Large animal team
The experienced team of large animal vets and technicians are able to provide a complete package of services to lifestyle block holders with a range of animals, right through to large dairy farm units.
They operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and travel thousands of kilometres every week within the region to treat and consult on farm and in paddock. They also have facilities in-house for full medical and surgical care and frequently use the conference facilities for training and up-skilling events.
Richard Nortje
Large Animal Veterinarian (Managing Director)
Leading the farm animal team Richard enjoys herd and preventative dairy health/consultancy and has completed his post graduate degree in Veterinary Preventative Medicine through Massey University.
He is a registered provider of the DairyNZ In-Calf and Healthy Hoof programmes and has been involved with several trials including assessing the metabolic profiles of cows wintering on fodder beet.
Richard and his family are originally from the Rangitikei region and moved to Rangiora in 2013. When not working Rico is spending time with his young family, busy on the lifestyle block or can be found golfing or fishing around North Canterbury.
Tristan Kamps
Large Animal Veterinarian DVM
Tristan joined the RVC Large Animal team at the beginning of April 2019. After becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, gained at the University of Utrecht, in the Netherlands, Tristan worked as a mixed animal vet for seven years and developed a special interest in internal medicine, surgery and pharmacotherapy.
Originally born and raised in Christchurch, he headed off for a big OE which lasted the better part of 17 years, of which 15 years were based in The Netherlands. While on the OE he travelled extensively through Europe and also met the other (larger) half of his family on his father’s side.
He made his way back to New Zealand early 2019 where he enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding and mountain biking when not being a vet. He also dabbles in a bit of small furniture making.
Lucie Sneek
Large Animal Veterinarian
Graduating from Cambridge University in the UK in 2006, Lucie spent six years in a mixed animal practice in North Wales. During this time she developed a keen interest in bovine reproduction, and was able to implement many different reproductive programmes on farms to enhance their performance. She also has a special interest in bovine surgery, and performed laparoscopic AI and helped with the ET teams with sheep and cattle. Lucie has also spent time in Zambia, Nigeria and South Africa working with local communities and wildlife.
Having spent a summer at university on a farm in Fairlie, including ski touring up the Tasman glacier, Lucie was keen to return to NZ. She spent two calving/mating seasons in Waimate as a mixed animal vet, returning to Wales for their calving/lambing season, some say she must be crazy doing two calving seasons in a year!
The offer of having her dogs brought out was too good to refuse, so she returned to Waimate for two more years with animals in tow! She then spent a year in a dairy vet position in Ashburton where she implemented reproductive programmes based on ovarian scanning, before joining RVC in October 2017.
Lucie loves the outdoors (biking, kayaking and climbing big hills) and owns two active dogs. Recently married to dairy farmer Theo they have a son Dougie who is showing signs he’ll love adventuring too!
Paul Blondell
Large Animal Veterinarian
Originally hailing from the not-so-far south of Dunedin, Paul left the South Island to move to Massey University in the much warmer north. Finishing his degree in 2019, he has started his career with RVC in January of 2020 with a move back to the better of the two islands. He has taken on a primarily large animal role, focusing on dairy and lifestyle blocks.
Pauls partner Olivia joins the RVC small animal team in 2021. In his spare time he enjoys all manner of outdoor adventures including mountain biking, skiing and tramping. He is also a keen volleyballer, whether it be beach or indoor. If you meet Paul out and about it most likely won’t be without his truck dog Zoe, who loves long walks on the beach and chewing up items in the back of the truck.
John Spearpoint
Large Animal Veterinarian
John joined the RVC large animal team in December 2020 after graduating from Massey University with his veterinary degree. Prior to this, John was running his own stud Angus cattle breeding business in the Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia, before returning to further study to fulfil a dream of becoming a veterinarian.
Being a farmer himself, he is a passionate farming advocate and has been heavily involved in local environmental Landcare activities to improve sustainability in farming systems and environmental impacts on water quality. John has a Diploma of Agriculture, a Diploma of Conservation & Land Management as well as a Science Degree which he gained during his first career working as a medical laboratory scientist with a pathology company.
John enjoys getting into the outdoors, travelling, mountain biking and exploring New Zealand’s countryside.
Dr Andrew Weir
Large Animal Veterinarian PhD
I started work as a mostly dairy vet in 2000 after graduating from Massey. After 20 years at Eltham vets in Taranaki, I moved to Canterbury (2020) & joined the Selwyn – Rakaia Vets team in Dunsandel, before moving to RVC in Jan 2023.
I have a practical interest in research and stats as a tool for better decision-making which led me to get a post-graduate diploma (with distinction) in veterinary epidemiology, and then a PhD to help answer the question: what should we do about BVD in NZ? I’ve been a member of the BVD steering committee since 2007 and am currently the Chairperson (so if you have any BVD questions, I’m your guy).
I was also a member of the editorial board for the NZ veterinary journal for 5 years. I’m a member of the recently formed Endemic Disease Forum which was set up to get a handle on what we can do to reduce the impact of the diseases we already have in NZ. I’ve varied from 100% clinical practice (dairy focussed) to 100% research at various times.
Recently I’ve been doing mostly clinical work for 4 day’s week and using the other day doing industry good activities (like the BVD steering committee and the Endemic Disease Forum). I’ve been married to Kath for 24 years and we have 3 kids (2 adult, 1 at home).
I enjoy clinical vet work and getting out on farm, but I’m especially excited about the opportunity to do more with the increasing amounts of data we have access to. I have a (long) list of ideas for ways we can make the data more useful to you and help us to help you. I’m always interested in ideas you have too, so feel free to make suggestions or raise questions that I might be able to help answer. I look forward to meeting you next time you need a hand with something!
