The organisation was formed in January 1973 by a group of parents with children who had asthma.
They wanted to support each other and others in the community who were also affected by the condition. However, since those early days we have grown and our operational team and now manage a growing list of referrals.
The Team
We are a small hard working team here at Asthma Waikato.
Our Asthma Educator sees children and their whānau for consults in our clinic, and also delivers asthma education around the community as required. The General Manager also delivers asthma education, as well as overseeing all aspects of service delivery, funding and overall management of the centre. Our Respiratory Support Worker manages bookings, admin and support in various ways to the rest of the team.
Cara Giles
General Manager
Carolyn Munro
Asthma Educator
Aaliah Hokianga
Asthma Educator
Sharleen O'Shea
Respiratory Support
The Board
In recognition of the need to extend our services across the entire Waikato region, Asthma Waikato established a formal Board of Directors responsible for Best Practice Governance and to provide strategic direction.
Rocky Rua - Chairperson
Rocky is of Te Whānau-a-Apanui and Ngāti Toa Rangatira descent and is the Chair of Asthma Waikato. Rocky has extensive experience in the aviation sector, holding senior roles in education, safety management systems, and audit. He also holds the role of Chair of Te Aitanga-a-Apanui, a hapū undertaking redress.
As a senior leader at ACC, Rocky leads the strategic regional Iwi partnerships portfolio for Auckland and Northland. In this role, Rocky has led engagements and negotiations to establish partnerships that improve access and experience of the ACC Scheme, and enhance rehabilitation outcomes for all New Zealanders.
He holds an MBA, which he completed as part of the joint MBA programme between Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development and the University of Waikato. He also completed his undergraduate studies, majoring in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management, at the University of Waikato.
Dr Hamish McCay - Deputy Chairperson
Dr Hamish McCay is a general paediatrician at Waikato Hospital who has developed an interest in respiratory medicine over the years, in particular bronchiectasis & asthma.
He also has an interest in governance, being a member of the Institute of Directors & currently serves on the board of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. When not at work Hamish enjoys spending time with his whānau, riding bicycles & playing bass in a local blues band.
Johann van Loggerenberg - Treasurer
Johann is an Audit Partner at PKF Hamilton - Chartered Accountants. He loves the work he does and says that no day is ever the same. Clients not only need advice about accounting, but sometimes they also need a sound board for other things that are going on in their businesses.
In Johann's role, he can form strong relationships with his clients and add value by providing advice around internal controls within their organisation. Johann has been involved with the not-for-profit sector for many years in various personal capacities from auditing schools, sports club, religious trusts, aged care sector, medical sectors and volunteering as treasurer on Waikato Ultimate, Seed Waikato and Community Waikato boards respectively. Johann has worked in the Chartered Accounting practices for over 12 years. He has been a Qualified CA member of CAANZ – Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand for 8 years. Johann has a special interest in the 'not-for-profit' sector.
Graeme Allan - Board member
My name is Graeme. I have been on the board of Asthma Waikato since 2016. My wife and I are partners in a family-owned business in Hamilton. I joined Asthma Waikato after completing a Post Grad qualification in Governance in 2015.
I wanted to assist in supporting the community and sufferers in an understanding of Asthma, as my best friend, when I was young, passed after a severe Asthma attack. My hope is the work Asthma Waikato undertakes will ensure this does not happen again and sufferers can enjoy the freedom of not worrying about a potential asthma attack.
Nathan Rahui - Board member
Nathan has led Indigenous international education/business programmes at the University of Waikato since 2020. The programmes focus on building Global Citizenship from an Indigenous lens and growing Māori business capability and engagement in Māori tertiary students in North Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America. In 2025, Nathan begins his new role of solidifying Waikato’s Indigenous international partners through ‘Te Ao Hurihuri’. This initiative allows for Indigenous students from across the globe to participate in short course programmes, in Waikato, the land of the Kīngitanga (the Māori monarch movement).
Prior to joining Asthma Waikato, Nathan has previous board experience with the University of Waikato Council (member), Waikato Students’ Union (President) and Seed Waikato (co-chair). In his spare time, Nathan enjoys exercise, cooking, and spending time with his whānau and friends.
Our Service - What do Asthma Waikato customers get?
We listen, we educate and we act – we make a difference
We educate - Education helps clients better understand what happens in their body when they get asthma, how their medication helps and highlights potential triggers
We make it simple – We provide advice and tips to simplify how people manage their asthma on a day to day basis – staying as well as they can possibly be
We help them stop smoking - Smoking cessation referrals are made to help people in this area
We are their voice – We link people with the right organisations to get their environment right e.g. liaising with landlords/Housing NZ when damp, mouldy houses are causing asthma symptoms
We give them our time - Many situations are complex e.g. multiple caregivers, complicated social issues and we spend as long as is necessary with every client to get the best outcome for them
We use our expertise - We make sure children are on the right medicine, the right dose, the right device and they know how to take in the right way at the right time. We follow up regularly and keep working with you until your child is on the least amount of medicine to achieve the best result.
Currently in New Zealand 586,000 school days a year are missed by children with respiratory conditions.
Our Charity Status
Asthma & Respiratory Services (Waikato) Inc trades as Asthma Waikato, is a registered charity.
Did You Know...
Over half of those we helped last year were children referred to us by the hospital – and that number is increasing.
Please help us by sponsoring or supporting in any way you can to make sure they never have to experience the upset of watching their children struggle to breathe again. And to make sure children never have to experience the trauma of not being able to breathe.
Kiwis of all ages are dying from asthma each year! You can help save their lives by supporting us to educate and prevent this happening.