Our perfect Staff

Brett Finlayson

OWNER & HEAD VET

I was born and raised on a farm in Maungataroto, Northland. That is where my love for animals stems from. I went to secondary school at St. Kents in Auckland and had a year as an AFS student in the USA in 1972 (doesn’t seem that long ago!). After graduating from Massey University in 1978, I spent a year in mixed practice in Matamata before going overseas for a year doing locum work. On returning to NZ I worked for Ivan Fuyala at Red Beach for 3 years before shifting to the Waikato for almost 20 years working in mixed practices. The love of overseas travel reared its head again so Jenni and I took our family to Jersey in the Channel Islands off the coast of France for three years.

In 2004 we purchased the Orewa Veterinary Centre from Ivan Fuyala. We absolutely love living and working on the Hibiscus Coast and are here for the long haul! My partner in business and life is my wife Jenni, who is a real estate agent in Orewa. Jenni used to regularly take our Labrador Elle to visit local retirement homes to brighten up the residents through contact with animals. She worked under a program called Outreach Therapy which we strongly believe in. Unfortunately Elle has passed on now. 

We have three children, Cameron, Leah and Gabrielle who are all well on their way to doing their own thing now. We have a Miniature Schnauzer called Phoebe and a Maine Coon cat called Stella, they are real characters! I love my work, I enjoy the bond that exists between pet owners and their “best friends”. It is very satisfying to provide a one-stop shop for the care of our patients, from the initial consultation to lab tests (most can be done at the clinic), radiographs, surgery, medical treatment and nutritional advice.

Jemma

MILLWATER VET

I grew up surrounded by animals as my parents owned a farm which had a riding stables, lifestyle block, boarding kennels and cattery. I have wanted to be a vet for as long as I can remember but was particularly inspired by a really lovely vet, Peter Plumley, who looked after all our animals for years. I spent many summers doing work experience with Peter before going to vet school.

I qualified from Liverpool University in 2006. In 2009 I spent one month with my husband touring around New Zealand in a campervan. We both fell in love with the country, the people and the way of life, so much so that we decided to move here. We emigrated to New Zealand at the beginning of 2015 and live here with our 2 young children, cheeky dog Jessie (a Saving Hope special), and our 3 cats.

I have a special interest in soft tissue surgery but I love being a general practitioner as it enables me to see a variety of different cases. I particularly enjoy being able to follow cases from start to finish, creating bonds with owners and their pets. I’m loving working here and I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.

Emma

MILLWATER VET

I grew up surrounded by pets of all shapes and sizes, and spent as much time as I could around animals on friends’ farms and yards. This is where my love of animals stemmed from, and it only grew over the years with work experience, supporting my own pets through conditions and watching vet TV shows on repeat!

I graduated from Cambridge University in 2016, spent a few years working in the UK where I am originally from and moved to NZ with my partner in 2018. I relocated from the city centre to Stillwater last year and started at Millwater Vet Hospital in May 2020, and have loved working here ever since.

I am particularly interested in soft tissue surgery and feline medicine but really enjoy everything that general practice has to offer and am passionate about providing the best service I can to all of our patients and their owners.

In my spare time, I love exploring NZ through tramping, biking and camping. I enjoy training at the gym for sports events, playing netball and doing art when I can. I look forward to meeting you all and being a part of this vibrant community!

Toni

OREWA VET

Orewa Vet

Campbell

OREWA VET

I was fortunate to know that I wanted to be a vet from the age of seven. I graduated from Massey University and spent 2 ½ years in a 9 vet rural practice in the Bay of Plenty before spending the next 5 years travelling overseas and working in the U.K.

On my return to N.Z. I actually did a brief locum at the Orewa clinic back when Ivan Fuyala was the owner.  I live in Puhoi with my wife and three children with the usual dogs and cats and most recently some Muscovy ducks. My largest passion outside of veterinary work is sailing.

