OUR PEOPLE

Emma is a lead veterinarian of Whangaparaoa Veterinary Centre and has been a part of our team since 2007. Emma qualified from the University of Pretoria in 1995.  A mixed animal practice in South Africa saw her treating animals for snake bites and other diseases we would consider exotic to New Zealand.

Emma and her husband immigrated to New Zealand in January 1997 where she has worked as a small animal veterinarian on the North Shore and at the North Shore After Hours Clinic for many years. 

Emma lives with her family on a lifestyle block in Helensville.  She enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine especially biochemistry and oncology, and has completed further studies in clinical pathology.

Shanti graduated from Massey University in 2000 and decided to head over the ditch to Australia where she worked in a mixed animal practice in rural Victoria.

In June 2003 Shanti felt that the call of home was too great and returned to New Zealand. She has been working at Whangaparaoa Veterinary Centre since then and is a lead veterinarian.

Shanti has a special interest in radiology and has completed further studies in this area. She also enjoys both soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery.

Shanti and her husband, Graham, live in Gulf Harbour with their children, two cats and a bearded dragon.

Monique qualified in 1993 from the State University of Utrecht, Veterinary Department. She worked as a Veterinarian for fifteen years in England. She was a partner in a mixed practice in Yorkshire for three years before setting up a new Small Animal and Equine Centre in Yorkshire with her husband.

Monique immigrated to New Zealand in 2008 with her husband, three children, three cats and two dogs.

She has been working at Whangaparaoa Veterinary Centre since 2008 as a clinician and practice manager.

Claire graduated from Massey University in 2010 and joined our team in 2019. She has previously worked at vet clinics in the South Island of New Zealand; in Adelaide, Australia; and assisted with a charity stray dog desexing project in Rarotonga in 2018.

Claire enjoys the variety of companion animal veterinary work but clinical pathology, soft tissue surgery and dentistry in particular.

She lives locally with her cat Stanley and loves exploring the beautiful beaches with her dog Percy, plus any outdoor adventures and art and craft projects.

Bethany has been with us since 2016, when she began a placement with us as a student nurse.  She qualified with her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing 2017. 

Bethany loves all aspects of veterinary nursing, especially anaesthesiology.

She lives locally with her partner, son and dog Zuka.

Vanessa graduated from Unitec in 2007 with her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. She has worked in various small animal practices since then and started with us in 2018.

Vanessa enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing - especially the variety and that no two days are ever the same.

She currently lives on the North Shore with her partner and cats, who are all named after famous musicians. In her spare time Vanessa and her partner like to go to live gigs and listen to music.

Jade completed her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2006 and returned to Whangaparaoa Veterinary Centre in 2023 after moving back to the Hibiscus Coast. She is married, has two young children and a senior cat called Carrot

Outside work Jade enjoys music, spending time with her family and friends and making the most of the beautiful local beaches

During work Jade can mostly be found using her excellent skills monitoring anaesthetics, assisting the veterinarians in surgery and caring for the hospital patients. She enjoys being hands on and looking after the patients as if they were her own pets, making sure all their needs are met in Clinic.

Ashleigh graduated from Vet Nurse Plus with her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2023 and has been working at Whangaparaoa Veterinary Centre since then.

She has always been passionate about animals and enjoys all aspects of nursing. She also organises our monthly puppy evenings.

Ashleigh lives on a small lifestyle block in Waitoki with her 4 horses, 3 cats and 2 dogs. In her spare time she enjoys riding, competing on her horses and taking her dogs for walks on the beach.

Lianne has been nursing since 2010. She loves nursing all patients but especially enjoys seeing seriously ill patients recover and go home healthy and well again. She has a special interest in exotics.

Lianne lives locally with her partner, 3 children and a selection of dogs, cats and reptiles.

Freya started working at Whangaparaoa vets in 2021 as an after school job. In 2023 she started working fulltime as an auxilliary nursing assistant. Freya particularly enjoys looking after the cats in the cattery and she helps the nurses to keep all equipment and the hospital neat and clean.

Freya lives locally with her family and kitten Albi.

Lisa qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2015 and gained her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2022. She lives in Kaukapakapa with her husband and 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses and 10 sheep. Lisa used to be an active equine eventer but she has now retired, though she still enjoys riding and farm life. She is also a keen gardner.

Manu is originally from South America. She grew up in Queenstown and moved to Auckland in 2016 to pursue a career in veterinary nursing and graduated in 2023 with a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. She is passionate about animal welfare and all aspects of nursing.

Manu lives in Dairy Flat with her partner and 2 rescue cats, Loki and Rosie.

Bubbles works in the weekends at the Clinic. She brings a world of experience and knowledge to the Clinic and to the clients. She volunteers for various charities in NZ and the Pacific with a focus on desexing. 

Bubbles lives on a 100 acre sheep and beef farm in Waitoki, offers farm stays and runs a boarding kennel and cattery.