Wanaka Physiotherapy’s team is our strength.
Both clinical and administrative teams are focused on the friendly deliverance of excellence in the provision of a physiotherapy service to our community, and the many national and international visitors to Wanaka.

This is reflected in the depth of experience and post graduate qualifications held, which has allowed our Clinical team to focus on their areas of special interest.

Associated with High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ), with five of our team being contracted providers to deliver services to New Zealand’s carded athletes. This extends to roles within Snow Sports New Zealand with staff travelling as part of the New Zealand Winter Olympic team to the past 5 Winter Olympics.

Our HPSNZ Physiotherapists have also been contracted to New Zealand netball (under 21), World Youth Olympics, World University Games, and Winter Youth Olympics.

Wanaka’s environment attracts many elite and recreational multi-sport athletes and the team has many years of experience working with these athletes and their associated injuries.

We are ACC Accredited and hold contracts for Physiotherapy, Hand Therapy, Vocational Rehabilitation and Concussion Services.

“We are proud to provide physiotherapy to this fabulous community.

My greatest admiration goes to the highly skilled physiotherapists with whom I share the clinic. I feel privileged to work with them.

The team all hold post graduate degrees , masters and/or diplomas and work in their areas of special interest, creating a culture of excellence at Wanaka physiotherapy.“

GINNY RUTLEDGE – Managing Director

Ashley Booth

BPhty, PG Cert Occ Health, GEMT dry needling, COMT (NZMPA), Watson Headache Level 1

BRETT JENKINS

Dip Physiotherapy, PG Dip (Sports Medicine), PG Paper (Vocational Rehabilitation), Acupuncture / Trigger Point needling since 1992

Bri O’Donoghue

BPhty

ELLEN SMOOTHY

Dip Phyty 1973, PG Cert Sport Medicine 1992, PG Cert (Occupational Health Physiotherapy) 2012, Register of Physiotherapy Acupuncture 1993

GINNY RUTLEDGE

Dip Physiotherapy, Dip (Manipulative Therapy), ImPACT Concussion Management

Helene Barron

BPhty, PG Dip (Sports Medicine), Masters (Health Science)
McKenzie Level A, Level A Foundation (Dry Needling Acupuncture)

INGE BAHLE

Dip Physiotherapy, Masters (Physiotherapy), PG Dip (Mechanical Diagnosis Therapy) and PG Dip (Health Science, emphasis in Rehabilitation)

JENNY FERGUSON

BPhty, Masters (Health Practices endorsed in Rehabilitation), PG Dip (Sports Medicine), NZ registered Hand Therapist, PG Cert (Acupuncture)

JOANNA WILLIAMS

BSc (HONS) Physiotherapy, PG Dip (Sports Medicine), GEMT dry needling. Polestar Clinical Pilates instructor and Runity trained

KATHARINE EUSTACE

BSc (HONS) Physiotherapy, PG Dip (Sports Medicine), PG Cert (Health Science – Sport & Exercise), Polestar Clinical Pilates instructor

Kerry Williamson

Bsc (Hons) Physiotherapy, Polestar Pilates Mat Instructor

LISA TSAI

BPhty, PG Cert (Rehabilitation), NZ registered Hand Therapist

MEESHA NOVOTNY

BPT(Hons) and BPsych, PG Cert (Sports Medicine)

Sequoia Cooper

BPhty, PG Dip (Sports Medicine)

TIM SMITH

BPhty, Masters (Sports Physiotherapy), PG Cert (Proficiency in Work Rehabilitation)

ADMINISTRATION STAFF

MISH HARRISON

Practice Manager

BRON HORNER

Head of Administration

The clinic is based in the Wanaka Lakes Health Centre along with Wanaka’s two Medical Centres, Pacific Radiology and the Community Rooms where visiting specialists, surgeons and a sports physician hold clinics. There is also a Dental practice, Pharmacy and Optometrist on site. The centre is close to town with a large car park, and small cafe.

