Fairlie Clinic
About the Fairlie Clinic
Fairlie’s Local Vet Clinic – Mixed Practice in the Heart of the Mackenzie
Aorangi Vets Fairlie is a true mixed practice right in the heart of Fairlie – providing experienced veterinary care for both companion animals and farm livestock across the Mackenzie Country, from Cave to Twizel, Lake Tekapo, and beyond. We’re a long-standing part of the community here, and our close-knit team knows many of our clients personally.
Our back-of-house clinical areas have been recently refreshed to support advanced veterinary care, and convenient rear car parking makes visits easy. Whether you farm the Mackenzie Basin, live near the shores of Lake Tekapo, or just want a trusted local vet for your pets, we’re here.
Our Fairlie team provides practical, caring veterinary services for the pets of Fairlie and the surrounding Mackenzie region — including families and pet owners from Tekapo, Twizel, and the wider basin. Services include:
- Wellness visits and vaccinations — routine health checks and preventive care for dogs, cats, and other companion animals
- Parasite prevention — worming, flea, and tick control advice and products tailored to the Mackenzie environment
- Surgical services — desexing and routine procedures
- Diagnostic services — in-clinic testing to support accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment
- Pet nutrition and health products — a broad retail range in clinic, covering both pet and farm animal needs
- Ongoing health management — for pets with chronic conditions or special health requirements
Fairlie sits at the gateway to the Mackenzie Basin, and our rural vet team is well-placed to support the farming operations that define this part of South Canterbury — from the foothills near Cave right through to the high country around Tekapo and Twizel. We provide practical, preventive veterinary advice and care for sheep, beef, dairy, and deer farmers across the region, with a focus on building useful long-term relationships with the people we work with.
Rural services from our Fairlie clinic include:
- Sheep and beef health programmes — drenching, scanning, clostridial vaccination, and metabolic disease management
- Dairy support — production health, mastitis management, and dry cow programmes
- Calving and lambing assistance — on-farm support for difficult births and neonatal care
- Herd and flock health planning — working with you throughout the year, not just in an emergency
- Farm visits across the Mackenzie — Cave, Albury, Fairlie, Burke Pass, Tekapo, Twizel, and surrounding properties
- Farm animal health products — stocked in clinic, covering the needs of Mackenzie Country farming operations
- After-hours rural emergency cover — available outside business hours for urgent livestock situations
We’re located in the centre of Fairlie with convenient car parking at the rear – making us a practical stop whether you’re heading through on the way to Tekapo or based locally. Our recently refreshed clinical areas are set up for both companion animal consultations and farm animal work. The retail space stocks a broad range of products for pets and livestock – from nutrition to farm supplies – so you can often get what you need in a single stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a vet in Fairlie?
Yes – Aorangi Vets has a full mixed practice in the centre of Fairlie. We see both companion animals (dogs, cats, and pets) and farm livestock, and we’ve been part of the Fairlie community for many years. The clinic has rear car parking and stocks a wide range of pet and farm products.
What areas does the Fairlie vet clinic cover?
Our Fairlie clinic serves the Mackenzie Country from Cave to Twizel, including Fairlie, Albury, Burke Pass, Tekapo, and surrounding rural properties. We make farm visits across this area and are well-placed to support the sheep, beef, dairy, and deer farming operations of the Mackenzie Basin.
Is Aorangi Vets the closest vet to Lake Tekapo?
For many people living in or around Tekapo, our Fairlie clinic is the most practical option for veterinary care – whether that’s routine pet health visits, vaccinations, or farm animal support. Give us a call and we can confirm whether we’re the right fit for your needs.
Does the Fairlie clinic treat both pets and farm animals?
Yes – Fairlie is a true mixed practice. Our experienced vets provide care for companion animals including dogs and cats, as well as farm livestock including sheep, beef cattle, dairy cows, and deer. If you’re not sure whether we can help with your animal, just give us a call.
