Every Kiwi knows that if there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s pretending that everything is fine. Between hectic work hours and wrangling the kids, we try to convince ourselves that a trip up Mount Eden counts as “wellness.”

Going to yoga classes once every blue moon and a meditation app that makes up most of your screen time – sounds familiar? The truth is, a wellness coach might just save your days. 

And no, we’re talking about experts who could actually help people – not self-help gurus who try to convince us that life should just run on coffee and vibes.

Our search led us to these wellness coaches who genuinely help people stress less, sleep better, and just feel like themselves again. Check out who truly walks the talk.

1. Live Nutrition

Contact: +64 210 257 6483

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Website

The best thing about Live Nutrition is its evidence-based approach to wellness. In fact, they focus on identifying underlying health issues through various methods: stool analysis, food allergy tests, and in-depth bloodwork.

The specialisation in a wide range of complex health areas is also a major advantage. Olivia (who leads the clinic) works in gut health, chronic fatigue, and hormonal imbalance. Her expertise also extends to metabolic and skin concerns.

Consultation lengths are flexible, and we love how clients can opt for 20- to 75-minute sessions. 

In addition, the convenience of Zoom consultations is also a big advantage for clients presently stuck in hectic lifestyles.

The level of support is robust for easy long-term management. Olivia sends easy post-consult recommendations, recipes, and wellness tips. While there is no constant monitoring, we find this sufficient for slow yet sustainable lifestyle changes.

The initial consultation fee might just be a little too expensive for some at $249 (supplement consultations start at $45). In-person availability is a bit limited too, so if that’s your preferred method, it’s best to book a week in advance.

Incredibly supportive throughout

“Olivia has been incredibly supportive throughout my gut health journey. After conducting a stool test and food allergy testing, we identified some key issues. Olivia took the time to help me fully understand my body and provided clear guidance on how I can better support myself moving forward.”

– Sam Slaughter, Google Review

Good sound knowledge 

“Olivia has been very caring throughout my journey with my gut health. She has been very professional with good sound knowledge to support what I needed. I am sure that I am feeling better now because of her careful and considerate guidance with the support I have needed. Thanks so much Olivia.”

– Turanga Homestead, Google Review 

2. Santosha Health Coaching

Contact: +64 27 580 2914

Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM, Wednesday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Saturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Website

Santosha Health Coaching is a great option for clients who prefer a highly personalised experience. Shelly takes time going through each client’s lifestyle, challenges, and goals to craft effective recommendations.

Her approach addresses the body, mind, and spirit, following Eastern philosophy and Ayurvedic wisdom. Through this, she helps manage women’s health, mindset, nutrition, and emotional well-being.

That said, clients looking for strictly protocol-based systems or medical approaches may find this holistic focus limiting.

We can see how effective this approach is, based on the testimonies we’ve gathered. Clients immediately felt improvement from the first session alone.

Completing the experience are the clearly structured wellness packages. These options vary in defined durations, session counts, and ongoing support (which can be done either via email or text).

The packages are priced pretty competitively too. For reference, wellness coaching for 2 months costs $720. Other tiers are transparently defined in costs, which helps clients plan further ahead. 

If unsure, the discovery call is free to help assess if she’s the right fit for your needs.

The only thing missing for us is the option for single, one-time sessions. Other than that, we’re happy with what we’ve seen so far.

Excellent collaboration style

“Just did Shelley’s initial health assessment and her collaborative style is excellent. In the first hour I’ve got a much clearer picture of my health & mental wellness challenges, and I’m already taking action that’s getting results. Thanks Shelley, Highly Recommended!!!”

– Andrew Waugh, Google Review

Deeply committed to helping others 

“Shelley’s energy and passion for health are absolutely contagious. She is deeply committed to helping others feel their best. She’s knowledgeable, inspiring, and truly lives what she teaches. Anyone in her care is in great hands!”

– Gabriela Galateanu, Google Review 

3. Scandi Health Coaching NZ 

Location: 5 Ivy Place, Matua, Tauranga 3110

Contact: +64 210 682 992

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Website

Scandi Health’s founder, Sophie, has 16 years of experience in the wellness sector, with qualifications as a certified health coach, personal trainer, and human nutrition researcher. Her background makes her equipped to handle a wide range of concerns.

Speaking of which, she assists with health transformation by targeting nutrition, mindfulness, and fitness. Her approach focuses on a no-diet philosophy that eliminates the risk of quick fixes.

We totally loved that many offerings are tailored to women’s needs. Health programs include peri-menopause education events and mother-daughter retreats, among others.

What makes these programs stand out is the level of encouragement offered – sessions are done in a safe, non-judgemental space, so women feel more empowered to grow.

As a result, clients shared with us many significant outcomes. Some tangible improvements include lower blood pressure, weight loss, improved skin, and reduced bloating.