Wanaka physiotherapy hosts a welcoming reception area, and a mix of private treatment rooms and an open plan sports medicine treatment area.

We have a small rehabilitation gym which contains the latest rehabilitation equipment inclusive of a Pilates Reformer, Chair and Trap table, WattBike, Spin Bikes, Recovery Legs, Game Ready Ice Therapy and Compex Machines.

We also stock a wide range of rehabilitation equipment and braces for purchase and certified to measure for the Donjoy defiance custom knee brace.
https://www.djoglobal.com/our-brands/donjoy/defiance

IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

NZ AGRC Logo Spec Sheet-1-presso version

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GET IN TOUCH

Appointments can be made by calling 03 443 0734 or visiting the Wanaka Lakes Health Centre Reception at 23 Cardrona Valley Road, Wanaka.

tel: 03 443 0734

Bookings and Enquiries: hello@wanakaphysiotherapy.co.nz
Accounts: admin@wanakaphysiotherapy.co.nz

Wanaka Lakes Health Centre Reception at
23 Cardrona Valley Road, Wanaka.
Click here to view on google maps.

Hours of Operation:
Winter (Ski Season):
Monday - Friday - 8am to 7pm
Saturday - by appointment
Cardrona Ski Field - 7 days a week 8.30am to 4pm

Summer:
Monday - Friday - 8am to 7pm
Saturday - by appointment

The Practice is closed on all Public Holidays in New Zealand including Otago Anniversary.

ASHLEY BOOTH

BPhty, PG Cert Occ Health, GEMT dry needling, COMT (NZMPA), Watson Headache Level 1

SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Musculoskeletal/Sports injuries, headache/migraine and neck pain, vocational rehabilitation, Parkinson’s Disease, Falls and Fracture prevention.

Ash graduated from The University of Otago in 2011 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and returned to complete a postgraduate certificate in Occupational Health physiotherapy in 2016. Gaining strong manual handling skills through constant up-skilling with courses, since working in private practice with a sporting and general physiotherapy focus.

Ash’s fine tuned manual therapy skills and integrated dry needling training, allow her to successfully treat clients with headache and migraine pain. With a passion, knowledge and understanding of movement, she uses it to enable people with Parkinson’s disease to live an improved quality of life and prevent falls in our older population. Age is really just a number in one of Ash’s classes.
Ash is passionate about travel and sports. Outside of work you will find her playing some form of social sport, riding her mountain bike, on the lake or in the hills. Ash loves working with people and enabling them to enjoy everything that Wanaka and life has to offer.

BRETT JENKINS

Dip Physiotherapy, PG Dip (Sports Medicine), PG Paper (Vocational Rehabilitation), Acupuncture / Trigger Point needling since 1992

SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Spinal manipulation, sports injuries, manual therapy and acupuncture.

Brett graduated in 1989 and worked entirely in private practice for 24 years in Timaru, owning or part-owning the businesses in the last 17 years there. He started working at Wanaka Physiotherapy in May 2014 and comes with a background in all aspects of musculoskeletal physiotherapy but with a particular emphasis on spinal manipulation, sports injuries, manual therapy and acupuncture.

Brett worked with representative rugby teams in Timaru – and several internationally recognised athletes from the South Canterbury region. He has a passion for all sports having represented Otago and South Canterbury in tennis and rugby ( in a past life!! ), and has worked with leading multi-sporters and endurance athletes since shifting to Wanaka Physiotherapy, as well as gaining a loyal following with locals from the general Wanaka population which he enjoys every bit as much…”Getting a local resident back to work, climbing Mt Iron, mountain biking to Hawea, or returning to waterskiing is every bit as satisfying for me as treating Dougal Allan leading up to winning Coast to Coast 2019”

Bri O’Donoghue

BPhty

SPECIAL INTERESTS:

Bri graduated from The University of Otago in 2020 with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy endorsed with distinction. She has worked primarily as a private practice physiotherapist which has given her experience with musculoskeletal injuries. She is currently working towards her Polestar Pilates comprehensive qualification.