I enjoy all aspects of veterinary work but especially like surgery and internal medicine.  I am passionate about providing a high quality, caring service and working with the owners to best help our patients.

Michelle

MANLY VET

I have been a small animal vet for 30 years now.

I was working in the UK for 14 years and loved being a locum, which enabled me to travel around, learn a lot and meet new people.

I then returned in October 2020 to settle back into my homeland of New Zealand.

I look forward to meeting you at our Manly clinic and getting to know you and your pets.

Jess

PRACTICE MANAGER & HEAD NURSE

I have worked at the Orewa Veterinary Centre since 1997, previously with Ivan Fuyala and with Brett since he purchased the clinic in 2004. I have lived on the Hibiscus Coast since I was 7 and currently live in Red Beach with my 2 daughters Mhina and Sabine. Animals have always played a huge part in my life and I always enjoy the challenges that being a nurse brings. Helping owners understand what their pets are going through is something I find very rewarding, and compassion and empathy are traits I pride myself on.

At home my four cats enjoy the run of the house and are helping me train Hershey, a chocolate Labrador that has just moved in. When I’m not in the clinic I am with my girls, or playing cricket.

I look forward to helping you and your pets and might see you at the beach or around this piece of paradise we call home.

Chenay

OREWA ASSISTANT MANAGER & NURSE

I have been working at Orewa Vet Hospital since 2011. Brett and the team helped me while I did my studies by distance learning through Otago Polytechnic as I was working full time. I graduated in 2013 and am now a qualified vet nurse. I still thoroughly enjoy learning new things, upskilling and meeting new people.

I have been doing puppy classes at Orewa since 2010 and love every minute of it! I adore getting to see the pups grow up and become very much loved members of the family.

I grew up with all sorts of animals in the house thanks to my Mum’s love of all creatures big and small, which she has passed on to me.

From dogs, cats, mice, rats, birds, possums, goats, horses, lambs and more! I have lived in the Hibiscus Coast area since I was nine, but I now live in Warkworth with my husband, our daughters and two furbabies.

I love forming bonds with our clients and just can’t help but gush when dogs are excited to see me or cats just love that I know where to give them a good smooch. I look forward to meeting and getting to know you and your furry family members!

Tayla

MILLWATER AND MANLY

I have been working at the Orewa, Millwater and Manly Veterinary Hospitals since 2018 and graduated with my Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at Unitec in April 2019.

Animals have always been a huge part of my life and I thoroughly enjoy sharing my knowledge with clients. I also get to do this through the puppy preschool classes, which I adore.

I grew up in Wellington and my family had a German Shepherd called Brock – he was my big protector. Then in 2012, my family and I moved to a lifestyle block in Warkworth. This is where we have Holly, our German Shepherd and Pushkat the cat. Over the years of staying here in this beautiful part of New Zealand I have nursed many orphaned baby rabbits and lambs that became part of the family, one in particular we called Saffie.

Outside of nursing I am very social, meeting up with friends and meeting new people. I love travelling around New Zealand, exploring places I haven’t been to before and keeping fit and healthy by doing swimming and going to the gym.

I look forward to meeting you and your fur babies in the clinic.

Sam

NURSE

I was born and raised on Auckland’s North Shore and knew for a while that I wanted to become a veterinary nurse. The inner animal lover in me was fueled as a teen when my parents took over running a cattery in Greenhithe when I was 15 years old and I have been looking after animals ever since.

I graduated as a veterinary nurse from Auckland’s Unitec in Mt Albert in 2015 before going on to spend 9 months as a full-time manager of the cattery I spent my teen years working at. I went travelling in 2016 before landing a full-time role at a different clinic in 2017.

I got offered my place at Orewa, Millwater and Manly Vets in May 2018 and I have never looked back. Other staff members are so warm and welcoming to each other and to all our clients.

