Posted 16 July, 2026
Addiction Practitioner
New Zealand Government
Whanganui, MWT, NZ
Full Time
Reference: b3df8480734cff9c
Job Description
# Addiction Practitioner at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral, Manawatu / Whanganui## Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role* **Addictions Practitioner, OST*** **District Addictions Services – Manawatu Locality*** **Permanent – Full time****Walking Alongside Whaiora on Their Recovery Journey.**Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.**About the Role**Based within the Manawatu Locality Service with a focus on supporting whaiora requiring specialist addiction support. You will have an alignment with the Alcohol and other Drugs and Opiate Substitution programs based primarily in Manawatu, with reach in to support whaiora and impacted whanau within Tararua and Horowhenua based clinics.The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate a level of knowledge and skill in the management of adults who present with co-existing mental health and substance use disorders, assessment and treatment planning of those requiring OST stabilisation and extended community support of those with complex overlapping dependencies to various substances. The role will also include the capacity to respond within an integrated treatment approach for those who would benefit from addiction support inside the AoD and mental health services.We are looking for a candidate who is highly motivated, is committed to ensuring culturally responsive care, is excited by change and able to work across teams and is committed to a strengths-based recovery approach that supports whaiora and impacted whanau to achieve their goals.This service is delivered in line with national and international best practice principles.**About you**To succeed in this role, you will have:* Registration as an Addictions Practitioner with a current NZ Annual Practising Certificate* Relevant graduate and post-graduate qualifications within the addictions scope* Experience in implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in practice* Strong clinical expertise in OST, co-existing and addictions practice* Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills* A current full driver's licence* A willingness to learn and be part of a diverse inter-professional team**Benefits*** An encouraging learning environment where you will continue to grow and be challenged* A professional and supportive culture and team setting* Fulfilling and challenging work with great lifestyle options* Tailored wellbeing programs**About the Location****Manawatū is known for its effortless blend of city and rural living; here you can choose your ideal lifestyle, from peaceful rural villages, to bustling townships, or city life.** It's a family-friendly place that's easy to live and work, with easy access to an array of outdoor activities – beaches, ski fields, lakes, mountains, as well as fantastic mountain biking and hiking tracks. No traffic and an easy commute to work, really help a with true work-life balance. Our fantastic central location means exploring other parts of New Zealand is easy as a drive or a short flight. We are well served with excellent schooling options, as well as two tertiary institutes – Massey University and the International Pacific College.Discover more hidden gems that Manawatū and Palmerston North have to offer here: Manawatū & Palmerston North - Visit | Live | Study | Business (manawatunz.co.nz). Check out our careers site here for more information about Palmerston North hospital.We actively encourage a life work balance and appreciate flexibility can be important, so we are open to discuss options!**Working at Health New Zealand**Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community**.** We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.**How to Apply**To apply please click “**apply now**.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal**.** If you have any questions about the role, please contact District Addictions Lead Fran Bettridge via email [email protected] or via phone 027 275 0840Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.*We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible so may withdraw the advert if the perfect candidate is found before the expiry date.**We strive to be a place where people love to work and learn. We aim to develop a diverse team that reflects the communities that we serve, and we welcome people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socio-economic situations and accessibility needs.* *MidCentral actively seeks Māori into our workforce to reflect the community we serve.* *Some positions are defined as a Core Children's worker under the Children's Act and require full safety checks completed before employment commences.*## Ngā taipitopito tūranga mahi | Job details| | || --- | --- || Employer: | Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral || Location: | Manawatu / Whanganui || Position type: | Permanent Full time || Category: | Community Services || Date listed: | 10-Jun-2026 || Salary range: | $90,843 - $110,290 || Closing date: | 14-Aug-2026 || Reference: | 1926802 || Attachment: | Addictions-Pract- 1926802.pdf (PDF, 520KB) Job Description Addictions-Pract- 1926802.pdf (PDF, 520KB) Job Description || File links: | || Website: | http://www.midcentraldhb.govt.nz | #J-18808-Ljbffr