Team members Archive

Sam graduated from Massey University in 2017 and joined the small animal team at Vets North in 2021. Sam enjoys all aspects of small animal practice, but has a particular interest in dermatology. In her spare time Sam enjoys painting, baking and spending time with her partner Nathan and her cat “Goose”.

Amber joined the team in April 2022. After leaving school she moved overseas where she worked as a groom traveling all over Europe for a top international showjumping rider. Since returning to NZ she has worked in Administration/Inventory roles.  She has a few of her own pets including 2 horses as well as her hunterway Sally. In her spare time you will find her riding her horses at the forest or beach.

Angela joined the vets north team in April 2022 as customer service. Angela has grown up on a farm and enjoys a wide range of activities.

Arlene is one of our Customer Service superstars for our Helensville Clinic. Her journey began in 1993, when she qualified as a veterinary nurse and worked in a West Auckland Clinic for over 5 years.

In 2001,  moved to the South Island and spent 7 years, on a 1300 acre property, in the remote Marlborough Sounds, working for an Eco Tourism company.

In December 2007, she moved back to Helensville and started working for Helensville Vets in Janurary 2008.

Arlene enjoys walking on the beach, bush walks, yoga and baking.

Aleesha joined the team in April 2021 while completing her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, she now works between our Silverdale and Kumeu clinics. Aleesha has a Bengal cat called Atlas and two miniature ponies named Ellie and Jazzy. In her spare time Aleesha enjoys competing her thoroughbred horse Pasta.

Bianca graduated last year from Unitec, gaining a Diploma in veterinary Nursing. Bianca has lived in Auckland her whole life, her family have always had a cat ever since she can remember. This year Bianca adopted her first dog, Riley. Since then she has spent most of her time getting out for walks or to the beach with Riley.

Always wanting to work with animals, Briar made the shift from the banking world to the veterinary world early 2020’s. Briar has previously worked in both an exotic and emergency clinic and has since joined the Vets North team as a Veterinary Nurse with us in May 2023.

Briar’s love of animals has always been known and if she could, she would bring any animal possible home with her. Briar loves learning and being able to grow her knowledge to help ensure any animals she cares for are always getting the best care possible.

In her spare time, you can find Briar with her nose in a book, spending time with Gerald, her attention-loving cat, volunteering at a de-sexing clinic, or covered in paint from a new art project.

Christine joined the Vets North team in 2023 bringing with her a wealth of experience in both Customer Service and Nursing. Christine has been in the vet industry for two decades, working with both small animals and large animals. Prior to this Christine worked in the Thoroughbred breeding industry both in NZ and overseas. Growing up and working in the Rangitikei Region Christina has a passion for working dog health and wellbeing.

Ginger started at Vets North in July 2022. She is originally from Southern California, but obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Kansas State University. Ginger has been around animals her whole life. She grew up riding horses, competing in the Hunter-Jumper discipline, but did sorting and roping for fun. Ginger has had cats, dogs, horses and a variety of reptiles throughout her childhood and worked in and out of the veterinary field up through her teenage years and into young adult life. Though most of her responsibilities in previous clinics were in the ancillary department, she began vet nurse training in California before moving to New Zealand.

Along with animals, Ginger has always had a passion for travel, languages and cultures, and as such, has lived abroad a number of times. Taking a break from the animal world and her degree, she achieved one of her greatest dreams of teaching English as a foreign language while living in the Czech Republic. After returning home to finish her studies, she caught the travel bug once again, which brought her to New Zealand. She had great success as a manager and barista for a specialty coffee company for the first 3 years here, but decided it was time to return to her passion for animals and is extremely happy to be working with animals again as part of the team at Vets North!

I completed the CVN last year and am finishing my DVN this coming year. I have an interest in all weird and wonderful pets and keep lovebirds, axolotls, a fire-bellied newt, as well as regular cats and dogs.

Jasmine joined Vets North in August 2022 as part of the Customer Service Team. Jasmine has grown up around many different animals and is passionate about horse riding and free flying her parrots. She has an impressive array of parrots from African Greys and Galah’s to Mustache Parakeets and Conures. In her spare time Jasmine enjoys camping and taking her horses Rua & Dakota to the beach with friends.

Jayne’s vet nursing career spans over a decade. Over this time Jayne has cared for all kinds of animals from cats and dogs to working as an equine and large animal technician. Jayne lives with her partner and their spicy cat Loki. Outside of work you’ll usually catch Jayne on her horse but she also enjoys 4WD winch comps and target shooting.

Jenna graduated with a Veterinary Nursing Diploma from Vet Nurse Plus. Over the past four years in clinic Jenna has discovered her passion for canine behaviour, an area she hopes to study further in. Jenna is also a certified Puppy Preschool trainer. At home Jenna has two dobermans that she loves adventuring with as well as a cat and two horses which she enjoys riding in her spare time.

Jess has joined Vets North as a certificated vet nurse going on to complete her diploma in 2023. She started with us in June 2022 after studying at UCOL in Palmerston North. Alongside Vet Nursing, Jess also completed her professional dog grooming certificate which is something she plans to expand on in the near future as well as Vet Nursing. 

She grew up working with horses but in the last year taken on her Rottweiler Zara and recently her rescue Roxy. In her spare time she enjoys camping and off-roading which the dogs enjoy participating in as well.

Laura joined Vets North in August 2017 and works part time in our Helensville branch.  She qualified in the UK, before moving to New Zealand to enjoy many outdoor adventure sports.  She now lives in South Head on her lifestyle property with horses, sheep and chickens with her partner and their 2 children.  She occasionally still gets to enjoy some outdoor adventure!

Lia joined the Helensville Vets North Team in June 2022. Having studied Canine Behaviour and Training, Lia went on to run her own Dog Walking Business, doing group walks and basic training. In 2020 Lia joined the SPCA canine team as their Volunteer Liaison, and spent a year working with abused and neglected dogs, and training volunteers to do the same. In 2021 Lia made the change to Aviation Security, before coming to Join us at Vets North Helensville.

More to come on Lily

Melanie qualified as a vet nurse in the UK in 2000. She has worked in a wide variety of practices in the UK – doing small & large animal, equine avian and exotic pets. Melanie has spent the last 10  years working at the Auckland Zoo before starting at Vets North in 2017 to be closer to home.

Melissa has been with the Vets North Team since 2012. Originally employed as a veterinary nurse she turned her focus to customer service and is now the Waimauku Team Leader. Mel is our puppy preschool co-ordinator and has a strong interest in canine behaviour and enrichment. In her spare time you can find her on her lifestyle block with her partner and their fur family.

Mia joined the team in 2023 after standing out to the Waimauku Team while completing a student placement. Currently a student at Kingsway College Mia is working towards entry to University to become a Veterinarian. In her spare time she enjoys hanging out with her bunnies Frost and Chia or curling up with a good book. Mia also enjoys the outdoors, practicing her archery or mountain biking as a part of the school team.