Bri relocated from Hawkes Bay to Wanaka at the end of 2021 and loves to travel and go on adventures. Out of work you will find her going for various hikes, playing squash or riding her bike. Bri loves working with people and is passionate about getting people back to what they love doing.

Ellen Smoothy

Dip Phyty 1973, PG Cert Sport Medicine 1992, PG Cert (Occupational Health Physiotherapy) 2012, Register of Physiotherapy Acupuncture 1993

SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Ellen is born, bred and educated in Dunedin, graduating from New Zealand School of Physiotherapy 1973. She worked in the public hospital systems in Timaru, Oamaru, then Dunedin, where she was Charge Physiotherapist at Wakari Hospital with Thoracic Surgery, Radiotherapy, Paediatrics, Burns and Rehabilitation.

In 1983 with shifting to Tapanui, Ellen established a private practice in Tapanui and Roxburgh, providing general outpatient services. During this time Ellen continued the NZMPA and PAANZ courses in Manual Therapy, Pilates and Acupuncture. During this time, she bought the first Wanaka property, commencing a long term passion for the local community, environment and activities.

In 1986 she shifted to Cromwell, establishing and running Cromwell Physiotherapy until 2015 when it was purchased by Work Rehab, later to become Fit For Work, where she continued to work until September 2019. During this time she competed another NZMPA course, completed a PG Cert Sports Medicine 1992, gained PAANZ Acupuncture registration, and in 2012 Otago University PG Certificate in Physiotherapy (endorsed in Occupational Health Physiotherapy). She has also completed BradCliff training, in respiratory management.

In 2016 Ellen shifted permanently to Wanaka, and instead of being a Wanaka weekend commuter, turned into a work commuter to Cromwell.

Ellen enjoys working with all age groups, using a variety of treatment approached, including Manual Therapy, Myofascial work, breathing, exercise rehabilitation, and empowering patients to get back to meaningful activity.

Ellen loves the Wanaka environment, continuing to ski, mountain bike, run, swim kayak and rock climb. Physiotherapy remains a fascinating occupation and counts herself lucky to work with the local community.

GINNY RUTLEDGE

Dip Physiotherapy, Dip (Manipulative Therapy), ImPACT Concussion Management

SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Sports medicine, Knee rehabilitation (ACL and significant injury), Injury prevention screening and injury prevention, Spinal mobilisation and manipulation, Concussion; baseline screening assessment and management.

Ginny has 30 years of experience in private practise and is the owner of Wanaka Physiotherapy.
Her undergraduate studies were carried out in Dunedin and postgraduate education involved studying Sports Medicine at Curtin University in Australia, then returning to New Zealand to complete a postgraduate in manipulative therapy.

Ginny has a particular interest in Free Ski, Snowboarding and Ski Racing and has been working as the lead physiotherapist for the New Zealand Snowsports team for the past 15 years. During this time she has been incredibly privileged to attend the past 5 Winter Olympics 2002-2018 in this role celebrating New Zealand’s success in the last Olympics in South Korea. She currently provides Physiotherapy services to the USA Men’s Alpine World Cup Team during the World Cup Circuit in Europe and training in New Zealand.

Ginny is a provider for High Performance Sports New Zealand and has been the grateful recipient of four Prime Minister’s’ scholarships to study and attend Worldwide conferences to promote safety and performance in winter sports.

Ginny has trained as an ImPACT concussion management physiotherapist working both privately and as a provider of ACC’s concussion rehabilitation service.

HELENE BARRON

BPhty, PG Dip (Sports Medicine), Masters (Health Science) McKenzie Level A, Level A Foundation (Dry Needling Acupuncture)

SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy.

Helene started her career in Christchurch where she spent 7 years in a large multi-disciplinary clinic and worked with the NZ Academy of Sport (now High Performance Sport NZ) predominantly with Junior, Development and elite Netball and Hockey athletes. She returned to her hometown of Hamilton in 2008 following the arrival of the first of her 2 sons.

