Our Story
about how we hope to help bridge the gap in healthcare
Haerenga Hauora (formerly Northcity Osteopaths) was founded by husband-and-wife team Rach and Ali, who share a vision of healthcare that is inclusive, holistic, and bridges the divide between mainstream healthcare and indigenous modalities of health and wellbeing.
Together, they created a clinic, Haerenga (Journey) Hauora (wellbeing) – a space that honours the whole person, not just their symptoms, and where traditional and contemporary approaches work side by side to awhi people on their journey to wellness.
Their clinical kaupapa blends clinical expertise with indigenous models of healing like Te Whare Tapa Whā, a framework that looks at all taha and contributors to our health and wellbeing. Ensuring that each service they offer covers aspects of care across hinengaro (mental health), tinana (physical health), wairua (spiritual health), and whānau (social connections). Because they believe healthcare should look for root causes and contributing factors, instead of the "one shoe fits all" approach most healthcare uses.
The goal is simple: to help people get back to doing the things they love, faster though a more comprehensive and tailored approach.
Rach's Story
Ko Parihaka te Maunga,
Ko Hātea o te tahora te Awa,
Nō Whangārei me Dubai ahau,
Ko Shortland tōku whānau.
Ko Jason Powell tōku matua tāne,
Ko Maiki tōku Maunga,
Ko Te Rāwhiti tōku Moana,
Ko Mātaatua tōku Waka,
Ko Ngāpuhi tōku Iwi,
Ko Ngāti Hine ngā Hapū,
Ko Te Kawiti tōku Marae.
Ko Karani Beuker tōku matua whāngai,
Ko Nieuwe Maas tōku Awa,
Ko Rotterdam tōku Rohe.
Ko Rach tōku ingoa.
Rach has carried a passion for youth and behaviour for as long as they can remember, working in the education sector for over a decade to support tamariki and whānau. Today, they specialise in youth and neurodivergent counselling, offering strength-based and solution-focused sessions grounded in kaupapa Māori and evidence-based practice.
When not at clinic, you’ll usually find Rach tending to her animals, or curled up with a book in their reading nook.
Ali's Story
Ali trained as an osteopath in England before spending time in remote areas of Australia, eventually relocating to Aotearoa and making Whangārei home. With more than 10 years of experience in the medical and health sector, Ali saw first-hand the disconnect between managing symptoms and addressing the root causes of injury and illness. He believes recovery often involves more than just treating the physical body – lifestyle and contributing factors play a huge role.
Known for his fun, down-to-earth style and meticulous attention to detail, Ali works closely with clients experiencing chronic pain and long-term conditions, helping them find practical, lasting solutions.
When he’s not in clinic, you’ll usually find Ali outdoors – either diving beneath Northland’s waters or battling it out on the local squash courts.
