Greetings

My Story

Since coming to Christian faith at an early age I have been drawn to support people to flourish in optimum well-being and spiritual wholeness. My desire is to offer holistic care and support to those involved in Christian ministry and mission and the caring professions.  I also find real joy in providing a welcoming and nurturing home environment. Birdsong Waiata Manu brings together these passions through offering hospitality, debriefing, retreat and professional supervision.

Growing up in rural New Zealand in the Bay of Plenty, I originally trained as a nurse. During this time I met and married Peter who was to be my dearly loved husband for almost 40 years until his death in 2019. We raised 4 children together and now have 8 grandchildren.

After a number of years of raising a family, in 2006 I gained a Diploma of Counselling from the Bible College of New Zealand (now Laidlaw College) and subsequently completed training in Debriefing.  I worked as a counsellor in NZ for 3 years prior to moving overseas where Peter and I established a home offering debriefing, counselling, retreats and rest, to international personnel involved in faith-based NGO’s and humanitarian work in the Middle East. We returned to New Zealand in 2018.

After moving to Whanganui in 2022 to establish Birdsong Waiata Manu, I met a lovely man, Clive. We married in 2024.

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Clive's background is in teaching, and planning. He was married to Ruth for almost 40 years until her passing in 2014. Together they had 3 children and 16 grandchildren. For 8 years until June 2025 he was self-employed offering a companion driving service. 

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We have both been actively involved in local church and community activities throughout our lives.

Clive supports the work of Birdsong Waiata Manu through prayer, practical and moral support.

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Having worked as a nurse within a hospice setting and with the Cancer Society, I have a special interest in working with people experiencing grief, loss, change, transition and relationship difficulties. These are some of the many issues encountered throughout a debriefing process.  I have also worked in General Practice as a Health Improvement Practitioner, supporting people experiencing anxiety, depression, addiction and other mental health challenges.

My practice is informed by my training both in counselling and nursing, life experience, working in a variety of people-helping roles, both overseas and within New Zealand, and my Christian faith.  I strive to work holistically, attending to all dimensions of well-being.

I was a member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors from 2008 until 2025. Although now not a member, I am committed to regular professional supervision, ongoing professional development and upholding standards of professional ethics.

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Advisory Board

Both Clive and I recognise our need to be supported in caring for others and to benefit from the prayer, shared wisdom and experience of like-minded people. We also seek to make ourselves accountable. To this end, we have established an advisory board consisting of 3 couples with lifelong experience in Christian ministry and mission, health and education, business and training. We regularly communicate with the advisory board prayer needs and ask for their collective input as required.

The advisory board does not have a governance or financial role. The ministry of Birdsong Waiata Manu is funded through fees for services.

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Complaints procedure

There is a complaints process if people have any concerns about the service they received during their time at Birdsong Waiata Manu. In the first instance, you are invited to discuss any concerns you might have directly with me. If we are unable to resolve any issue satisfactorily, you would be invited to contact a member of our advisory board or my professional supervisor. Names and contact details will be provided. If the issue was still unable to be resolved, you have the option of contacting the Health and Disability Commission.

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