 0.7–0.9 FTE.
-
Location: Levin, covering Ōtaki, Levin and Foxton.
-
Requirements: Current practising certificate, full New Zealand driver’s licence, and skills in areas such as wound care, palliative care, IV therapy, continence management or community care. PDRP Level 3 or willingness to work towards it is requested.
-
Role: Provide specialised nursing care to patients in community settings.
-
Salary: Not specified in the listing summary; confirm with the employer.
Official vacancy and application
Health New Zealand
3. Registered Nurse – Cervical Screening
Health New Zealand | Dunedin, Otago
-
Employment: Permanent part-time.
-
Requirements: Current Nursing Council registration and APC, at least one year of post-registration experience, a relevant graduate qualification, current smear-taker competency and a clean driver’s licence.
-
Role: Cervical screening, clinical assessment, triage and appropriate nursing interventions.
-
Salary: Not specified in the available listing information.
Official vacancy and application
Health New Zealand
4. Registered Nurse – Day Surgery Unit
Health New Zealand | Dunedin, Otago
-
Employment: Permanent full-time.
-
Salary: NZ$83,725–$109,407 per year, depending on relevant experience.
-
Specialty: Day surgery and operating-room nursing.
-
Requirements: Check the official job description for registration, experience and role-specific clinical requirements.
Official vacancy and application
Health New Zealand
5. Public Health Nurse – Taranaki
Health New Zealand | New Plymouth
-
Employment: Permanent full-time.
-
Specialty: Public health nursing.
-
Requirements: Review the official advertisement for registration, clinical experience and other position-specific criteria.
-
Salary: Not specified in the available listing summary.
Official vacancy and application
Health New Zealand
6. Casual Registered Nurse – Nursing Resource Unit
Health New Zealand | Southland
-
Employment: Casual.
-
Requirements: New Zealand Nursing Council registration, current APC, eligibility to work in New Zealand, flexibility and the ability to work across different teams. Hospital experience is desirable.
-
Role: Provide nursing cover across services according to staffing needs.
-
Salary: Check the official advertisement for the applicable rate.
Official vacancy and application
Health New Zealand
2. General eligibility requirements for nurses
Applicants should check the individual vacancy, as requirements vary by employer and specialty.
-
Nursing qualification: A recognised nursing qualification appropriate to the position.
-
Professional registration: Nurses trained overseas generally need registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and a current Annual Practising Certificate before practising as registered nurses.
-
English language: Evidence of English-language proficiency where required by the registration pathway.
-
Clinical experience: Some positions accept early-career nurses, while specialist and community roles may require relevant experience.
-
Work rights: Applicants must meet the employer’s eligibility-to-work requirements.
-
Immigration: Registration and a job offer do not automatically guarantee a work visa. Check current visa eligibility and employer accreditation with Immigration New Zealand.
Official resources:
3. Salary and benefits
Salary depends on registration, experience, clinical specialty, working hours and the employer’s collective agreement.
One current emergency nursing advertisement lists a salary range of NZ$83,725–$109,407 per year, pro rata, plus KiwiSaver. This is the advertised range for that specific position, not a guaranteed salary for all nursing jobs.
Potential employment benefits, depending on the role, may include:
-
Paid annual leave and other applicable employment entitlements.
-
Orientation and professional development.
-
Access to specialist clinical training.
-
Supportive multidisciplinary teams.
-
KiwiSaver contributions where applicable.
Do not advertise relocation support, visa sponsorship, accommodation or flight reimbursement unless the individual employer confirms those benefits.
4. How to apply for nursing jobs in New Zealand
-
Open the official job link and read the complete position description.
-
Check the closing date and confirm that applications are still being accepted.
-
Prepare an updated CV, nursing qualification documents and employment references.
-
Include evidence of Nursing Council registration and a current APC if required.
-
Submit the online application through the employer’s official careers portal.
-
If applying from overseas, check registration and immigration requirements before making travel or employment commitments.
Important for international applicants: Not every vacancy accepts applicants who are still overseas or offers visa sponsorship. Confirm this directly with the recruitment team.