Meet the veterinarians and team that make up Otaki Vets. We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your pets and can’t wait to see you in the clinic!
Please call us at 06 364 6941 or 06 364 7089 to speak to one of our caring veterinary staff members.
Angela is one of our veterinary surgeons, who trained in Edinburgh and graduated in 1984. She then moved to New Zealand and Otaki in the early 90’s. She has special interest in surgery which she gained her membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists. Angela also enjoys flying light aircraft, tramping and plays the clarinet and saxophone. She lives on a small holding with sheep, cattle and two very spoilt cats.
Maria is passionate about small animals and loves that no two days are the same as a vet. She says each day brings its own challenges, heartaches and satisfaction. Maria is married to Ed, a scientist, and has two children both in college. She also has four cats and everybody knows George, the spaniel, who comes to work with her. Maria works two days in Otaki and one day in Levin. On the days that she isn’t working, she becomes a taxi driver, house manager and cook. She likes to do Yoga and loves taking photos. Every two years she takes one of her children on an overseas adventure – this year she and her daughter Lisabet have done the Silk Road in China.
Graham has been a vet for 48 years! He has owned his own practice and has been a familiar face around Otaki for years! Working for us part time he has an immense amount of knowledge and skill that has been built up and perfected over many years. He loves all animals great and small and looks forward to meeting his old clients and the new ones everyday.
Olivia is a small town Kiwi girl, originally from Pahiatua. She completed her veterinary degree at Massey University in Palmerston North in 2007 and went to work in rural Otorohanga in the Waikato. Here she gained all sorts of experience from calving cows, unpacking alpacas, tending to kiwis at the Kiwi House to mending lots of farm dogs and saving pig dogs. Olivia stayed in the Waikato for six years working at various clinics, such as Te Kuiti and the Waikato After Hours Hospital.
She now focuses her expertise solely on small animals and enjoys being thorough with each case and getting to the bottom of each of her patients’ concerns. She has special interests in ophthalmology, ultrasound and cytology, but loves all aspects of her clinical practice.
Olivia lives locally with her husband David, three children, two dogs, two cats and two chickens. You’ll be able to catch Olivia at Otaki Vets on Thursdays, Fridays and some Saturdays. The rest of the time she’s wrangling her motley crew at home.
Emily is our head nurse at Otaki Vets. She has been a vet nurse for roughly 17 years now after graduating with her diploma back in 2000. She moved to the Kapiti coast back in 2009 and lives at Te-Horo beach with her daughter, Neve, two Burmese cats and 11 tropical fish. She throughly enjoys her work, with a special interest in feline medicine/behaviour. Emily looks forward to meeting your fur babies and giving them the best care she possibly can.
Jen is our marketing coordinator. She is a whizz on the social media side of it and you will usually find her out the front on reception with her friendly smile. Jen likes to spend her free time hanging out with her cheeky cat Maus and adorable foxy Basil.
A local Otakian, Chelsea has been an animal lover all her life, growing up in a household with all sorts of critters – as a child she was always bringing in baby birds and bunnies to be looked after.
Chelsea went to Victoria Uni to complete a BA before realizing that she wanted to be working with animals. She graduated with a Diploma of Vet Nursing in 2016 and started working here straight after. Chelsea loves working at Otaki Vets as every day is different and she never knows what will be walking through the door.
Outside of work she enjoys horse riding, photography and hanging out with the numerous cats at home (mostly rescues from the clinic) and her cheeky Yorkshire Terrier cross, Vespa.
Jo is one of the part-time vet nursing and reception staff at Otaki Vets and loves working with such an awesome caring team! She was born and bred in the Horowhenua and grew up with a lasting passion for horses and all animals. Once married, Jo and her husband made their home in the Bay of Plenty, where she worked as the sole surgery nurse in a busy mixed practice in Tauranga for five years, then after a small break at a smaller clinic in Mt Maunganui. She and her husband moved back to this area around ten years ago and are now lucky enough to live on a lifestyle block on the outskirts of Levin. They love rural life! Jo has two children, who love their country school and keep her busy on her days off. Jo and her family have around 15 sheep, (about 10 of them pets) four cats, two Labradors and a Fox Terrier who are all part of the family.
Emma has an amazing passion for all animals and loves her nursing roles. She has one cat at home and also an amazing dog, Taz.
Kristy is a fully qualified Veterinary Technician. Kristy is passionate about all animals and just loves the challenges that come with the job (the cuddles from all the furry patients are a certain favourite at the clinic!) She has one dog at home called Roo, two cats, and a cheeky monkey called Ollie who came into the clinic as a stray and ended up at Kristy’s place (whoops!)
Our resident architect is Rob Kofoed of Kofoed Architects. Rob designed the clinic to be a functional work place whilst keeping most of its original 1905 character and charm. His architectural practice is located in the clinic and he provides the morning tea.
