TE TOHU MAIMOA WINNERS

Dr Jess Beer 

For reflecting Companion Animals NZ values: ‘Respect & Compassion, Collective & Effective, Quality & Integrity’  

Jess is an accredited veterinary behaviourist and the Founder and Director of Kiwi Vet Behaviour, a team of qualified trainers who provide compassionate and science-based services including veterinary behaviour consultations, training packages, educational workshops, and classes for dogs of all ages. Jess recently (January 2023) opened the first veterinary behaviour clinic in NZ, a facility where companion animals and their guardians can come together with professionals in a safe environment. 

Jess’s passion for her work to help pets and their guardians succeed is clear, and she demonstrates all our core values in her drive to help achieve A Good Life for companion animals. 

Thomas Henry 

For reflecting Companion Animals NZ values: ‘Respect & Compassion, Collective & Effective’  

Thomas is a Māori Warden at the Otahuhu Māori Wardens Association and is a valued member of his community. During the recent weather events in the Auckland region, Thomas worked tirelessly collaborating with key organisations involved in the animal welfare response. His kindness and compassion provided support and reassurance to members of the flood-impacted communities of Auckland and his outreach work was instrumental in addressing the welfare needs of people and their animals in the affected communities. 

Shelley Cocker  

For reflecting Companion Animals NZ values: ‘Respect & Compassion’  

Shelley is the Nurse Manager at The Strand Veterinarian. Through her work using cooperative care,  

Shelley is committed to ensuring her companion animal patients receive the best experience possible whilst in the clinic environment. Her work with more anxious companion animals and their guardians has a significant effect on the psychological, emotional, and physical wellbeing of these animals. 

Shelley demonstrates respect and compassion on a daily basis and is a role model for the practical application of these values.  

Julia Milley 

For reflecting Companion Animals NZ values: ‘Respect & Compassion, Collective & Effective’ 

Julia runs Queenstown Cat Rescue and is a dedicated and humble advocate for unwanted cats. She is well known and respected for her work with cats in the Wakatipu District and surrounding areas and is the go-to person for lost or stray cats in need. Julia coordinates and implements all aspects of rescue work, with a focus on reducing the stray cat population and is a strong advocate for desexing and microchipping of all companion and stray cats.  

Jay Johanssen 

For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Collective & Effective’  

Jay is the Cattery Manager for Paws 4 Life, a registered charity that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes companion animals. Jay is a passionate advocate for unwanted companion animals and works with the public to educate and facilitate the removal of barriers to responsible pet ownership.

He and his team work hard to ensure over 2000 cats every year receive the shelter and care they need in the Waikato region. Jay is also proactive in helping to prevent and overcome problems. Earlier this year Jay helped establish an effective collaboration with other overwhelmed shelters in the Waikato that were struggling to remain open. These shelters worked together to use resources and strengths each had, for the greater good of the animals. 

Roz Holland 

For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Collective & Effective’ 

Roz is altruistic in her passion for helping animals and genuinely wants what’s best for their welfare. As well as her day job, Roz works part-time as a veterinarian for the SPCA and is the Founder and Director of Animal Advocates Collective Impact NZ. This a fantastically simple yet effective initiative to raise money for animal charities. Members of the group donate a dollar a week and a different organisation is chosen on a weekly basis to receive the cumulated funds. This concept provides on average $1000 per week to an animal charity. With minimal cost to the individual resulting in a significant positive impact on organisations helping animals in New Zealand, this is an excellent example of Companion Animals NZ’s core value – Collective and Effective.  

Steve and Philip Brown 

For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Respect & Compassion’ 

Steve and Philip Brown are the Founders and Owners of the registered charity, Takiwatanga Sanctuary Trust. ‘Takiwatanga’ translates to mean "in their own time and in their own space", a philosophy used at this animal rescue and rehome facility, where everything is treated with compassion and care. The Browns adopt a One Welfare approach as both animals and people are cared for here. The sanctuary offers respite to those with autism and their families, free of charge, and provides opportunities for them to interact with the animals. Steve and Philip are invested in helping their community keep pets at home rather than surrendering them to rescues. They facilitate this by providing animal welfare education and offering resources to struggling families to help care for their pets. 

