Our Community, Our Animals
Providing Excellent and Trusted Care
About Us
VS EQUINE WAS INITIATED TO DELIVER AN EQUINE FOCUSED VETERINARY SERVICE WITHIN THE MIXED PRACTICE CLINICS THAT MAKE UP VET SERVICES HAWKE’S BAY AND DANNEVIRKE.
The combined skills of our equine veterinarians in all geographical areas can be tapped into to create a more comprehensive veterinary service for our client and horses’ benefit.
Meet the Team
Mike Fitzgerald
Vet Services Waipukurau
Mike originally hails from the Canterbury plains. He started with Vet Services in 2011 after graduating from Massey University.
Mike worked for three years in Waipukurau, where he established himself as a thorough clinician before taking eighteen months off to do his OE. Along with lots of travelling, Mike was lucky enough to get into some great equine clinics in England, upskilling himself before returning to Hawkes Bay in 2016.
He has undertaken a range of further study including lameness, performance, dentistry, wound management and pre-purchase examinations.
In his spare time, Mike is an avid runner, outdoorsman, and traveller. Not one to sit still for too long, you’ll likely catch him and his wife Tess, and their four-legged daughter Molly, up Te Mata peak.
Dave Kruger
Vet Services Napier
Dave joined the Vet Services team in 1996 after moving to New Zealand from South Africa. He is based out of our Napier Clinic and involved with both the equine and companion animal divisions of our practices.
Dave has a special interest in equine dentistry and lameness/foot balance and is very experienced with ultrasonography and radiology in horses.
Dave’s always had a passion for horses and the outdoors. When he is not at work you may find him riding his endurance horses with his wife Pilar or near the water, surfing, diving, or volunteering with surf lifesaving with his sons.
Richard Mckenzie
Vet Services Hastings
Richard originally joined the Vet Services Team in 1989 arriving for a three-month locum and staying for three years.
He spent four years abroad working in mixed bred and equine practices across the UK returning to our Hastings Clinic with a cemented interest in Equine work. 90% of Richards day is now involved with horses of all sizes and disciplines. He has interests in performance horses, equine lameness, radiography and reproduction.
Outside of work his kids, partner and thoroughbred horses take up most of his time but enjoys swimming, fishing, and a bit of armchair critiquing for rugby and racing when he gets the chance.
Nicolette Adamson
Nicolette hails from the green dairy pasture of the Waikato but after graduating from Massey University, she made her home in Central Hawkes Bay. Nicolette wears many hats at Vet Services clinic with a particular interest in equine and working dog medicine.
She spent her early years on the farm wrangling with a naughty pony in her attempt to make it into a stock horse. Today she fills her spare time running around the rugby field.
Nicolette loves the challenge that equine medicine provides and enjoys the physicality of working with horses while also utilising the precision often reserved for the small animal clinic.
Johnny Atkins
Johnny has been working with Vet Services Dannevirke since 2012, after completing his studies at Massey University. Originally hailing from Wellington he thoroughly enjoys the ‘small town life’ Dannevirke offers.
Johnny’s keen interest in horses was discovered during his school years, as he spent time riding. He has continued his education completing additional studies to further his knowledge and skills, particularly in Equine Dentistry, Medicine and Lameness – making him the go to vet for all things equine related in the Dannevirke region.
While not at work you can often find him out running, but he enjoys a range of sports and making the most of all the awesome outdoor opportunities rural NZ has to offer.
Henry Yule
Henry Yule’s passion for animals started from an early age while growing up on a sheep and beef farm in Hawke’s Bay.
After graduating from Massey, Henry moved to South Auckland and spend a number of years working as a mixed practice veterinarian at Franklin Vets. While in Auckland, henry completed postgraduate study in critical care in small animals.
In late 2020, Henry returned to Hawke’s Bay and decided to focus his career on production animals and equines. He enjoys the variety of interesting cases and helping clients achieve their performance goals.
In his spare time Henry likes to keep active with his partner and their Labrador Ruby.
Equine Technicians & Support Staff
Morag Robinson
Morag is a bright and bubbly member of our Production Animal Customer Service and Equine Team.
She joined Vet Services in 2017 as a Production Animal Receptionist fielding farm and equine enquiries, bookings and charges. Morag recently made the move to a new Equine Technician role and is very excited as this is an area she has a great interest in.
When she’s not at work you’ll find Morag spending time with her husband Wayne and two children Harry and Lucy on their lifestyle block at Ocean Beach, or enjoying some equestrian activities.
Nicola Sutherland
After spending a number of years as Head Nurse in our Hastings Companion Animal Clinic, Nic is happy to be back following her passions and working with horses.
Before kids, Nic spent time living in America riding for a fox hunting & eventing stables and working as an equine nurse for the world renowned Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.
On arriving back to New Zealand she nursed in Waikato for an Equine ICU hospital before returning to Hawke’s Bay in 2003 and joining Vet Services.
Nic’s interests outside of work include spending time with her rugby mad boys and keeping busy on her husband’s sheep and beef farm. She enjoys following TB racing and has started competing her family bred and raced OTTB.
Libby Plummer
Libby has spent her entire life around horses. Her grandfather breed horses and she was in the saddle riding before 8 years of age.
Before training as a vet nurse she worked as a polo groom in Australia and then with a local sport horse and racing stables.
After completing her diploma in vet nursing Libby spent a number of years in the companion animal nursing team before the opportunity arose to follow her passion and join VS Equine.
In her spare time Libby competes in showing and side saddle classes, does a spot of hunting, volunteers with the fire service and travels the country with her off road loving partner and Swedish vallhund Harold.
Portia Wright
Born and bred in the Hawke’s Bay, Portia started riding horses from a young age and started competing at 13.
Portia has a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing from EIT and has worked in both our Waipukurau and Hastings Clinics. .
Portia currently shares her time between VS Equine and the Napier clinic. She is passionate about all animals and is excited to see where this career path leads.
In her spare time you’ll find Portia riding, playing hockey, or on her family farm in Crownthorpe.
Georgia Linton
Georgia joined the Vet Services team in August 2022.
grace Wright
Grace is the friendly voice at the end of our Equine line in Waipukurau.
The Dannevirke local started at Vet Services in early 2022. With previous experience working on farms in NZ, Australia and Canada, as a veterinary nurse, and even with livestock shipping, Grace was looking for a new challenge where she could put her background skills and knowledge to use while meeting lots of new people.
When she’s not at work, Grace still enjoys getting on farm, spending time with friends and going to the occasional concert.