Sarika Coetzee

Kia Ora,

My name is Sarika Coetzee and I am a NZ registered, South African-trained Dietitian with over 20 years of experience; working in South Africa, England, and New Zealand. This is my 11th year in New Zealand, having worked for Te Whatu Ora in Whanganui, Manukau, Auckland - Central and West.  My speciality is within the Paediatrics area – working in hospitals, homes, early education settings and mainstream and special schools.  I also have experience in Adult lifestyle conditions (Diabetes, Heart Disease), Cancer, Inflammatory Bowel disease, and nutrition in the elderly.  I have experience in providing nutrition training/talks to families, health professionals, and staff in education settings.

My other part-time role is at Waitakere Hospital where I routinely see children with disabilities/neurological conditions, faltering growth, tube-feeding, tube-weaning, weight management, nutrition deficiencies, food intolerances/allergies, children on specialised formulas and selective eating, across an array of different ethnicities.

Along with my Dietetics Degree, I have a Primary care Diabetes diploma, Masters Module in Inherited Metabolic Diseases, and certificates in the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Feeding approach for selective eaters, and the Get Permission for Anxious Eaters programmes. I am also currently doing a course on inclusive approaches to support neurodivergent children with feeding challenges.

I strive to provide whanau-centred, non -judgmental, friendly, and practical advice. I follow a neuro-affirming and trauma-informed approach, recognising neurological changes in children and adults and working to get the best outcome for you and your whanau.

With 2 young children of my own, I understand the challenges faced with prioritising your own health needs in a busy household and translating and navigating nutrition jargon into practice as a caregiver. Outside work, I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen and finding stimulating activities to experience with my whanau, exploring what New Zealand has to offer.

Sarika is available on Thursdays and Fridays, and can help you or your whanau with:

• Infant and Child Nutrition

• Food intolerances

• Tube-feeding

• Specialist Formulas

• Gut health (inflammatory bowel disease, Irritable Bowel disease, Coeliac disease)

• Nutrition for weight management

• Specialist feeds and formulas

• Selective Eating and Neurodivergence

• Women’s Health and Breastfeeding

• Adult lifestyle conditions: Diabetes, Heart health

• Rehabilitation: ACC clients under the Training For Independence Programme and Pain Management Services