Our people, your people...
The Monastery's wellness professionals are all exceptional practitioners, chosen both for their skills and for their natural ability to care and build trust. Our staff have extensive backgrounds in a variety of areas in modern and alternative health. Our people are…
Shelley Varnam
Shelley believes each of us must take responsibility for our own health and wellbeing, across all planes of our existence: physical, spiritual, emotional and mental. This belief has led her on an incredible journey through her work with wellness coaching, Reiki, and holistic pulsing.
Shelley has a real desire to holistically enhance peoples' wellness, through true belief in our inherent abilities to self-heal and to self-create fulfilling, authentic and peaceful lives. Shelley is a Certified Professional Coach (International Coaching Federation), Reiki Teacher (Waikato representative for Reiki NZ) and a Holistic Pulsing Therapist (NZCM).
Jules Wright
Jules is one of The Monastery’s wellness professionals and is currently acting team leader. She has had extensive experience within mental health, both in the district health board and non-government organisation sector for over 25 years.
Jules uses a cognitive behavioural approach in her individual therapeutic work with men and women and has a Professional Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour. She has vast experience in facilitating a variety of workshops such as relaxation, coping skills, anxiety and stress management and therapeutic drawing sessions.
Within the holistic setting at The Monastery, Jules is committed to focusing on every individual’s needs, being respectful of people’s culture and value systems. Her dream is for each person to learn and grow from their diverse experiences to complement their wellbeing and assist in their individual healing journey.
Earl Zapf
Earl comes from a long line of cooks and bakers. Food is his family's heritage: he grew up in his parents' restaurant kitchen and spent summer holidays at his auntie's vineyard and market garden in Italy. Earl began his three-year apprenticeship in classical French cooking at age 15 and has been cooking ever since.
Earl's philosophy on food and healthy eating has always been about enjoying everything in a balanced way. Earl believes that food is one of life's greatest joys – and cooking is about sharing that joy with others. Earl believes in using good, fresh ingredients when they're in season and at their best and cheapest. He is finding it delightful having The Monastery's organic vegie garden by the kitchen door and is happy to take on the challenge of any specific dietary requirements.
Jan Fergason
Jan joined The Monastery in 2011 as The Monastery’s senior administrator, providing support to the national manager. Prior to The Monastery team, Jan spent 14 years working at the University of Waikato in an executive/personal assistant role.
Jan has four sons and values any time spent in their company, or the company of family and friends. Jan’s passion is horse trekking and finds riding alone or with others therapeutic and definitely thought provoking. Her goal is to ride the length of New Zealand and is six years into what will be a 16 year journey with The Great New Zealand Trek.
Believing that life is not a destination, but a journey, Jan continues to look for the best in people. She likes to assist in finding the best outcomes for those who are, or have in the past, experienced difficulties in their lives. Jan looks forward to sharing the next chapter in your book of life.
Prue Hogan
Prue is a qualified massage therapist who has been running her own clinic for the last 15 years. She holds a Diploma in Therapeutic Massage.
Prue believes that massage, given with care and attention, is a wonderful way to create harmony of body, mind and spirit to support the body's self-healing.
Ferne Rye
Ferne has a community social service background with 25 years of diverse experience in the 'not for profit' sector. The majority of this experience was working as a practitioner in the field of family violence. Ferne's experience encompasses 15 years of supporting and walking alongside people who have experienced stress, trauma and depression as a result of their life experiences. Ferne has a wide range of skill and competencies and a commitment to best practice in the widest sense.
Before she joined The Monastery team, Ferne was a registered facilitator of Women and Children’s Programmes for the Ministry of Justice under the Domestic Violence Act (1995). She's also been a regional representative for the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges, spending two years as Co-National Chairwoman.
Kayla Beanland
Kayla is The Monastery’s friendly, cheerful house support person. She has several years’ experience in the hospitality industry. Kayla likes meeting new people, believes laughter is the best medicine, loves to help others and always goes the extra mile.
Kayla enjoys being a Mum to her young son. Her interests are cooking, travelling, catching up with friends, and spending time with her family.
Heather Kendrick
As the booking administrator for The Monastery, Heather's voice is the one you are likely to hear first when you contact us to express interest in a stay. She enjoys working in an environment where people are encouraged and supported to make sustainable holistic changes in their lives, to enhance their health and wellbeing.
Heather has travelled extensively and has spent time living in different countries, meeting and working with people from different cultures. Reading, spending time with family and friends and artistic creativity are some of the activities that Heather enjoys most.
Grace Syme
Grace draws inspiration from the strength and diversity of the human spirit, and the unique aspects of being that make each of us who we are. She is the Yoga teacher at The Monastery and is passionate about helping others to enhance their lives by making simple yet profound changes.
Grace has almost ten years’ experience as a Cultural Bodywork practitioner. Cultural Bodywork is a massage based modality that incorporates aspects of the Maaori, Aboriginal, and Hawaiin healing traditions.
Grace embraces any opportunity to share her knowledge with others and strongly believes in every person's ability to grow and flourish.
Steve Cantor and Shona Reid
Steve and Shona are the smiling faces behind the beautiful gardens which surround The Monastery.
Both Steve and Shona are fully qualified professional gardeners with a wealth of experience managing large estates. Steve is also a graduate of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Both Steve and Shona share a passion for The Monastery gardens, viewing them as an integral part of The Monastery’s holistic wellbeing experience.
They love seeing guests enjoy the views and experience the taste of fruit and vegetables straight from the organic gardens – and both welcome questions from guests. To enable us to keep the gardens at their glorious best, we also bring in specially selected contracting staff when required for large jobs.
