Nursing Entry to Practice Programme (NETP)

​​​​​​​​​​​New Zealand's Nursing Entry to Practice Programme (NETP) enables nursing graduates to begin their careers well-supported, safe, skilled and confident in their clinical practice, equipped for further learning and professional development, meeting the needs of health and disability support service users and employers.

NetP builds a sustainable pathway for the New Zealand registered nurse workforce into the future.

The Canterbury and West Coast District Health Boards Regional NetP Team and partners ensure our programme fulfils these objectives.

Nursing Graduates 2022

Canterbury and West Coast District Health Boards warmly welcome nursing graduates to apply for the Nursing Entry to Practice Programme (NETP) or the New Entry to Speciality Practice Mental Health and Addiction Nursing Programme (NESP),​ via the ACE Nursing Website.

At the Canterbury Region NETP / NESP and community/primary areas you will be working with experienced, educated and qualified nurses who will support you in your first year of practice.

Canterbury and West Coast offers a structured 12 month programme. The Canterbury District Health Board offers permanent contracts. A mixture of permanent and fixed term contracts is offered by community or primary health organisations.  

NESP programmes generally have two intakes each year - September to November and January/February to November the following year.  Employment within Specialist Mental Health Service of CDHB are permanent, subject to meeting all programme requirements.

The Canterbury and West Coast Region NETP programmes have Heatlh Workforce Directorate (HWD) funded positions across many different clinical areas and specialties.

The NESP programme (inclusive of West Coast DHB and NGO partners) numbers vary from year to year. 

Recruitment Assessment Centres will be held on:

Mid Year 2022:

  • 9th - 15th June 2022

End of Year 2022​:

  • 13th - 19th October 2022

Assessment centres are a recruitment process which includes NETP/NESP applications to the CDHB, WCDHB, and partnering organisations, St Georges Hospital and Southern Cross​ Hospital, Christchurch. 

Please find attached an information sheet  on the clinical placement areas offered: NETP NESP Information Sheet September 2022 Intake.pdf

 NETP NESP Information

For any enquiries related to either NETP or NESP, please email NETP@cdhb.health.nz


Page last reviewed: 10 May 2022