Meet The Team

I was an archaeologist before I decided to go into medicine. I trained in the UK at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and qualified in 1997 having also carried out postgraduate research in immunology.

I spent five years working in hospital and emergency medicine and qualified as a general practitioner in 2005 in Taunton, Somerset. At that point, I first came to Whitianga on a working holiday. My family and I liked it so much, we returned in 2007 and have been here since.

I became a partner in the practice in 2011. My areas of interest include emergency medicine, paediatrics, general medicine and skin cancer surgery.

Dr Van Der Byl has been with our practice since April 2020.

My name is Kathryn Johnson (people call me KJ) and I moved to Whitianga in September 2021.

I qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1997 and after completing my Masters of Nursing in 2013 I became a Nurse Practitioner. I specialised in paediatrics and spent the last 15yrs working in the Emergency Department at Starship in Auckland.

Being a Nurse Practitioner allows me to independently provide a number of healthcare services, including the diagnosis and management of common and complex health conditions.

I am loving being a member of the Mercury Bay Medical Centre and I look forward to meeting your family and assisting you with your healthcare needs.

Tonya joined the MBMC team as a clinical pharmacist prescriber in 2022.

Pharmacist Prescribers are specialist pharmacists with extra training and qualifications to prescribe medications as part of the healthcare team.

While diagnosis and overall patient management remains the role of the patient’s GP, Tonya can help improve timely access to medicines as well as enable self-care and self-management of long-term conditions. She works collaboratively with GPs, nurse practitioners, practice nurses and other healthcare providers within the network.

Tonya’s main area of focus will be around management of long-term conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD. She has a particular interest in older person’s healthcare and believes that a holistic approach to each individual patient is important. She is also able to assist with repeat prescriptions for most patients where appropriate.

It is important to note that, as part of any patient’s medication management journey, a medication review at least annually is necessary. This time is utilised to discuss medications, make medication adjustments where appropriate, start necessary medications or stop unnecessary medications. It is designed to promote the idea of self-management and allow patients to understand what medication they are on, and why.

Tonya is also able to help ease the wait time of patients needing to see a GP about their medications and appointments can be made to see her. From time to time, GPs may utilise Tonya to assist a patient with starting a new medication or adjusting doses.

Meet our Practice Nurse team: Adele, Alyssa, Aylish, Julie, Marcia, Robin, Vaida and Vanessa.

Meet our MCA team: Emma, Linda, Shannah and Kerry.

Responsible for patient biometrics, supporting the clinical team in the urgent clinic, assisting clinicians with procedures and ensuring our consult rooms are always ready for patients.

You can also expect a call from one of the friendly team when you are due your diabetic annual review, cervical smear etc.

Meet our Admin team: Alice, Helen, Kayla, Linda, Marelle, Prue, Sophie and Vanessa.

Responsible for our reception, call centre and back office administration; this close knit team is always hard at work to ensure our patient experience is personal, friendly and efficient.

We are very proud to manage our own calls in-house.