Heather van Hout
Large Animal Veterinarian BVSc
Although she considers herself to be a local, Heather was born and raised in Northern England. Her family, including her beloved pony Chox, emigrated to New Zealand when she was 14.
Heather completed her high school and veterinary studies here in NZ. She graduated from Massey University in 2017, since then she has returned to North Canterbury to work. After completing three years in equine practice, Heather joined the large animal team in 2020. She then had 18 months off work to care for her new family and re-joined the team on a part-time basis in May 2022.
Heather thoroughly enjoys working as part of the large animal team, she is delighted to be back! She enjoys the wide variety of species that she sees in this role and the great clients/owners that we have in North Canterbury.
In her spare time, Heather is kept pretty busy looking after her one-year-old twins! Quality family time and making memories for her little ones is her priority outside of work.
Jevan Eady
Large Animal Veterinarian BVSc
Jevan (Pronounced like “Kevin” but with a “J”) Graduated from Massey University in 2017 and spent the following 4 years working as a mixed animal vet in South Waikato, before moving back to Canterbury to pursue a more dairy orientated role with the RVC Large Animal team in July 2022.
Along with dairy cattle he also has a special interest in deer.
When Jevan takes his Vet hat off, he’s into pretty much anything that gets him outside and moving, sports, river rafting, hiking, snowboarding etc. He is a nature enthusiast, food lover and loves a good coffee and a book too.
Canterbury born and breed he was raised in south Canterbury in the small town of Southbridge where a couple of sheep, chickens, plus several cats and dogs cradled his passion for animals. This combined with a scientific background from his parents led him to pursue a veterinary career from an early age.
2 days before leaving the Waikato he was adopted by a little cat dubbed “Sprite”. A black and white DMH with a gloriously fluffy tail and face markings to rival Gene Simmons. After living in 4 houses in as many months they are both happy to have settled in Rangiora and look forward to exploring all the area has to offer.
Matt Lawrey
Large Animal Health Technical Support
Matt joined the large animal team mid 2023, having worked alongside RVC in his previous position, Matt has a clear understanding of the role and appreciation of our RVC client base.
Matt has worked his entire career in the local rural sector. His agricultural degree and first-hand experience working on a variety of stock and cropping farms, (including managing a 500ha sheep and beef property) means he is aware of the challenges many farmers are facing. Couple this with spending the last 15 years in the Animal Health Industry, Matt is keen to draw on his knowledge and experience to help find clients solutions that align with their animal health goals and their business needs.
Outside of work, Matt enjoys a number of different activities; vintage cars, jet boating, clay bird shooting, and enjoying an ale or two with friends to name a few. Together with his fiancee Sophie (a small animal vet and long-term RVC staff member), they live on a lifestyle block in Loburn, just up the road from where he grew up. Matt is looking forward to getting to know all the RVC farm clients over the coming months.
Kellie Grieve
Large Animal Technician
Kellie began working at RVC casually in May 2017, but then accepted a full time position as a technician in October 2018.
After graduating Vet Nursing at Ara in 2016 and realising she had a bigger interest in the dairy sector, Kellie completed a Certificate in Rural Animal Technology in 2017 whilst working on a dairy farm in North Canterbury.
Born in Christchurch and growing up in West Eyreton, Kellie now lives in Sefton with her two cats, Gus and Eva, where there is always something to do around the house!
Leanne Bisseker
Large Animal Technician
Tanna Scott
Large Animal Rural Veterinary Technician
Tanna's work interests encompass teatsealing, dry cow management, calf debudding, and assisting the Veterinary team.
Away from the clinic, she finds joy in competing in Show Jumping, exploring the South Island with a roof tent, and delving into rural and wedding photography/videography.
Born in South Africa, Tanna moved to the North Island of New Zealand at the age of five where her passion for farming began. Beginning with calf rearing, Tanna's journey led her to Canterbury, where she pursued further education in the rural sector, which led to her joining the team on a casual basis in 2021, leading to a more permanent position in 2022.
Tanna shares her life with a vibrant array of animals, including two horses named Patrick and Berry, as well as two dogs named Nugget (a Jack Russell cross) and Odin (a French Bulldog). Both dogs eagerly join Tanna on weekend adventures, relishing quad bike rides and the great outdoors.
Rebecca Kreisel
Large Animal Support
Rebecca has a certificate in vet nursing and has been a familiar face at RVC since 2012.
She has a special interest at RVC in pet insurance, and also horses, this particular interest in horses carries on outside the clinic environment and extends to dressage and Shetland ponies, along with anything outdoors
Born in Christchurch and growing up in North Canterbury, she is married to Adam and together they have a gorgeous daughter, Lily. Extended close knit family members live pretty close by and they enjoy getting together as a family, along with Rebecca’s menagerie of pets including dogs Ruby, a Japanese Chin and Cobber, a Jack Russell, Baldrick the horse, Izzy, Rose and Kadion the Shetland ponies, 9 sheep, 5 chooks and 1 goat.
Sacha Crawford
Large Animal Support
Sacha joined the Large Animal support team in 2018.
Outside the clinic environment, she loves spending time with her daughter and mucking about on their lifestyle block in West Eyreton which includes - horses, cows, sheep, dogs and a cat.
Sacha has travelled extensively and lived overseas, she is always happy to explore new cultures and has a keen interest in boxing, horse riding & exploring new places with friends.