Does Aorangi Vets Fairlie provide after-hours emergency cover?
Yes. After-hours emergency care is available for both companion animal and rural clients. Call the Fairlie clinic number outside of business hours and you’ll be connected to the on-call vet. For livestock emergencies including calving difficulties and prolapse, please call as early as possible.
Can I buy farm and pet supplies at the Fairlie vet clinic?
Yes. Our Fairlie clinic has a well-stocked retail area covering both pet nutrition and farm veterinary supplies. It’s worth calling ahead if you’re after something specific, but for most everyday needs you’ll find what you’re looking for in the clinic.
Our Fairlie Clinic Staff
Glenda Kellahan
(BVSc)
Veterinarian
Since 2003, Glenda has been part of the veterinary profession, working with everything from sheep flocks and cattle herds to family pets. She has a special passion for artificial insemination in sheep and dogs, and loves the variety that mixed practice brings. Away from the clinic, you’ll often find her at a chessboard or out for a run.
Peter Crawford
(BVSc)
Veterinarian
Pete joined Aorangi Vets in 2017, bringing with him a wealth of experience from working in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK since graduating from Massey in 2003. He has a strong background in dairy, sheep, beef, and deer farming, with a particular passion for farm consultancy and developing animal health plans. Outside of work, Pete enjoys time with his partner and children, and runs a small farm in Cannington where he grazes sheep and cattle.
Rachael Elliot
(BVSc)
Veterinarian
Rachael graduated from Massey in 2019 and was delighted to return home to South Canterbury. As a mixed animal vet, she enjoys the variety of being out on farm as well as working with pets in the clinic. Life outside of veterinary work is a busy balance of raising her young children alongside her love of the outdoors, whether that’s mountain biking, skiing, or spending time with her horse.
Heather Hellmrich
(VN)
Clinic Manager/Vet Nurse
Heather has lived in Fairlie since she was young and has always loved being part of the local community. After starting her career in human health, she followed her passion for animals and trained as a Veterinary Nurse, later stepping into the role of Fairlie Clinic Manager. At home, she cares for a small menagerie that now includes the Kune Kune pigs she always wanted, while her grown-up children, Jack and Gracie, have since left the nest.
Helen Graham
(BSc)
Commercial Manager
Helen graduated from Massey University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. After university she worked and competed in endurance riding across the UK and Europe, finishing her OE on a large cattle station in Northern Queensland. Growing up on a high country sheep and beef station, along with six years in the fertiliser industry, has fuelled her passion for New Zealand agriculture and sustainable farming. In her spare time, Helen trains and competes her endurance horses, cares for her many four-legged companions, and takes on ultra-distance running events.
Karen Clarke
(VN)
Veterinary Nurse
Karen first joined Aorangi Vets in Pleasant Point in the mid-1990s, later working at the Otipua Road clinic in Timaru before moving to Fairlie in 2001. She loves being part of the Fairlie community and makes the most of the many outdoor opportunities the area has to offer. Karen also enjoys exploring further afield, both off the beaten track in New Zealand and on overseas adventures.
April Donaldson
(DipScTech)
Clinic Assistant/Veterinary Technician
April is originally from North Canterbury and graduated from Massey University with a Diploma in Science and Technology focused on agriculture. She has hands-on experience in dairy farming, calf rearing, and showing livestock. April now works on reception at Fairlie and occasionally assists with tech duties. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her Persian cat, exploring new places, following the rodeo circuit, and playing netball and ice hockey.
Matt Hawkins
Customer Service
Matt has a strong background in customer service and enjoys making people feel welcome. He and his family moved to Fairlie for the lifestyle and quickly settled into the community. At the clinic, Matt is often one of the first people you meet and ensures every client and patient is well looked after. Outside work, Matt enjoys getting out with his dog on walks and bike rides, tackling house renovation projects, and exploring everything Fairlie and the surrounding countryside has to offer.