Vet Services cuts ribbon at new premises

THIS WAY PLEASE: Practice manager Stuart Bruere directs visitors to their tour guides.

Vet Services Wairarapa held a formal ribbon cutting and public tour of its new premises on Lincoln Rd yesterday afternoon.

The former Chapel St Vet Services joined forces with Vet Services Hawkes Bay in February and relocated from Chapel St to the former Masterton Medical Centre building, extensively refurbished to accommodate the expanded practice.

Over 100 people came to the ceremony, including Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson who cut the entrance ribbon.

Practice manager Stuart Bruere said the merger was an easy choice to make.

"We could see an exciting opportunity for a one-stop vet shop," he said.

"We're pretty proud of the fact it was signed, sealed and delivered [in] under nine months, to offer the public of Wairarapa a world-class vet facility."

He acknowledged vet Nicola Haglund as an "absolute rock" in her enthusiasm for the project, and office manager Raewyn Garrity, whose response to the move was "go for it, Stu".

Mrs Patterson said when Mr Bruere told her they were moving from Chapel St to the former medical centre, she was excited for them.

She said as a community they needed to support local businesses.