Rappaw Veterinary Care is an independent, family-run veterinary group with four clinics serving Porirua and North Wellington — Central (Kenepuru), Plimmerton, Tawa, and Whitby. The team has been serving the community for over 30 years, caring for nearly 30,000 pets each year, from mice and rabbits to Great Danes and Maine Coons.
Rappaw offers a full range of veterinary services, including general pet healthcare, surgery, imaging and diagnostics, puppy pre-school, cattery boarding, and after-hours and house-call support. Consultations run 15 minutes or longer as needed, with a combined team experience of 209 years across the practices, and vet nurse consultations available for post-operative checks, dental assessments and routine injections.
The group focuses on personalised, caring service, treating every pet as if it were their own, and offers flexible payment options including Afterpay and Q Card finance so treatment doesn't have to be delayed. Rappaw also runs a Pet Blood Donor Program, where healthy dogs and cats meeting set criteria can donate blood to help pets in urgent need and earn Rappaw Rewards points in return.
Rappaw Veterinary Care is an independent, family-run veterinary group with four clinics across Porirua and North Wellington — Central in Kenepuru, Plimmerton, Tawa, and Whitby. The team has been serving the community for more than 30 years, caring for nearly 30,000 pets each year, and takes a personalised approach to care for every animal that comes through the door, big, small, furry, feathered or scaly.
Across its clinics, Rappaw's vets bring a combined total of 209 years of experience. Being a multi-vet practice means the team can offer consultations throughout the day at the Central and Tawa clinics, and at specified times at Plimmerton and Whitby, helping keep appointments on schedule and minimising stress for pets and their owners. Alongside the vets, a team of qualified veterinary nurses carries out nurse consultations, including post-operative checks, dental assessments, routine injections and nutritional advice.
Rappaw places a strong emphasis on prevention, offering wellness health checks for kittens and puppies, annual checks for adult pets, and senior and geriatric checks for older animals. Because pets age faster than humans, these regular checks — sometimes involving blood and urine tests — help catch problems early. Vaccinations are offered as part of preventative healthcare, with a health check performed alongside each vaccination to make sure a pet is in good health before receiving it.
The clinics provide safe, professional surgery ranging from routine desexing to complex orthopaedic procedures, with a focus on comfort, safety and recovery. Advanced digital X-ray, ultrasound and in-house laboratory testing support quick, accurate diagnosis, so pets can get the right treatment sooner.
Rappaw's popular Puppy Pre-School classes help new puppies develop into well-behaved, confident family members, covering socialisation, basic training and essential health advice for new owners. The group also runs a cattery at Rappaw Central, offering a safe and comfortable space for cats, including those with special medical or dietary needs.
Rappaw works closely with the Wellington After Hours Veterinary Clinic to make sure pets can access urgent care outside normal hours. For pets unable to travel, or for compassionate in-home euthanasia, the team also offers a house call service, along with dedicated support for owners saying goodbye to a much-loved pet.
Healthy dogs over 25kg aged 2-8 years, and healthy cats over 5kg aged 2-5 years, that are calm, never pregnant, never had a transfusion, and up to date with vaccinations and worming, may be eligible to become blood donors. Donations can be life-saving for pets facing surgery, illness or injury, and donors earn Rappaw Rewards points as a thank you.
Rappaw offers flexible payment options, including Afterpay and Q Card finance, so pet owners don't have to delay treatment for their pets. With four clinics across the region, the group aims to make caring, professional veterinary care accessible close to home.