Welcome to Newtown Acupuncture
Our acupuncture practitioners are all highly skilled and hold at minimum a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Acupuncture.
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All our acupuncturists can treat under ACC and are members of the Chinese Medicine Council of NZ.
We pride ourselves on working as a team and patients have the option of selecting one practitioner for all their treatments, or they can see a number of different practitioners based on skills, timing, or simply preference.
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We have a registered nurse on site, who is able to register injuries with NZ's national health insurers, ACC, allowing for subsidized acupuncture treatment.
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Languages Spoken
French, Mandarin, Spanish and English languages spoken
Laura Callaghan Acupuncturist/ Manager NAC
Xiao Meng Acupuncturist/ Registered Nurse/ Martial Arts Teacher
Hernan Rojas Nazar Massage Therapist/ Martial Arts Teacher
Amy Schegel Acupuncturist
Edmund Liu Peng Acupuncturist
Violaine Vairpiova Acupuncturist
Massage Therapist
Eileen Sepulveda Massage Therapist Physiotherapist (Chile)
Kirsten Rodgers Acupuncturist
Our Acupuncturists
Whether you need to take it slow, with gentle needling, or you want deep strong acupuncture sensations, we can adjust to your needs.
Xiao Meng was born in China, where he completed his initial training in Traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacology. He then moved to NZ to study nursing and spent 10 years working in this field in NZ, including post-graduate studies in mental health nursing. Xiao then went on to do a health science degree in Acupuncture through the NZSATCM. In 2015 he opened Newtown Acupuncture alongside his colleagues.
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Xiao believes that consistency in treatment leads to the best results. Xiao's calm and kind manner goes perfectly with his preference for slightly stronger needling styles. This style of acupuncture can often wield great results, with intensity modified to suit different temperaments and needs. Of course he can be a soft touch if needed too!
Laura Callaghan's first real introduction to Chinese culture and history was on a trip to Yunnan province of China in her early twenties. She then returned to New Zealand to undertake the 4 year Bachelor of Health Science Degree in Acupuncture in Wellington, qualifying in 2010. This was followed by a 3 year apprenticeship to an experienced Chinese TCM doctor in Palmerston North for deeper diagnostic experience and training with a seasoned master of TCM.
Laura is the managing director of Newtown Acupuncture and with over 10 years working at the centre. She loves the diversity of patients that come in and the genuine connection made when health outcomes improve and patients are left more empowered. She is a strong advocate for acupuncture care to be used as an adjunctive treatment to support patients dealing with difficult and stubborn conditions.
She enjoys both traditional acupuncture wisdom as well as exploring modern pathophysiological understanding and treatment options for integrative care solutions. She welcomes new patients who want to explore if acupuncture is right for them.
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Violaine Vair-Piova, originally from France, settled in New Zealand ten years ago and has lived and worked in several countries. Her career pathways have meant she relates with compassion and understanding to a wide variety of people and backgrounds.
She is a graduate of the NZ School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Assisting with her patient’s overall well-being and maintenance of a healthy mind and body is Violaine’s major focus. Her experience includes treating patients needs for pain management, weight management, headaches/migraines, sports injuries, fatigue, mental/emotional health, allergies, digestive issues, sleep disorders, men’s and women’s health issues, including fertility and menstrual disorder challenges.
If the thought of needles have you anxious; Violaine’s care and gentle approach will quickly put you at ease.
EMAIL: violaine@newtownacupuncture.co.nz
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Dr. Amy Schlegel began her private practice in Santa Barbara in 2002 after graduating from Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine In Santa Barbara. In 2007, Dr. Amy entered one of the first doctoral programs for acupuncturists in the US. She also extended study in Zhejiang, China, and helped develop a research project to understand better the symptoms of women with postpartum depression through New York University’s Langone Center in Brooklyn with Claudia Citkovitz, the well-published author of research in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine. As well as this, she completed an externship in acupuncture with Claudia there in birth and delivery. Dr. Amy completed her Thesis on Postpartum Depression and has huge compassion as well as skill in supporting women's health issues.
Teaching at the Graduate Level: In 2009, Dr. Amy accepted a teaching opportunity at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM), where she taught as well as facilitated student treatments at the school acupuncture clinic. She also had the opportunity to oversee student treatments at the Davies Medical Center CPMC in the Traumatic Brain Injury Department in San Francisco.
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She has also worked alongside Angelika Nugent of San Francisco Midwifery from 2012-2019 to provide comfort and care for laboring patients with massage, acupuncture, and moxibustion and is excited to bring these skills to the Wellington community.
Edmund Liu Peng completed his Bachelor and Masters Degree's in China, and worked at a integrated Chinese and Conventional Medicine Hospital there before moving to NZ where he has worked as an acupuncturist as well as lecturer at The NZ School of Acupuncture & TCM.
Edmund is a kind and attentive practitioner who has a genuine love of Chinese medicine and his patients wellbeing. He will guide you through the acupuncture session and talk you through any manipulations of the needle or techniques he is using to attain results.
Kirsten Rodgers is a skilled therapist who has worked in a variety of settings, including many years in a multi-disciplinary pain clinic. Working alongside Physio's, Orthopedic surgeons and other rehabilitation specialists, Kirsten has insight into integrative care strategies and an excellent skillset for managing musculoskeletal disorders and pain. She happily refers on as needed.
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Kirsten is also passionate about chronic internal health conditions, and loves using herbs and traditional herbal formulas in her practice.
(Currently on maternity leave till late 2025)