Between April 2014 and Dec 2018 Helene worked with HPSNZ out of the Avantidrome – fully immersed in the Cycling New Zealand high performance program. During this time Helene attended the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as a physiotherapist within the NZOC Core Health team, and completed her Master of Health Science in July 2017.

After years of visiting and loving Queenstown Lakes District, and the pull of the mainland for her Balclutha born husband, Helene and her family moved to Wanaka in December 2018 and are loving the decision and the life it provides for them and their boys.

Outside of her physio work, Helene loves spending time with family and friends. That is when she’s not completing some DIY task or out running. Having come from a sporting background in hockey where she represented Waikato, Otago and then Canterbury at the elite level, and NZ Age group and NZ Academy (now Junior Blacksticks) teams, she is now a keen skier and runner – venturing into trail running and ultra-running events in recent years (winning the inaugural 50k Ring of Fire Ultra around Ruapehu in 2018, and placing third in the recent Old Ghost 85k Ultra, 2019) – she loves getting out into nature and testing her limits.

Helene is loving working within the Wanaka Physio team, and helping people get back to the activities they love, and/or supporting them in taking on new challenges and adventures.

INGE BAHLE

Dip Physiotherapy, Masters (Physiotherapy), PG Dip (Mechanical Diagnosis Therapy) and PG Dip (Health Science, emphasis in Rehabilitation)

SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Concussion & Vestibular problems; Dance injuries; Differential diagnosis and treatment of back and neck injuries and associated shoulder or hip pain.

Inge has over 30 years of experience in the field of Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine. Originally from Germany, she graduated in 1988 and ever since up-skilled through postgraduate studies in Germany, the U.S. and New Zealand. Inge was the physiotherapy service provider for the Royal New Zealand Ballet for over 10 years and traveled throughout New Zealand and overseas, including China, with the Company. For 12 years she was owner of a busy Wellington city physiotherapy clinic before moving to Wanaka in 2016 to enjoy a better life/work balance.

Inge is one of very few therapists holding the highest level of qualifications in the McKenzie Method. The McKenzie Method®, also known as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy®, Click here and combines hands-on manipulative therapy with with matching exercise prescription and education so problems can not only be solved, but stopped from recurring.

Recently Inge developed expertise and knowledge in concussion & treatment of vestibular problems and is one of the concussion service providers at Wanaka Physiotherapy. Inge also is the clinical supervisor for 4th year physiotherapy students from Otago University.
When not working, Inge can be found running or walking in the mountains.

JENNY FERGUSON

BPhty, Masters (Health Practices endorsed in Rehabilitation), PG Dip (Sports Medicine), NZ registered Hand Therapist, PG Cert (Acupuncture)

SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Musculoskeletal/ Sports injuries; Hand therapy; Netball and Basketball injuries; Vocational rehabilitation and High Performance Sport NZ approved provider.

Jenny has combined over fifteen years working in Hospital, Private practice and travelling as team Physiotherapist for various sport teams.

Jenny’s work love is closely associated with her sporting love firstly playing Netball for the Otago Rebels, Southern Sting, NZ U21 team and NZ A Netball team. The highlight of her sporting career was captaining the Southern Steel to a national title and then captaining the Southland Basketball team to a national title in the same year. Once Jenny retired she became the team Physiotherapist travelling and managing the Southern Steel Netball team, NZ Secondary school Netball team, NZ U21 World Youth Cup Champions in 2013 and then 2017, NZ Fast Five team and Silver Ferns development squad. Her sporting Physiotherapy has also involved helping the NZ team at the World University Games in Korea 2015 and assisting Dunstan High Rugby 1st 15 to the semi finals in the Otago School competition in 2018. Jenny continues to teach Netball smart throughout the Central Otago region.