Leanne Simpkin 

For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Respect & Compassion’ 

Leanne is the Manager at the New Zealand Lost Pet Register, a free lost and found service that lists missing, found, stolen and impounded pets to help reunite them with their owners. This much-needed service is administered by a small team of volunteers who work remotely to cover New Zealand. Leanne embodies the Companion Animals NZ core value of Respect and Compassion, displaying empathy and compassion to both her team, and the companion animal guardians they provide assistance to. She leads by example, is professional, and provides support without judgment or bias. Leanne is a calming voice in the midst of what can be an emotional time for owners and her team. 

Lucy Bell  

For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Respect & Compassion’ 

Amanda Fraser-Jones 

For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Collective & Effective’ 

Julie Chapman  

For reflecting Companion Animals NZ value: ‘Respect & Compassion’ 

ALAN PARKER

Alan Parker is the Founder and Director of Avian Rescue Otago, a not-for-profit bird rescue and rehabilitation centre in Alexandra. As a qualified veterinary nurse, Alan brings his medical expertise to providing care for all manner of feathered friends, from chickens and parrots to wild species such as hawks.

Alan is never one to give up when there’s a chance to save a life and is often found at all hours and places looking for injured or displaced birds that have been reported to him. As passionate about companion birds as he is about wildlife, Alan also offers a mobile avian vet nursing service to help the birds of Otago live a happy and healthy life.

jack penniket

Jack Penniket is the Director of The Barkery Christchurch, and an innovator in the animal welfare space. With his vision to bridge the gap between forever homes and rescue dogs, The Barkery, NZ’s first adoptable dog cafe, was born.

With the pressures of COVID-19, 2020 has not been an easy year for The Barkery, but this hasn’t stopped Jack. Channeling his creative talents into connecting the dog loving community with rescue dogs in local shelters through events like dog friendly dining Pup-Ups, Jack manages to capture the love Kiwis have for dogs and redirected it to the dogs who need help the most.

Showing the importance of collaboration in working together with Dogwatch Sanctuary and Christchurch Bull Breed Rescues, The Barkery looks to be a powerful vehicle for Christchurch dog rescues, and for this we have Jack to thank.

summer johnson

As the Founder of Bay of Islands Animal Rescue, Summer is a local legend with a huge impact on the community.

Every year, Summer runs Bark in the Park, a festival of all things doggie, to encourage responsible dog ownership. This may be the only festival in NZ which has doggie ice blocks and a poo fairy!

Last year, Summer started a programme at a local correction institute where dogs from the pound are trained by inmates prior to being rehomed, enriching the lives of the dogs, the prisoners, and the community.

More recently in the Northland floods, Summer worked tirelessly to rescue dogs, cats and farm animals alike. Not only did she help many animals, including chained dogs who were drowning in the conditions but she made ongoing connections with animal guardians so that these animals could be desexed, wormed and registered in the future.

ALEXIA BOWERS

Alexia is the 15-year-old founder of The Little Animal Rescue, a non-profit organisation in Nelson. Despite her young age she is a seasoned animal rescuer, including the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of 632 hens from the egg industry. She ensures all animals have a chance at a good life, including a deaf pig and a half-blind sheep and horse.

On top of her work with The Little Animal Rescue, she has also volunteered with the SPCA, Riding for the Disabled, and at a veterinary clinic.

Alexia has studied ahead of her years, and has obtained her Level 3 Certificate in Animal Care (Companion Animals) and is currently studying towards her Certificate in Animal Management (Captive Wild Animals) through Unitec. Her ultimate goal is to become a veterinarian.

KATE BAOUMGREN

In her role as Animal Liaison Officer for Wellington City Council, Kate has pioneered many initiatives to improve animal welfare. This includes the development of a comprehensive inspection reporting system for kennels, catteries and doggy day cares. Her meticulous work in this area ensures consistency of care and that safety needs such as isolation areas, fire extinguishers and emergency plans are in place.

Kate also runs another initiative ensuring that in the event of an emergency, there are evacuation centres people can use that accept animals as well as humans. One location has already been secured, and others are under investigation.

Whether running a mammoth project as above, or finding and rehoming turtles, Kate takes on each task gladly while showing great respect and compassion for all animals.