Occupational Therapists

Bring your expertise to Aotearoa and be part of a health system committed to improving lives.

• Take the next step in your Occupational Therapy career in beautiful New Zealand
• Roles available in acute, subacute, community, and specialist services
• Permanent, full-time and fixed-term opportunities available across New Zealand

About you

We are looking for qualified and experienced Occupational Therapists who are passionate about enabling better outcomes for people, whnau and communities. Whether you're seeking a new challenge, professional growth, or a more balanced lifestyle - there’s a place for you in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Occupational Therapists at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora are essential members of our multi-disciplinary teams across the country. Our teams support people to maximise their independence and participation in meaningful everyday activities - whether they're recovering from injury, managing long-term health conditions, or adapting to life changes.

Opportunities are available nationwide in a broad range of clinical areas including trauma, orthopaedics, general medicine, surgery, neurology, acute stroke, respiratory, cardiology, paediatrics, ICU, emergency departments, burns and plastics, oncology, hand therapy, and community-based roles such as home visits and rehabilitation.

No matter where you work, you'll be part of a collaborative team with access to peer networks, in-service training, clinical supervision and professional development.

To work as an Occupational Therapist in New Zealand, you must hold registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand and a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC). Applications from internationally qualified therapists are welcome and assessed for eligibility and equivalence on a case-by-case basis.

Call New Zealand home

Our dedicated Health Immigration Team provides free relocation support for you and your family once you have received a job offer. Occupational Therapists are included on Tier 1 of New Zealand’s Green List, which means you're eligible to apply for the Straight to Residence Visa before arriving in New Zealand - as long as you have a job offer from us.

New Zealand offers a lifestyle where work and wellbeing go hand-in-hand. Whether you’re into hiking, beaches, city culture or quiet community life, you’ll find a home that fits. With world-class landscapes and a strong sense of community, Aotearoa is a place where you can build a meaningful career and an extraordinary life.

Salary and benefits

Occupational Therapists enjoy competitive salaries based on experience and role complexity, typically ranging from NZD $77k to $107k+ per year. You’ll also receive four weeks of annual leave, 12 paid public holidays, and a professional development allowance.

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is 'the weaving of wellness'. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome applications from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Mori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.

Health New Zealand is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we're building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whnau (family)-centred care, and excellence.

Our commitment to our communities

The New Zealand Health Charter guides how we relate to each other to serve our whnau (family) and communities, to continually improve health outcomes and contribute to wellness for all. We care for the people who care for the people; we recognise, support and value our people and the work we all do and work together to design and deliver healthcare services.

Requirements

To work as an Occupational Therapist in New Zealand, you must hold registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand and a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC). Applications from internationally qualified therapists are welcome and assessed for eligibility and equivalence on a case-by-case basis.