During this time she continued to study towards her Masters endorsed in Rehabilitation including completing hand therapy training and registration to become an ACC endorsed hand therapist provider. Jenny loves being a Physiotherapist and assisting clients from acute injury through to functional gym rehabilitation ensuring a safe and successful return to sport or life activities.

While Jenny has retired from Netball she coaches a local team and continues to play Basketball, exploring the Wanaka outdoors biking or trail running and has just taken up rowing to try and learn a new skill.

JOANNA WILLIAMS

BSc (HONS) Physiotherapy, PG Dip (Sports Medicine), GEMT dry needling. Polestar Clinical Pilates instructor and Runity trained

SPECIAL INTERESTS:
High level functional rehab for return to work and sport. Clinical Pilates beginner to advanced.

Joanna is from Northern Ireland and qualified as a physiotherapist from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen in 1998. Then worked in the public health system in Edinburgh, gaining knowledge in rehabilitation of the elderly, Obs and gynae, neurology, respiratory and musculoskeletal conditions. Joanna worked with a local sports centre and a local rugby team through this time, in addition to some time spent in the British territorial army as a physiotherapist. Thus learning some military skills as well as working in a team in a Field hospital environment and seeing some off the common injuries in the military. This grounding has enabled her to gain valuable experience to treat a wide range of conditions and invaluable experience of working in a team of people.

Continuing her postgraduate study in New Zealand in Sports medicine, and Clinical Pilates, with a special interest in running injuries and rehabilitation. This combination ensures that she can effectively treat patients with acute sporting injuries enabling them to return to high level sport. As well as patients with chronic musculoskeletal and low back pain, enabling them to be pain free and return to work using Pilates and strength and conditioning programs.

Since coming to New Zealand Joanna has been drawn to adventure racing and multi-sport as the environment and the people loan themselves to such sports. She has been lucky enough to race all around the world and has achieved a couple of world championship titles racing with current adventure racing World Champions Seagate (now Avaya). Wanaka is such a brilliant place to live and work, Joanna loves the work with the highly motivated clientele, to get them back pre injury levels or better in their chosen sport, hobbies and work.

KATHARINE EUSTACE

BSc (HONS) Physiotherapy, PG Dip (Sports Medicine), PG Cert (Health Science – Sport & Exercise), Polestar Clinical Pilates instructor

SPECIAL INTERESTS:
High level functional rehab for return to work and sport. Clinical Pilates beginner to advanced.

Katharine qualified as a physiotherapist from University of Birmingham in 1997. Then worked in the public health system gaining knowledge in paediatrics, neurology, respiratory, chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions This grounding has enabled her to gain valuable experience to treat a wide range of conditions.
Continuing her postgraduate study in NZ in Sports medicine, sport and exercise and clinical Pilates, this combination ensures that she can effectively treat acute sporting injuries to return to high level sport, chronic musculoskeletal and low back pain for return to work through Pilates and strength and conditioning programs.
Katharine works with the national development ski, snowboard and free ride teams and works in the community with the blokes.

HMMM Katharine loves sport and cake.

Kerry Williamson

Bsc (Hons) Physiotherapy, Polestar Pilates Mat Instructor

SPECIAL INTERESTS:

Kerry graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from Robert Gordon University, Scotland in 2015. This qualification was consolidated by working for a year in the NHS working in all aspects of Physiotherapy. Kerry moved to the Hawkes Bay to work at a private musculoskeletal practice for four years. Here she gained valuable experience treating an array of musculoskeletal and sports injuries, working as the lead Physiotherapist for Napier Boys High School Rugby 1st XV in the Super 8 league while assisting with Premier Rugby teams during this time.

She has further progressed her post graduate training by upskilling to be a qualified Polestar Pilates mat instructor and further study towards vestibular rehabilitation and BPPV training. These skills combine well with Kerry’s post graduate dry needling, and a preferred manual therapy/hands on treatment approach to allow her clients to return to their active lifestyle.

