Meet the team
Mr. Taz Singh
Thasvir (Taz) is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon who completed his training in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and holds a Consultant post at Waikato Hospital.
He grew up in NZ, and was fortunate enough to live in many parts of the country including the Bay of Islands, Palmerston North, Waikato, and Auckland, prior to moving to Dunedin to study. Taz graduated from Dentistry at the University of Otago before working in Middlemore and Greenlane Maxillofacial Units. After completing Medicine at the University of Auckland, he moved to Adelaide where he worked in various surgical disciplines including ENT, Orthopaedics, and Neurosurgery. On accepting entry into the Melbourne OMS Training program he underwent extensive training with a particular focus on Dental implant, Orthognathic, and Maxillofacial Trauma Surgery. During this time, he published numerous research articles and completed a Master’s degree (First Class Honours) focusing on Ameloblastoma tumours, immunohistochemistry, HPV, and PCR. He returned to NZ and completed his Maxillofacial training whilst working at Waikato Hospital, obtaining the ANZAOMS medal for the highest mark in the Final RACDS(OMS) Exams.
Thereafter he was offered Head and Neck Cancer and Microvascular Reconstruction fellowships at St George's Hospital in London, and the Royal Derby Hospital, which were accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh).
Currently Taz is working in both private and public practice. He is happy to consult on all oral and maxillofacial problems and surgical options
Mr. Michael Rutledge
I strive to be the best doctor and person I can be. Originally from Perth, WA, I moved to NSW to pursue my medical and dental degrees at the University of Sydney. After working as a dentist and completing my internship and residency in regional NSW, I moved to Auckland, NZ. I completed my Master of Surgery and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training in NZ. I followed this with a fellowship in Orthognathic and Facial Trauma Surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and a mini-residency in TMJ Surgery. I’m proud to be a Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Te Whatu Ora – Waikato and I'm privileged to serve the Waikato community, teach medical and dental students, train future surgeons, and pursue clinical research focused on technology. I'm honoured to join OMS Waikato and look forward to collaborating with our colleagues and serving the wider community.
Mr. Linus Armstrong
Linus is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon originally from rural Queensland, Australia. After graduating in medicine from the University of New England, he completed his internship and residency in surgery at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. During this time, he was inspired to pursue a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery, which led him to complete a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the University of Adelaide.
As the top candidate selected for his intake, Linus completed the Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training program across multiple hospitals in Queensland. He further advanced his expertise by completing a Master of Surgery (Head & Neck) at the University of Sydney and has cultivated a keen interest in research, with several papers published in leading surgical journals.
His passion for head and neck oncology and reconstruction brought him across the Tasman Sea to work with Mr. Singh and the team at Waikato Hospital, where he currently serves as the Head and Neck Oncology Fellow. Linus holds both Australian and New Zealand medical and dental board specialist recognition in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Dr. Tim Starkie
I have worked as a specialist anaesthetist since 2012. I originally trained in England but in 2013 moved to Hamilton with my family and since then I have been privileged to call New Zealand home. Working in both public and private health systems I enjoy a diverse range of clinical practice and strive to give my patients the best care possible. My non clinical interests lie in quality improvement and training.
Dr. Peter Simmons
Peter is a specialist anaesthetist who has trained in Australia and New Zealand (FANZCA), before settling in the Waikato.
Having grown up in rural New South Wales, Peter relocated to study a Bachelor of Medicine (B.Med) at the University of Newcastle, which included a six month exchange to the University of Oslo, Norway. After rotating through various specialties as a Resident Medical Officer in Orange, NSW, he began his anaesthetic training working in numerous departments throughout NSW, including Westmead and Westmead Children’s Hospital. He then completed fellowships at Royal Perth Hospital and Waikato Hospital.
Currently, Peter provides anaesthesia for a wide range of surgical specialties, in both the public and private hospitals. He enjoys being a part of the OMS Waikato team, which has a patient centric focus and the opportunity to deliver personalised anaesthetic care.