About Robert
& The Journey of the Dispensary
Echium & Calendula officinalis
A Life in Service to Plants, People & Healing
My name is Robert Newby, and I’ve had the honour of working as a Medical Herbalist, Naturopath, Clinical Iridologist & Remedical Body Therapist.
My journey into healing didn’t begin in a classroom. It began in the soil—in the quiet hours spent tending to plants, listening to the rhythms of nature, and trusting the deep call to live a more conscious and connected life. That call eventually became a career, and in 1993, I opened the doors to Titirangi Herbal Dispensary
Since then, it has been a privilege to support many people—through illness, transition, recovery, and renewal—by combining traditional plant wisdom with modern clinical understanding and heartfelt intuition.
The Roots of the Practice
Before becoming a practitioner, I worked in Publishing, Shipping, and the New Zealand Pottery Industry. But it was the joy of growing herbs on a small piece of land at Cornwallis Beach that changed everything. It was here, surrounded by te ngahere/the Waitākere forest and the waters of the Manukau Harbour, that the vision for our clinic began to take shape.
My formal training took place at the South Pacific College of Natural Therapies, where I studied Medical Herbalism, Naturopathy, and Remedial Body Therapies. I later completed post-graduate studies in Clinical Iridology with German teacher Peter Gerdes, as well as Advanced Herbal Manufacturing training with Denis Stewart in Australia.
A Journey Through Healing
In 1999, I took a sabbatical through South America—a deeply spiritual pilgrimage to connect with other healing traditions and re-centre my own. That time reaffirmed something I’ve always believed: that healing is not a destination, but a way of life. It is something we each walk toward, day by day, moment by moment.
In time, my own health journey taught me that in order to care for others, I must also care for myself. So I returned to Cornwallis—the land where this all began—and, with my partner Shari Rhodes (an Intuitive Reader), we built a home and purpose-built Clinic Space that would allow for a more balanced, heart-led life.
Echinacea purpurea & Wild Bergamot (Bee Balm)
The Dispensary Today
Today, our dispensary is a retreat-like haven by the sea. Tucked into the forest at the edge of the Waitākere Ranges, the clinic is quiet, nurturing, and intentionally slow.
Here, we invite clients to not just treat symptoms—but to take time. To pause. To reflect. To remember that true healing happens on many levels—Physical, Emotional, Mental, & Spiritual.
I continue to work with a wide range of people, from all walks of life, and am passionate about supporting each individual with Herbal medicine, Natural Therapies, and a listening ear.
Credentials & Memberships
- Diploma of Herbal Medicine (DipHerbMed)
- Diploma of Natural Therapeutics (DipNatTher)
- Diploma of Clinical Iridology (DipClinIrid)
- Craniosacral Therapy
- Diploma of Deep Tissue Massage
- Reflexology, Bowen Therapy, Fascial Kinetics
- Herbal Manufacturing Intensive in Australia with Denis Stewart
- Certified Crystology Practitioner, Melody endorsed, USA
- Spiritual Development, Atlantean Connection
- Hoorstmann Technique of Self Sabotage Practitioner
- The Art of Fascial Diagnosis Practitioner
- Accelerated Energy Movement Practitioner (EM)
- Elohim Healing Practitioner
Professional Memberships
- Member of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (MNZAMH)
- Member of the Naturopaths & Medical Herbalists of New Zealand (MNMHNZ)
A Note from Robert
“It has always been my belief that the plants will guide us if we’re willing to listen. This work is not just about prescriptions or protocols—it’s about presence. It’s about creating a safe space where your whole self is welcome, and healing can unfold naturally.”
Calendula Officinalis