A Guide to Working in Christchurch, New Zealand

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A Guide to Working in Christchurch, New Zealand

 

In this Christchurch location guide, we highlight the unique benefits of the area and its facilities, outlining the opportunities available to our doctors. This location is part of a wider series that showcases what it is like to work in a specific region in either Australia or New Zealand.

Christchurch, New Zealand

Located on the east coast of the South Island, Christchurch is a vibrant city in transition as it regenerates creatively from the aftermath of the February 2011 earthquake – the country’s second-worst natural disaster. As the oldest established city in New Zealand, central Christchurch is filled with heritage sites and quaint English architecture, contrasting with modern facilities and infrastructure.

The city has an excellent urban living scene, offering diverse retail outlets, lively dining and entertainment and a multitude of must-do attractions scattered about the area. Visit Cathedral Square and view the iconic 19th-century Cathedral (which is in the early stages of being rebuilt after earthquake damage), stroll down Worcester Boulevard to the Cultural Precinct, and explore the diverse exhibits of the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu and the Canterbury Museum. You can also learn about Maori culture at Nga Hau E Wha Marae or delve into the history of flight in New Zealand at Air Force World.

Famed as “the Garden City,” the outdoor environment is fundamental to the local lifestyle.A Guide to Working in Christchurch, New Zealand Christchurch has many expansive parks and public gardens to enjoy, such as the 161-hectare Hagley Park, the well-established Botanic Gardens and Mona Vale on the banks of the Avon River. New Zealand’s largest wildlife reserve, Orana Park, is popular with animal and bird lovers, and the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is home to the largest daytime kiwi viewing area in the country.

Christchurch is the gateway to the Canterbury region, allowing easy access to the breath-taking experiences available in the South Island. Foodies’ paradise Waipara Valley, the farming community of Ashburton, the stunning Arthur’s Pass and the coastal city of Timaru are within a few hours’ drive away and a short flight will take you to popular destinations such as Queenstown and Dunedin, making Christchurch the perfect base for exploring the best of what New Zealand has to offer.

Canterbury District Health Board

The Canterbury DHB covers a large region of the East Coast of the South Island with a catchment population of around 558,830 people, of which about 80% reside in the Greater Christchurch area. Local hospitals under this DHB include Christchurch Hospital, the Princess Margaret Hospital, Burwood Hospital, Christchurch Women’s Hospital and Hillmorton Hospital, in addition to several others across the wider Canterbury region.

Christchurch Hospital is the largest tertiary, teaching and research hospital in the South Island, accommodating around 833 beds in total. It provides a full range of acute, elective A Guide to Working in Christchurch, New Zealandand outpatient services, and the hospital’s Emergency Department treats over 83,000 patients each year, making it the busiest in Australasia. In recent years,Christchurch Hospital has been the subject of a $1 billion redevelopment project, with major refurbishments and the construction of new facilities improving the health services available in the area. Burwood Hospital (another focus of the redevelopments) is the second-largest facility in the region and one of New Zealand’s centres of excellence for rehabilitation and elective orthopaedic surgery.

The Canterbury DHB is a tertiary (secondary care plus teaching) institution that utilises close to 800 IT applications covering clinical systems, patient administration systems, and financial/administrative applications. It is also a member of the South Island Alliance which, together with the South Canterbury, West Coast, Nelson Marlborough, Canterbury and Southern DHBs, provide healthcare for about a quarter of the New Zealand population. As a result, Christchurch is an excellent option for doctors looking to be part of modern, integrated and world-class health services.

Summary

Whether you want to work, play, explore or be entertained, Christchurch is a fantastic place for doctors to live.

To learn more about the region and any potential locum and permanent opportunities, please contact the team today.


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