About Us
A New Zealand veterinary group with local roots
CareVets is a proudly New Zealand owned and operated veterinary group with a network of clinics across the North Island. The group began operating in 2008 with just a few clinics under the direction of Dr Keith Houston, Dr Alistair Kirkby and Nick Cooper. Since then, it has grown by welcoming established practices into the group as well as opening new veterinary hospitals. Each CareVets clinic is owned by the group’s directors, maintaining a New Zealand-based ownership structure as the network has expanded.
Today, the CareVets team includes veterinarians, veterinary nurses, veterinary technicians, groomers, pet carers, retail assistants, receptionists, administrators, managers and other veterinary support professionals. For someone considering their next role, this creates the chance to become part of a sizeable veterinary organisation while still working within an individual clinic team and local community.
Different pathways within veterinary care
One of the advantages of a group such as CareVets is the variety of veterinary work taking place across its network. Its services include companion animal medicine and surgery, diagnostics, dentistry, emergency and critical care, exotics care, grooming, puppy preschool and specialist referrals. CareVets also has specialist veterinarians within its network and works with other specialists for more advanced cases.
The wider network is not limited to traditional companion animal general practice. CareVets’ careers page includes opportunities connected with referral and after-hours veterinary settings, while its Vet Centre clinics in Franklin provide services for companion animals as well as lifestyle, equine, sheep, beef, dairy and other farm animals. This breadth means that the working environment and caseload can vary considerably between locations, giving veterinary professionals the opportunity to look for a setting that suits their skills and interests.
Individual clinics also have their own character. Some are larger practices with experienced teams and a range of clinical interests, while others operate as smaller local clinics. CareVets Pokeno, for example, works closely with nearby sister clinics, while CareVets Horsham Downs describes itself as a boutique practice focused on personalised care in a calm environment.
Caring beyond the clinic
Animal welfare is also part of CareVets’ wider presence in New Zealand through the CareVets Foundation. Established as a registered charity in 2012, the Foundation supports animal welfare projects including free or discounted desexing initiatives for low-income families, cat neutering programmes, dog bite prevention education for children and grants supporting other desexing campaigns. With clinics across multiple regions, these initiatives can reach communities in different parts of the country.
For employees who value being part of an organisation with involvement beyond day-to-day clinical work, this provides another dimension to the CareVets network.
Across the North Island
CareVets currently has clinics listed across Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and the Wellington region. The network includes practices in major centres as well as suburban, coastal and regional communities, giving prospective employees a choice of locations and different styles of veterinary practice.
Whether you are an experienced veterinary nurse looking for your next challenge, starting out in the profession, or interested in one of the many support roles that help a veterinary practice run well, CareVets offers the opportunity to explore a career within a New Zealand owned veterinary network with a broad range of teams, locations and areas of veterinary care.