About Te Ara Hōu Wellbeing
Our Team
The Te Ara Hou Wellbeing team is a collective of passionate, skilled practitioners dedicated to bridging modern therapeutic practices with holistic and traditional healing.
Together, we offer an integrated approach to wellbeing - combining coaching, Rongoā Māori, body-based therapies, fitness, and personal development to support the whole person: mind, body, and spirit.
Our dynamic is built on collaboration, compassion, and shared values. Each practitioner brings their own expertise, while working closely as a unified team to create personalised, sustainable wellbeing journeys for every client.
We believe healing is most powerful when supported from multiple angles - and our team works seamlessly to empower growth, recovery, and lasting change.
Arron Learmond
Whakatane, Auckland & Online
Founder | Holistic Therapist | Wellbeing Coach | Rongoā Practitioner
Arron Learmond is the founder of Te Ara Hou Wellbeing and a passionate advocate for integrated, sustainable healing. Blending modern coaching approaches with traditional Rongoā Māori and holistic therapies, Arron supports clients to heal the mind, body, and spirit.
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Driven by lived experience and a deep commitment to empowerment, he helps people take ownership of their wellbeing journey, break through limitations, and create lasting change. Arron leads Te Ara Hou Wellbeing with a clear mission - to bridge traditional and modern healing and help people truly thrive.
Rachel Allen
Whakatane & Online
Executive Assistant to the Boss Man | Wellness Coach
Rachel Allen is the Executive Assistant to the Business Director at Te Ara Hou Wellbeing and Wellness Coach, supporting both the smooth running of the business and client wellbeing journeys.
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With a Bachelor of Education and lived experience of DBT and holistic healing, Rachel is passionate about accessible, client-centred care. She provides administrative support across ACC, EAP, Veterans’ Affairs pathways and Private Client Journy's, while also offering online kōrero coaching sessions tailored to each individual.
Rachel has a strong interest in women’s health, addiction and recovery, and in educating others on the benefits of Rongoā Māori. She believes there should be no barriers to wellbeing support and that everyone deserves fair access to healing.
Shamrock Gay
Whakatane
Holistic Rongoā Therapist | Reiki Master | Strength & Conditioning Coach
With over 40 years in health, fitness, and wellbeing, Shamrock brings a powerful blend of holistic healing and physical performance to his practice.
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His journey began in childhood, transforming adversity into strength through martial arts — becoming a New Zealand Karate Champion and later a New Zealand Boxing Champion and Golden Gloves winner. This passion for resilience and wellbeing led him into a lifelong career supporting individuals and communities to build confidence, health, and inner strength.
Specialties:
Reiki Healing • Mirimiri & Massage • Mahi Wairua • Health & Fitness Coaching
Shamrock is known for creating a safe, relaxed, and welcoming space where every session is tailored to each client’s needs.
His core focus is simple but powerful:
building self-worth, confidence, and lifelong wellbeing.
Gabriela Shivitz
Auckland
Massage Therapist | Reiki Master
Gabriela is a skilled Massage Therapist and Reiki Master with training in both Brazil and New Zealand. Her passion for wellbeing began in childhood, where she naturally cared for family through massage — an early foundation that grew into a professional calling.
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With qualifications in therapeutic massage, manual lymphatic drainage, pregnancy massage, Thai yoga massage, and energy healing, Gabriela brings a deeply intuitive and holistic approach to every session.
She takes time to listen, adapts each treatment to the individual, and creates a safe, nurturing space for healing and relaxation.
Special interests:
Women’s health • Chronic pain • Mental health support • Energy healing
Modalities:
Massage • Lymphatic Drainage • Mirimiri • Rongoā-informed bodywork • Reiki.
Taina Pokai
Whakatane & Online
Personal Trainer | Mirimiri Practitioner | Wellness Coach | Reiki Master
Taina Pokai is a holistic wellbeing practitioner who combines movement, healing, and coaching to empower people toward lasting wellness. With qualifications in Personal Training Levels 4 & 5, Reiki Mastery, Mirimiri, nutrition, and coaching, he supports the body, mind, and spirit.
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Driven by lived experience, Taina understands how powerful movement, connection, and self-awareness can be in overcoming life’s challenges. His strength lies in tailoring sustainable, personalised approaches that suit each individual.
Taina creates a supportive, confidence-building environment where clients feel comfortable, motivated, and empowered to grow.
Specialties: PT • Mirimiri • Coaching • Nutrition • Reiki
Values: Whānau support • Self-worth • Empowerment
Laina Bolton
Whakatane & Online
Laina’s approach is completely individualised - meeting each person exactly where they are.
Drawing on both her clinical nursing background and holistic healing experience, she listens deeply to what your body and wairua are communicating. Together, you’ll explore what’s happening beneath the surface and identify the most supportive path forward - one that feels safe, achievable, and aligned with your unique needs.
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Her role is to guide, support, and empower you - helping you build understanding, resilience, and sustainable wellbeing.
Sally Brunckhorst
Remedial Massage Therapist
Sally is a highly experienced Remedial Massage Therapist with over a decade of practice, bringing a deep, intuitive understanding of how the body holds pain and compensates over time. Drawing on training across multiple modalities, she takes a whole-person approach to reduce pain, restore movement, and support lasting change - especially for clients who feel they’ve exhausted other options.
Her sessions are tailored, compassionate, and grounded in integrity, creating a safe space where clients feel heard, supported, and genuinely cared for.
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Sally is particularly passionate about helping those who feel like they've exhausted other options. Her ability to think critically and creatively about each client's needs sets her apart.
Outside of work, she finds joy in crochet, quilting, stained glass, embroidery, and cross-stitch. "I believe if I am not authentically myself, then I cannot work to the best of my abilities."
Qualifications and specialities: Remedial massage, Lymphatic drainage and Dry needling
Our Values
These values collectively shape the culture and ethos of Te Ara Hōu Wellbeing, guiding our actions, decisions, and interactions with clients and the community.
Holistic Wellbeing
We are committed to the holistic wellbeing of individuals, recognizing the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Cultural Respect
We honor and respect diverse cultural backgrounds, integrating traditional practices, to create a culturally sensitive and inclusive environment.
Individual Empowerment
We empower individuals to take an active role in their own wellbeing journey by providing them with knowledge, tools, and personalised care.
Continuous Learning
We are dedicated to continuous learning and development, staying informed about the latest advancements in holistic wellness to provide the best possible care to our clients.
Inclusivity
Our services are designed to be inclusive, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, can access and benefit from our offerings.
Sustainability
We strive for the sustainability of our business practices, balancing the needs of our clients with the long-term viability of Te Ara Hōu Wellbeing.
Compassion
Compassion is at the heart of what we do. We approach each client with empathy, understanding, and a genuine desire to support them on their path to wellness.
Integrity
We conduct our business with the utmost integrity, ensuring that our actions align with our values and that we operate ethically in every aspect of our practice.
Flexibility
We remain flexible and adaptive to the evolving needs of our clients and the community. Flexibility in our approach allows us to tailor our services to meet the unique needs of each individual.
A Holistic Approach
to Well-being
Our unique blend of modern wellness with traditional Rongoā Māori healing creates a culturally rich and holistic approach to well-being. Our personal journey with MS inspires a deep commitment to guide others in their health paths.
The studio offers diverse services like holistic Rongoā Therapy, coaching, and Massage and is recognised by entities such as BNZ Business Banking and Ngati Awa. Emphasizing a community-centric ethos, Te Ara Hōu provides flexible payment options and fosters a supportive network, highlighted by the exceptional skills of practitioner Arron. This approach ensures a personalised and transformative wellness experience for each client.