My interest is mainly in cats and I have experience in dealing with all types of cats, both happy and grumpy. There is no cat I am afraid to handle.

I work mostly at our Millwater clinic and enjoy getting to know both you and your pets.

Kana

OREWA NURSE

I am originally from Japan and I came to New Zealand in 2005 as a working holiday maker to pursue my dream by experiencing “Farm Stay”. After that, I have been living in New Zealand ever since.

I grew up with several kinds of animals, but I had never owned a cat. I wanted to know more about cats, so I then applied for a cattery job where I could learn lots about cats’ behaviour. I really enjoyed working with animals so my husband encouraged me to study veterinary nursing. I obtained a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing from Unitec in 2017.

When I have my days off, I usually enjoy walking, day-tripping and playing tennis with our 3 children.

In the photo you can see our family cat “Lena” who we have adopted since 2019. We are very pleased that she’s becoming more cuddly and enjoying human company. We also have two “indoor” guinea pigs who are very smart. As soon as we open the fridge, they will always make a squeaky noise to beg for more veges!

I look forward to meeting you and your family members and provide support for your pets.

Nikita

MILLWATER VET

I am new to the area in Orewa – I live out west on my family farm with my partner, two boys and two dogs. 

I have been working at Orewa Vet Hospital since December 2020. I am a qualified veterinary nurse, and previously managed my own veterinary team and worked as a senior nurse. 

I have a passion in behaviour and pharmacology, and absolutely love creating relationships with our furry friends. 

I look forward to meeting you and your babies.

Kylie

OREWA NURSE

I’m a lovely local, who joined the Orewa team in March 2021. I actually worked here in Orewa back in 2007 as my first vet nursing job. 

After a year, I then decided to spread my wings and venture on to work at two other busy clinics on the North Shore for the next 13 years.

I absolutely love vet nursing, and have a passion for pathology, oncology and behaviour.

I live with my husband and our fur family of 2 dogs, 2 cats and also 2 Eastern water dragons.

I really look forward to getting to know all the friendly faces and furry friends. 

Anita

MANLY NURSE

I have been working at Manly Vet Hospital since the opening day in November 2020.

I was born on the Hibiscus Coast and still live locally – this is my forever home. I love everything about the coast life and the people.

I have three children and my dog Nova and they keep me busy. In my spare time I love keeping fit, especially running.

As a kid we had a lot of animals from chickens and ducks to parrots and pigs and everything in between. This is where my passion started for all animals.

I look forward to getting to know you and your pets.

Rhiannon

OREWA NURSE

Orewa Vet

Casey

OREWA NURSE

Orewa Vet

Kirsti

OREWA NURSE

I started working at Orewa Vets in Jan 2022.

I am new to the veterinary industry, although, I have been an animal lover all my life and used to volunteer at Whāngarei SPCA as a kid, so there’s always been an interest.

I can honestly say, it’s such a rewarding job and workplace. I am learning so much and loving it more each day.

I’m so excited to further my training and career here.
I grew up on the North Shore, and for the last 6/7 years have lived out on the peninsula in Whangaparāoa with my 3 sons and our dog Surf who we adopted through Saving Hope Foundation.

We love the beach, sports, boating, fishing, diving, and everything else the coast has to offer.

I look forward to meeting and forming bonds with you and your fur babies.

Jenna

OREWA NURSE

I graduated veterinary nursing in 2020 and spent the last two years working in a busy gp clinic on the shore. I was then lucky enough to get the opportunity to work with the fantastic team in Orewa! Their passion for their patients and their staff is amazing and they made me feel right at home!

My free time is usually taken up by my furbabies. I have two dobermans, a cat and two horses. I have a particular interest in canine behaviour and can’t wait to further my knowledge and my skills whilst working in a supportive clinic environment!
You may see my face between our branches in Orewa, Millwater and Manly. I look forward to meeting more of our wonderful clients.

Sheree

OREWA NURSE

Orewa Vet