Mr. Richard Peterson

Orthopaedic Surgeon FRACS, MBChB


Richard Peterson is a New Zealand trained surgeon who specialises in lower limb reconstruction.

Following completion of his medical degree and general orthopaedic and trauma training, Richard undertook extensive lower limb sub-speciality studies at:

  • University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

  • Middlemore Hospital, Auckland

  • Mercy Hospital, Auckland

  • Adidas Unisports Sports Medicine, Auckland.

Here in Nelson, Richard has both a public and private practice offering advanced orthopaedic care. He consults at The Collingwood Centre and operates at both Nelson Public Hospital and Manuka Street Trust Hospital.

 Safe and experienced hands

Today, Richard is a high volume lower limb surgeon in the Nelson region. Priding himself on patient care and outcome, Richard achieves well above the national average for successful outcomes in joint replacement surgery when compared to all the New Zealand Orthopaedic Surgeons on the NZ National Joint Replacement Registry.

Richard has been responsible for introducing a number of new surgical techniques now widely utilised by other surgeons throughout our region. He has also performed leading-edge New Zealand surgical firsts right here in Nelson.

Committed to maintaining a high-level skillset at the forefront of lower limb reconstruction, Richard is heavily involved in:

  • educating others and training New Zealand orthopaedic trainees

  • hosting international fellows and convening major New Zealand orthopaedic meetings

  • continued orthopaedic research

  • facilitating specialist surgical presentations.

Earlier rehabilitation, faster recovery, better outcomes

Patients are regularly experiencing earlier rehabilitation, faster recovery and better outcomes as a result of modern surgical techniques that Richard is using and has introduced to the Nelson region.

Richard and family
Richard, his wife and three children chose to settle in Nelson where he continues to provide an advanced orthopaedic service to the community, while enjoying the wonderful lifestyle Nelson has to offer. When not working, Richard spends a lot of his time with his family in the outdoors. He enjoys mountain biking, skiing, kayaking and tennis, and maintains a very active lifestyle.



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