Practitioners

Shelley Hickson

Shelley has been practising Traditional Chinese Medicine since 1985, having graduated from the NSW College of Natural Therapies in Sydney, Australia. After practising in Auckland for three years, Shelley moved back to Hawke's Bay with her family in 1989 and established Acupuncture Havelock North. The practice was extended in 2002 when the Hastings Health Centre was opened and Shelley established a clinic within the Centre.

In 2013 the clinics were renamed Acupuncture Heretaunga to reflect the ongoing care between the two sites. Shelley is registered with the Chinese Medicine Council, has previously been on the executive committee for Acupuncture NZ, and has in the past been an expert court witness for Acupuncture and Natural Therapies.

Shelley's passion for Traditional Chinese Medicine is as strong as ever, and she brings over 40 years of experience to the clinic.

Trudi Collins

Based at our Havelock North clinic, Trudi brings over two decades of acupuncture expertise rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and an additional interest in Functional Medicine. She graduated from the New Zealand School of Acupuncture and TCM in 2002 and, in recognition of her commitment to the profession, was appointed as a Practitioner Member of the inaugural Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand in May 2022.

Trudi is a dedicated mum of three, whose passion for balance and well‑being extends both professionally and personally. She enriches her treatments with the harmonious resonance of tuning forks and singing bowls, tailoring each session with care and attention to detail.

Chelsea Wright

After graduating her BHSc in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2013, Chelsea joined our team at Acupuncture Heretaunga. Prior to joining the Practice, Chelsea gained two years experience working under Dr Debra Betts PhD. at the Lower Hutt Hospital in the first Acupuncture Pregnancy clinic. She has carried this passion for fertility and pregnancy care through to the Practice here in Hawkes Bay. Chelsea is a registered ACC provider and has extensive experience working with musculoskeletal conditions and rehabilitation.

Chelsea has a young family and is the Managing Director and owner of the Hastings Clinic. 

Lee cooper

Lee brings a rich and diverse background to her acupuncture practice. After a career in executive management, she followed a deep call to the internal arts, training in Shaolin kung fu, Tai Ji, and Qigong in China and Southeast Asia. This path led her to formal studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the New Zealand School of Acupuncture, where she recently completed her degree.

Lee has taught Qigong and Tai Ji in Australia and New Zealand and holds over 500 hours of teacher training. She’s passionate about mind–body integration and supporting others on their healing journey with grounded care, insight, and practical tools.

Her interests include physical wellbeing, human performance, and philosophy — all of which inform her holistic approach. You’ll often find her in the gym before sunrise or enjoying a strong coffee — always learning, always moving.

——

Together, we offer over 75 years of combined experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Our clinic is dedicated to providing a nurturing, safe, and welcoming space to support your ongoing health and well-being.

All of our practitioners are trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and have completed a minimum of three years of formal study, including over 500 supervised clinical hours prior to entering practice. We are all Registered Health Professionals, registered with the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand, and are committed to ongoing professional development through annual continuing education.  Each practitioner is also a registered ACC treatment provider.

The Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand (CMCNZ) is the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing the professional standards, conduct, and competence of practitioners of Chinese Medicine in Aotearoa.  This includes acupuncturists, Chinese herbal medicine practitioners, and tuina (Chinese Medical massage) therapists.

Being a Registered Health Professional under the CMCNZ means that a practitioner has met rigorous standards of education, clinical training, and ethical conduct.  Registration also requires ongoing professional development and adherence to a formal Code of Ethics.  This official recognition places Chinese Medicine alongside other regulated health professions in New Zealand, such as physiotherapy, nursing, and midwifery, helping to protect the public and uphold the integrity of the profession.

Below is a list of some of the conditions we can treat.

Do not take good health as granted.  [Just as one] should not forget danger in times of peace, try to prevent the coming of diease beforehand.

Sun Simiao, 7th Century CE