However, the cost of consultations and sessions can be limiting for those on a tight budget. Availability runs out pretty quickly too, especially for group options where the coaching size is small. 

Both empowering and encouraging

“I’ve tried Sofie’s magnesium balms and participated in her Reboot programme, and I can’t recommend them enough! The programme provided valuable insights and tools for positive lifestyle changes, and Sofie’s products always leave me feeling balanced and restored. Her coaching style is both empowering and encouraging, making it easy to stick with my health goals. Highly recommend!”

– Maria Emilia Olsina, Google Review

A wonderful experience

“I recently attended Scandi’s Health Retreat and can thoroughly recommend.  The retreat was run with a perfect balance of activity and rest.  I appreciated the quiet reflective space that was created for us to do our own thing.  I found peace and calm, wonderful nutritious food, good people, energising exercise sessions and experienced a “sound bath” for the very first time. Sophie informs, teaches and empowers in a relaxed and gentle manner. Thank you Sophie for helping us take time out!”

– Katherine Gillespie, Google Review 

4. Jennings Holistic Health Coaching

Location: 41 Andrew Place, Otūmoetai, Tauranga 3110

Contact: +64 27 543 1387

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Website

What we liked best about Jennings Holistic Health Coaching is the clearly structured programs with varying durations. Lengths are flexible as well, from 90-day breakthrough programs to 12-month VIP options.

With these offerings, we see them as a great choice for both short-term and long-term clients.

Whichever type the client chooses, they can expect the same solid offerings. One that we particularly liked is their simple, seasonal, budget-friendly, and easy-to-follow meal plans – ideal for clients with long-term health goals.

Beyond this, clients also testified to achieving their goals within a short period. Key benefits include weight loss, improved sleep, reduction of menopausal symptoms, and more energy. 

Based on our calculations, these improvements were seen within an average of 10 days.

The ongoing support and accountability perhaps played a role in this, too. They do regular check-ins and are highly responsive when clients are struggling. 

As with most coaching programs, not all responses are positive – a few clients noted that the promises sounded bold and ambitious. Having realistic expectations is key.

Felt so much better 

“Amazing results from Steve & Heidi. I hadn’t  been able to shift any weight at all during menopause….but Steve and Heidi changed that ! To my surprise the weight starting dropping and I had tried EVERYTHING! I also feel so much better on the program and sleeping like I haven’t slept in years . Highly recommended.”

– Rebecca Rowling, Google Review

Uplifting support team

“I joined the 14 day summer sprint challenge because I needed to start moving and shifting some belly fat and weight. I was so happy I got more than just losing some weight. I also got Heidi and Steve’s amazing knowledge and support and an uplifting support team that helped me through my up and down days. We were all in this together and it made me feel less alone. Meal plans are incredible and easy, flexible and nutritious. The work out plans are explained really well in Steve’s videos and easy to follow. I truly got my moneys worth and more. Thank you Heidi and Steve, I can’t wait to spend more time on this journey with you. What you are doing is so valuable.”

– Melissa Shad, Google Review 

5. Bet Health Coach

Contact: +64 20 4188 5393

Opening Hours:

Website

We liked Bet Health’s approach as they target the root causes of issues rather than simply deal with the symptoms. They achieve this through a holistic approach that combines nutrition, lifestyle, emotional wellness, and spiritual balance.

The area of specialties, while not wide-ranging, is solid and in-depth. Focusing on hormonal health, they help clients manage imbalances like high cortisol, estrogen dominance, and metabolic concerns.

There are several programs as well, which we think are flexible enough for mid-level needs. The Essential Reset and Elevate Program both last for 3 months, and are tailored to the clients’ lifestyles, health background, and goals. 

We only wish there were shorter sessions for clients who can’t commit to this length. Fortunately, the initial consultation is free, so the barrier to entry is low.

In addition, sessions are available in-person and online, so accessibility is a win. They do continuous check-ins via WhatsApp, too, offering clients motivations and answering their questions promptly.

As for outcomes, we’re pleased to note that clients enjoyed benefits like weight loss, improved cholesterol, and reduced stress. Improvements were achieved within weeks to months in some cases.

Very knowledgeable and super professional 

“My husband and I took a meal plan with Betiana and I really enjoyed learning about nutrition, how to change my diet but still eat everything. I liked learning how to read the labels of everything we consume. Betiana is very knowledgeable and super professional in what she does. I recommend her 100%.”

– Claudia Samaniego Samaniego, Google Review

Helps you stay on track

“I’ve been working with Bet for a few months now, and it’s been awesome. She really take the time to understand my goals and help me stay on track. I’ve learned so much about eating better, staying active, and feeling more balanced overall. Every session feels personal and supportive, and I always leave feeling motivated. Highly recommend”

– Aldana Raposo, Google Review