Looking for the best naturopaths in Wellington usually means choosing between a clinic with several practitioners and a sole practitioner you see every time. Naturopathy is not a registered profession in New Zealand, so the useful check is membership of a professional body such as Naturopaths and Medical Herbalists of New Zealand or the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists. The five below all publish their qualifications and where they practise.
1Orange Health Clinic
Orange Health Clinic is on Level 1 of Munro Benge House at 104 The Terrace, and its practitioners are registered naturopaths, registered medical herbalists and complementary medicine practitioners. Consultations run a full hour and can be taken in clinic, by phone or over Zoom.
Services
- Naturopathic consultations for adults and children
- Herbal medicine, including formulas made up at the appointment
- Functional testing, including hormone, allergy and mineral testing
- Digestive, hormonal and energy related support
- Phone and Zoom consultations
Highlights
- Registered naturopaths and registered medical herbalists on the team
- Hour long initial consultations rather than a short appointment
- Practitioner only medicines, some custom formulated during the appointment
- A free online mineral assessment questionnaire before you commit to anything
- Email follow up between appointments at no extra charge
Location & Contact
Name: Orange Health Clinic
Address: Level 1, Munro Benge House, 104 The Terrace, Wellington 6011
Phone: 027 463 2909
Website: orangehealth.co.nz
2Cush Reid, Nutrition & Natural Healthcare
Cush Reid runs Nutrition & Natural Healthcare and has more than two decades practising as a naturopath in the Wellington region. Her practice combines naturopathy with nutritional therapy and herbal medicine, alongside functional testing and gene analysis.
Services
- Clinical naturopathy consultations
- Nutritional therapy
- Herbal medicine
- Functional testing and gene analysis
- Gluten sensitivity support and BodyTalk therapy
Highlights
- Over twenty years practising in Wellington
- You see the same practitioner every appointment
- Functional testing and gene analysis available alongside standard consultations
- Consultation pricing published on the site before you book
Location & Contact
Name: Cush Reid, Nutrition & Natural Healthcare
Address: Wellington
Phone: 027 421 4900
Website: cushreid.co.nz
3Wellington Apothecary
Wellington Apothecary is at 110 Cuba Street in Te Aro and has been handmaking its own herbal products since 2014. The clinic upstairs hosts a collective of qualified, registered independent naturopathy practitioners, which means you can be seen and pick up your herbs in the same visit.
Services
- Naturopathy consultations with independent registered practitioners
- Holistic health discovery sessions
- Herbal dispensary, tonics and teas
- Massage therapy, holistic counselling and Ayurveda
- Workshops and bespoke blending sessions
Highlights
- An on site herbal dispensary, so prescriptions can be filled immediately
- A collective of independent practitioners rather than one house style
- Open six days including Sunday afternoons, unusual for a clinic
- Created by herbalists and handmaking in Aotearoa since 2014
Location & Contact
Name: Wellington Apothecary
Address: 110 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington
Phone: 04 801 8777
Website: wellingtonapothecary.co.nz
4NatureNZ Health
NatureNZ Health is Friederike von Rohden, a Naturopathic College of New Zealand graduate who has been working in natural health since 1997. She is a member of both Naturopaths and Medical Herbalists of New Zealand and the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists, and Southern Cross members may be able to claim consultation fees.
Services
- Naturopathic consultations
- Medical herbal medicine
- Massage, reiki and holistic pulsing
- Muscle testing and iridology
- Functional pathology testing, including hormone, thyroid and gut analysis
Highlights
- Member of NMHNZ and NZAMH, with qualifications published in full
- Southern Cross members may be able to claim consultation fees
- Evening appointments until 7pm on several weekdays
- Tele-consultations by phone, Zoom, Skype or Teams
Location & Contact
Name: NatureNZ Health
Address: Wellington
Phone: 021 124 8399
Website: naturenzhealth.nz
5Storm Sommerville
Storm Sommerville is a registered naturopath, nutritionist, herbalist and kinesiologist with clinics in Miramar and on the Kāpiti Coast, and more than 14 years of practice behind her. Her work combines naturopathy with kinesiology, and the clinic is set up to be child friendly.
Services
- Naturopathic and nutritional consultations
- Kinesiology and muscle testing, including Kinergetics and Touch for Health
- Herbal medicine
- Family and children’s consultations
Highlights
- Over 14 years in practice across four disciplines
- Two clinic locations, Miramar and the Kāpiti Coast
- A deliberately child friendly clinic space
- Online booking and structured programmes rather than ad hoc appointments
Location & Contact
Name: Storm Sommerville
Address: Miramar, Wellington
Phone: 022 136 6956
Website: stormsommerville.com
How to Choose the Right Naturopath in Wellington
- Check professional body membership. Naturopathy is not a registered profession in New Zealand, so NMHNZ or NZAMH membership is the closest thing to an external standard. Every practitioner here publishes theirs.
- Ask how long the first appointment is. An initial naturopathic consultation is usually an hour, because taking a full history is most of the work. A much shorter first appointment is worth asking about.
- Find out what testing costs on top. Functional tests are often the largest part of the bill and are usually quoted separately from the consultation. Ask for the total before agreeing to a panel.
- Check whether your insurer contributes. Some policies cover natural health consultations. NatureNZ Health notes that Southern Cross members may be able to claim, and it is worth asking your own insurer.
- Tell your GP what you are taking. Herbs and supplements can interact with prescribed medicines, and a good naturopath will want to know what you are already on.
Frequently Asked Questions About Naturopaths in Wellington
Are naturopaths regulated in New Zealand?
No. Naturopathy is not covered by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act, so there is no government register. Practitioners instead join voluntary bodies such as Naturopaths and Medical Herbalists of New Zealand or the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists, which set training and ethical standards for members.
What happens in a first appointment?
Expect around an hour covering your health history, diet, sleep, stress and current medications, followed by a plan. Orange Health Clinic gives you a written treatment plan with recommendations prioritised, and most practitioners work the same way.
Can I see a naturopath instead of my doctor?
Naturopathy is complementary rather than a replacement for medical care. Keep seeing your GP, particularly for diagnosis, and tell both what the other is doing. Practitioners here state plainly that their advice is not a substitute for medical advice.
Will my health insurance cover it?
Sometimes. Some policies include natural health consultations, and NatureNZ Health notes that Southern Cross members may be able to claim. Check with your insurer before booking rather than after.
Do they see children?
Yes. Orange Health Clinic sees adults and children, and Storm Sommerville’s Miramar clinic is deliberately set up as a child friendly space. Consultation lengths and pricing for children usually differ from adults.
What is functional testing?
Tests such as hormone panels, comprehensive stool analysis, food intolerance screening and hair mineral analysis, run through private laboratories rather than the public system. They are optional, priced separately and worth asking about before you agree to one.
Can I have consultations remotely?
Yes. Orange Health Clinic offers phone and Zoom appointments, and NatureNZ Health takes consultations by phone, Zoom, Skype or Teams. Remote consultations work well for follow ups even if you prefer the first appointment in person.
Do I have to buy supplements?
Not necessarily, though most plans include some herbal or nutritional support. Ask what is essential versus optional, and ask for the cost of the full plan up front so there are no surprises when you get to the dispensary.