Companion Animal Team - Te Puke Veterinary Centre

Helen started with TPVC as a mixed veterinarian, and after a couple of years transitioned to solely companion animals.

Helen is passionate about all areas of canine and feline medicine and surgery, with a particular interest in soft tissue surgery.

When not at work Helen loves spending time with her dog Rylee, and riding her bike.

Jenny graduated from Bristol University in the UK in 2010 and moved straight over to New Zealand where she worked as a mixed practice vet in the Waikato for 2 years. In that time she realised small animal work was where her interest was and has been doing this since, with the last 7 years working in Te Puke. She enjoys all aspects of the job but particularly enjoys ophthalmology and soft tissue surgery.

Outside of work Jenny enjoys spending time with her family and friends; and exploring this beautiful country with her husband, young daughter and dog Abby. She likes to keep active, which is easy to do chasing after a toddler!

Joanna is a 2015 Massey Veterinary graduate, she started working as a mixed practice veterinarian for 3 years in Northland before locuming and focusing on companion animals. She has a particular interest in surgery but enjoys the challenge of many aspects of being a veterinarian. Originally from Tauranga, Joanna has recently moved back to the Bay of Plenty region where she has just had her first baby.

Jo has an interest in orthopaedics and treating and looking after our brachycephalic patients.

Jo enjoys spending time with her little family, taking her dog Nala to the beach, braving DIY home improvements with her hubby and anything outdoors, hiking, gardening, biking, camping.

Animal’s are amazing. Everyday it is a privilege to work with them, and you! The role that pets fill in people’s lives is variable but always special. Sometimes it is the relationship between people and their pets that keeps them going. I am so lucky to be able to have a part in facilitating this every day.

I have worked for Te Puke Vets since my graduating year in 1990. There have been a few stints overseas, two children, locums, and some farming in between. For the 18 years I taught vet nursing at the local tech, I worked at the clinic one day a week. I am currently working between 2 and 4 days a week and if I haven’t met you and your wonderful furry friend yet, then I would love to get to know you, and maybe observe another special animal human bond.

Marloes is one of our small animal vets. She graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Massey University in 2012 and obtained her Masters in Veterinary Medicine (MVM) from Massey University in 2020.

Marloes has worked in Australia and Christchurch and also spent some time locuming around the Bay of Plenty before joining our team in late 2021. She enjoys all aspects of the job especially soft tissue surgery, dentistry and problem solving tricky medical cases.

Marloes spends most of her spare time chasing a busy toddler but also enjoys going to the gym, swimming at the beach, and tucking into some home-baking with a coffee and a good book.

My vet career began in Te Puke in 1996 then after 3 years in England and 4 years in Auckland I returned to TPVC in 2005.

I enjoy all aspects of feline and canine veterinary practice and most of all enjoy soft tissue surgery. I am grateful to work with such variety and challenges and also a great practice and team to work with at TPVC.

Outside of work I enjoy the outdoors with friends and family and our family dog Indy. I am an avid learner currently studying human health span optimisation, building biology, and photobiology.

Sophie graduated from Massey University in 2014. She started out as a mixed animal vet in the Waikato before transitioning solely to companion animals. Sophie has recently moved to the Bay of Plenty and is enjoying all the things it has to offer.

Sophie enjoys most aspects of veterinary medicine and is passionate about good communication. Her particular interests include emergency medicine, soft tissue surgery and ultrasonography. A long term goal is to develop her ultrasonography skills.

Outside of work, Sophie enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her furbaby, “Mish Meow.”

Kate started with us in 2018, and has a Certificate in Veterinary Nursing.

Kate really enjoys dentistry and orthopedics, and loves getting to know you and your pets and offering excellent care and advice for them.

Kate has 3 children and outside of work enjoys spending time with them and their pets.

I grew up on a lifestyle block in Taupo where I had my first job working at a dog kennels. After school I went travelling and completed a Psychology degree at Auckland University. I decided to shift my focus from people to pets and completed my diploma in veterinary nursing before starting with Te Puke Vets March 2026.

When not working I enjoy playing hockey, socialising and taking my dog to the beach.

Sian joined our small animal nursing team in February 2019. She graduated as a Veterinary nurse from Wintec in Hamilton in 2008. Sian is very interested in healthy weight management, surgical nursing and the various rewards and challenges it brings. She has worked in various practices around the country as well as locuming around the UK for two years.
When Sian is not at work she enjoys taking her dog Crash Bandicoot to the beach, Tect park and playing squash.

I have grown up in Tauranga surrounded by many family cats and dogs which is probably where my love for animals began. After living in Taupo for a few years without any pets I realised how much I missed caring for them which lead me to pursue a career as a veterinary nurse.
I have only recently graduated from Otago Polytechnic and gained my Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2023. I spent many of my work placement hours at TPVC, so when the opportunity arose to join their team I couldn’t say no! I’m excited to be growing as a nurse and learning more and more with such an amazing team.

I grew up in Cambridge and spent a lot of time on my grandparents kiwifruit farm here in Te Puke.

I completed my Vet Nursing Diploma at WINTEC in 2019

I enjoy all aspects of the jobs particularly looking after hospitalized patients.

Outside of work I enjoy hiking, relaxing at the beach and spending time with my partner and family.

Rose gained her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in 2018, which she studied at Wintec in Hamilton. Rose grew up on the West of the North Island, south of Raglan in the middle of nowhere with lots of animals and family, which are a big part of her life. She grew up with a large selection of animals, including lambs, calves, goats, chickens, pet wild rabbits, cats and a dog all of which grew her fascination of animals even more. When I’m not at work with all your fur babies Rose enjoys the outdoor walks, the ocean, and the gym, a good book or tv show. Spending time with family and friends during any time off is a must as they all live up and down the country. At work Roses interests are surgical nursing such as Orthopaedics, Anaesthesia and Dentistry.

Chrissy joined our small animal nurse team in April 2022 after studying Vet Nursing at Toi Ohomai.
She grew up in Germany and worked and travelled around Australia and New Zealand for several years before she decided to settle down in her partners hometown, Papamoa, in 2020.
In her freetime Chrissy likes to spend time in the ocean, travel and go on roadtrips with her partner and her rescue dog Freddy.

Hi I’m Deborah, I completed my Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at WINTEC. I’m originally from the UK however have spent most of my life in New Zealand. I spent 5 years after leaving school, working with children and then decided that it was time for a change, so here I am. I was lucky enough to get to do a lot of my work placement at Te Puke Vets, and so when a job opened up it was an easy decision to join such an amazing team.

My down time is spent keeping busy on the family farm and spending time with my 2 amazing dogs Rocky and Jasper and our 18 year old cat, Rosie.

I look forward to seeing you and your fur babies some time soon.

Helen McGowan

Jenny O'Brien

Joanna Bruin

Karen Reynolds

Marloes Heslop

Simon Bartley

Sophie Potter

Kate Harston

Aims Nicol

Sian Rowell

Kayleigh Julian

Kate Richards

Rose Emmett

Chrissie Kessler

Deborah Sharp