We’re here to make sure no-one has to face kidney disease alone.
How We Can Support YouAbout us
We help people with kidney disease in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Tairawhiti and Hawkes Bay. For over 40 years, we have connected people to the vital information, education and support services they need to preserve their kidney health and live a better quality of life diagnosed with kidney disease. We work with a range of stakeholders and community groups to drive innovations and improvements in the management of kidney disease, so that one day every New Zealander can enjoy good kidney health.
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Brian
Community Health Educator
Brian helps you understand kidney disease and treatment options. He’s here to support you and your family through this journey.
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Jack
Community Health Educator
Jack is one of our Community Health Educators and his role here is all about making kidney health easier to understand, translating medical language into something our people can connect with.
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Vanessa
Wellness Educator
Vanessa walks alongside the kidney community, supporting clients on their wellness journey through movement, lifestyle guidance, and meaningful kõrero (talk). Whether it's a stretch, a stroll, or a good yarn, she's here to uplift your hauora (wellbeing) in ways that feel right for you.
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Riana
Social Worker
Riana is our Social Worker, here to support clients with advocacy, assessments, and access to resources - helping you navigate the ups and downs of living with kidney disease.
Community dialysis team
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Jenny
Community Dialysis Assistant
Jenny oversees our dialysis houses, showing new visitors how everything works and helping them settle in comfortably.
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Nathaniel
Maintenance Technician
Nathaniel maintains our three dialysis houses and the office, ensuring clean, welcoming spaces for everyone.
Admin and operations team
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Kath
CEO
Kath Eastwood leads the Kidney Society team in supporting clients through education, home support, community dialysis homes, wellness programmes, and more. With a career driven by curiosity and innovation, Kath brings over 15 years of experience in business management, people leadership, and operational service delivery across the private, health, high-performance sport, and not-for-profit sectors.
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Gina
Office Manager
Gina is in charge of running the office, the community houses, raffles, organising events and general administration.
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Maria
Office Assistant
Maria works with Gina to keep everything in the office ticking over, leaflets printed, the News mailed out and more.
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Joanne
Development Manager
Joanne leads our fundraising initiatives and partnerships, helping us grow our reach and impact across Aotearoa. She manages our donor care, our Legacy Programme (leaving a gift in your will), and fundraising initiatives. This role helps grow the Kidney Society so that we can reach more people living with kidney disease, and their families, with our free wrap-around support services. Please feel free to contact her about donating, fundraising, or partnering with the Kidney Society: joanne@kidneysociety.org.nz
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