Kerry loves being in the mountains either mountain biking, hiking or hunting; and skiing in the winter months. Predominantly growing up she competed in Eventing and show-jumping, and in Hawkes Bay learned to play horse polo.

LISA TSAI

BPhty, PG Cert (Rehabilitation), NZ registered Hand Therapist

SPECIAL INTERESTS:

Hand therapy, concussion, paediatrics, neurology & respiratory conditions.

Lisa has been a physiotherapist for over 15 years and a hand therapist for over 7 years. She has worked in a variety of settings within the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Lisa has several years of experience working in hospitals where she worked in oncology, paediatrics, neurology, respiratory, cardiothoracics and intensive care where she gained a wide variety of skills.
Prior to moving to Wanaka, Lisa worked as a Hand Therapist at Christchurch Hospital where she worked closely alongside many other hand therapists and surgeons. She thoroughly enjoys all aspects of hand therapy but in particular, trauma, tendons and post operative management. Over the last year, Lisa has also started concussion rehabilitation and is enjoying helping people return to their work and sport following concussion.

Lisa is a keen snowboarder and has spent 8 years doing back to back winters. As a result of this, she has a good understanding of the demands of skiing and snowboarding on our bodies. Now that she is based in Wanaka full time, she has developed a love for mountain biking and spends her days off riding the trails here.

Meesha Novotny

BPT(Hons) and BPsych, PG Cert (Sports Medicine)

SPECIAL INTERESTS:

Meesha hails from Melbourne where she completed degrees in both psychology and physiotherapy before moving to Japan to work with acute ski injuries in the ski fields of Hakuba.

She has continued to be heavily involved in sports since moving to New Zealand and is currently completing a postgraduate degree in sports physiotherapy.

Meesha is the travelling physiotherapist for the New Zealand Ice Fernz and the Central Otago women’s basketball team. She has provided sports physiotherapy for the PGA NZ golf open, has worked with premier league rugby teams and NZ national ice hockey league champions and works in the medical centre at Cardrona ski resort in winter.

Meesha enjoys using a manual therapy based approach to compliment patient rehabilitation. Providing massage therapy for the All Blacks, Highlanders and Melbourne United NBA teams has perfected her hands on techniques.

SEQUOIA COOPER

BPhty, PG Dip (Sports Medicine)

SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Sports injuries, particularly Rowing and Cycling caused conditions.

Sequoia graduated Physiotherapy at Otago University in 2012. She has primarily worked as a private practice physiotherapist which has given her experience in general musculoskeletal injuries. She has been heavily involved with sports physiotherapy which prompted her to complete her postgraduate diploma in sports and exercise medicine in 2016. She has worked with premier, First XV and representative rugby teams in Southland and Waikato.

From 2014-2018 Sequoia was the Waikato RPC physiotherapist and attended world champs with U23 NZ rowing team. Recently she attended world championships with the NZ para-cycling team.

Moving to Wanaka mid 2018 to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle the town offers, Sequoia is a big believer that exercise is medicine and has real passion for getting people moving.

TIM SMITH

BPhty, Masters (Sports Physiotherapy), PG Cert (Proficiency in Work Rehabilitation)

SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Traumatic and overuse sports injuries. Swimming, cycling and running biomechanics. Injury risk reduction in endurance sports.

Tim graduated first in his class and subsequently lectured and supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students while working as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist in private practice in Perth.

Tim spent 12 years working in private practice in London. During his time he completed the Level 1 & 2 British Triathlon Federation Coach qualifications and the SICI Bike Fitting qualification through Cycle Fit of London. One of the highlights of the time he spent in London, was his role as a physiotherapist during the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics as a field of play team member covering a number of events during the games.

Tim returned to New Zealand in early 2017. He is a Tri NZ Foundation Level coach and a Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association Level 1 instructor. Tim is a keen endurance athlete and snowboarder. As a physiotherapist, coach, instructor and athlete Tim enjoys getting an in depth understanding of his client’s needs, and loves nothing more than helping them get back to their best.

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