Clinical Nurse Specialist Mental Health - Waikeria Prison

Clinical Nurse Specialist – Mental Health (Hikitia)

• Enjoy genuine work-life balance (no night shift) and diverse practice.
• Support for PDLP (Professional Development, Learning, and Development).

Hikitia describes a collection of mental health and additions services in the Waikato region across our three prisons : Waikeria, Tongariro and Springhill Corrections Facility.

Hikitia has been designed to address the over-representation of prisoners with mental health and addictions issues and is the first of its kind in New Zealand.

It will provide multi-treatment mental health and addictions services, within the prison environment.

Nga kawenga | About the role

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Mental Health, you'll have a remarkable opportunity to deliver specialised mental health nursing services that can genuinely enhance the well-being of those under our care.

Your responsibilities, ranging from triage and assessment to evidence-based treatments, will be crucial in integrating primary health and tertiary mental health services.

Beyond that, as a member of our mental health whanau, you'll be part of a supportive culture with a focus on a holistic approach to recovery-oriented healthcare in the prison environment.

In your role as a CNS, you'll have a role in supporting the professional growth of fellow health professionals.

Together, you'll provide vital mental health services to those in our care who are most vulnerable.

He korero mou | About you

You will be a Registered Nurse with a current Nursing Council of NZ Annual Practising Certificate.

Your role requires a foundation in strong cultural competence, encompassing an understanding of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application, along with cultural knowledge and experience in working with and for Maori, whanau, and iwi.

Your professional background should include specialist Mental Health nursing experience in primary / community, secondary, or tertiary settings.

It is imperative that you can demonstrate relevant experience, especially in dealing with individuals facing acute and complex mental health and / or addiction issues.

Utu a-tau | Salary

The full salary range is $114,025 - $124,444.

Appointment and remuneration will reflect clinical competency, skills, and experience relevant to the role.

Ko wai matou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) Health Services lead the delivery of patient-focused primary health care services to tangata within corrections facilities across Aotearoa.

Hokai Rangi, our over-arching strategic direction, places the focus on health at the heart of our business.

Building our frameworks from a Matauranga Maori basis is our focus to drive and support equity for Maori, which in turn will contribute to achieving our outcomes of reducing reoffending.

You can find out more about us here.

Tono inaianei | Apply now

Applications Close Friday, 17 October 2025

Please apply and describe your motivation for joining the department in a cover letter, highlighting relevant skills and experience.

Please include a tailored CV if you have one.

Alignment to our Kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that you provide examples that reflect and demonstrate our organisation values.

Ara Poutama Aotearoa values diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce which reflects the public we serve.

We strive to make our recruitment process fair and inclusive, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

If you want to find out more about a care