About us

Sure, we do everything your average pharmacy does—prescription medication, over-the-counter medicine, beauty products—but believe us: there’s nothing average about Sanders Pharmacy. Our informed, friendly healthcare services are the best—bar none.

What do you care about?

In short: your health. We live to make sure our customers are in tip-top condition and feel fantastic. And that’s about so much more than just dispensing medicine; we take the time to listen—really listen— to our customers and give the best possible health advice.

We’re on the industry’s cutting-edge, taking an innovative and creative approach to healthcare. We work closely with the doctors at the adjacent Mahoe Med, which allows us to offer a ground-breaking model of integrated healthcare. And what does that mean exactly? At the end of the day, it means we’re better equipped to keep you and your loved ones in good health. Simple.

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Sanders Pharmacy

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Who’s on the team?

Gemma Waterhouse-Perry

Gemma Waterhouse-Perry has owned Sanders Pharmacy since 2010. After graduating from the University of Auckland, Gemma cut her teeth working in a Morrinsville chemist, during which time she established a continuing education programme to help pharmacists upskill. As a result, she was awarded both the Supreme Award and Young Pharmacist of the Year at the New Zealand Pharmacy Awards (2008), becoming the first and only person to have won both awards in the same year.

Pharmacy is in her blood, with a number of her older family members having been chemists. But don't get the wrong idea: she didn't choose pharmacy simply because of her pedigree—she's a pharmacist because she's absolutely passionate about healthcare. What really motivates Gemma is seeing people at their best—healthy, happy and well.

Born and bred in the Waikato, Gemma is an avid traveller and loves to bake. And since she calls Te Awamutu home, you might just find her out and about, working out at Zero Limits or walking her golden retriever.

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Leanne Gilbert

Pharmacist
Leanne worked for several years in Western Australia—but ultimately couldn't resist the call back to her hometown.

Brittney Goodrick

Dispensary Technician
When she's not at work or studying dispensary tech through the Open Polytechnic, local gal Brittney likes to squeeze in gym time or hanging out with her friends.

Allison Gallagher

Pharmacist & Dispensary Manager
Allison is proud to have known Gemma since Gemma was a pharmacy student at university. Allison is passionate about helping people better their health, and being married to a dairy farmer has a special interest in rural mental health.

Amy

Dispensary Technician
Amy is our import from Northern Ireland who initially started with us on the retail side of the pharmacy but is now training as a dispensary technician. Her bubbly laughter can often be heard throughout the shop!

Karensa Houghton

Pharmacist
Karensa completed her training at Otago University, she then joined us for her time as an intern in 2017, and is now a fully qualified pharmacist. Her youth and thirst for knowledge keeps us all on our toes and she is always ready and willing to help patients. In her spare time she enjoys going to the gym.

Jessica Billing

Retail Assistant/Counter Manager for Elizabeth Arden

Sonia Pene

Pharmacist
Sonia (Ngaati Hine) manages to juggle her pharmacist commitments at Sanders Pharmacy with four busy children and running a business with her husband. Her special areas of interest are children's health and Maori health.

Sherryl Phillips

Natural Health Consultant

Linda Richards

Dispensary Technician

Ajay Ram

Pharmacist

What awards have you won?

Call us biased, but we think we provide some of the best healthcare available—and we have the awards to prove it!:

Runner up NZ Community Pharmacy of the Year (2016)
Top 20 NZ Pharmacies, NZ Pharmacy Awards (2014)
Dispensary Superstar, NZ Pharmacy Awards (2013)
Customer Service Finalist, Waipa Business Awards (2013)

Gemma Waterhouse-Perry has also won some prestigious awards. Check out her profile above to see what individual awards she has received.

How did you get your name?

We're named after Bill Sanders, the local pharmacist (and horse trainer extraordinaire) who founded the pharmacy way back in 1953, making us Te Awamutu's oldest chemist. Current owner, Gemma Waterhouse-Perry, became Sanders' fourth owner in 2010. In 2012, Sanders moved from its original main street location to the Te Awamutu Mega Centre Complex next to Mahoe Med, a move which has meant a bigger store and longer opening hours.

The faces and location may have changed but our commitment to providing the Te Awamutu community with top-notch healthcare remains the same. Oh, and the name!

But enough about us—we want to know how we can help you. Give us a call to talk with one of our friendly staff: 07 872 0564.