Our Team
Our small private practice is an ACC-registered vendor. It focuses on quality therapy. All our therapists have a Master's in Music Therapy from Victoria University, are registered Allied Health Providers and follow a Code of Ethics. They are also goal-oriented and client-focused, each having a specialist area they enjoy working in.
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Rani Allan
Certified and registered Music Therapist (NZRMTh) with NZChild Safety Certification to work with High and Complex Needs Children. Practice Manager and Owner.
My love of music and interest in psychology brought me to Wellington in 2007 and a BA in music studies focusing on psychology and Māori studies. I was interested in how different musical cultures can shape an individual's life and take on personal meaning. After finishing my BA I was accepted into a selective Master of Music Therapy program with Victoria University. Two years (and a lot of practical experience) later I graduated and became a fully qualified, registered and certified music therapist in 2012.
During my two year master's degree I gained experience through practicum and research. I worked in several different settings to gain understanding and experience. This included a special needs unit within a school, a community house for adults with different intellectual needs and a hospital for adults living with dementia and other mental health issues. I specialised in my final year and researched and wrote a thesis based on Kitwood's model of needs and my experiences as a student music therapist in a psycho-geriatric unit and how music therapy has the ability to fill the needs of those living with dementia.
Since graduating in 2012, I have started my own small music therapy practice 'Music for Life' which has become a growing practice focusing on person-centred and quality therapy for all ages and abilities. I am passionate that music therapy is available to all individuals and groups and support all clients in accessing funding for music therapy.
Anthony Manere
Bachelor of Psychology at Ithaca College in New York, USA.
Master of Music Therapy at Victoria University in Wellington, NZ.
"My passion to become a Music Therapist was sparked while studying psychology and music. Combining these two passions was a long term goal of mine. After a year exploring the mental health field as a behavioural therapist in the US, I decided to travel to Aotearoa to pursue a degree in Music Therapy.
I offer a behavioural approach to therapy with a goal oriented mindset. I believe that music can be an enjoyable and motivating vehicle for learning, growth, and connection. I am glad to be able to combine my passion for music with a full-filling roll working as a music therapist within a number of different fields and institutions."
Karina Auer - Wairarapa Region
Certified and Registered Music Therapist (NZRMTh)
"I have a profound appreciation for the healing power of music, shaped by both personal and professional experiences. Originally from Germany, I immigrated to New Zealand in 2010. After finishing my work and travel year, I fell in love with the country and the people. I was determined to stay and completed my Master's in Music Therapy in 2019. My journey into music therapy was deeply influenced by my father's recovery process after suffering a brain aneurysm, where I became familiar with the profession of music therapy.
During my studies, I focused on integrating families into therapy sessions, recognising the vital role that family support plays in the healing process. This holistic approach has been a cornerstone of my practice. I take great joy in working across diverse settings, forging strong professional relationships with my clients and their families, and witnessing the benefits of music therapy.
Music therapy is more than a profession to me; because of my personal connection, I enjoy working in rehabilitation and connect the therapeutic power of music to my clients’ emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being. I am passionate about creating inclusive, supportive environments where individuals and families can thrive together through the power of music."
Susannah Tierney
New Graduate Music Therapist
Kia ora! My interest in music therapy grew through a combination of study, work, and personal experience. I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Psychology, and during this time I worked as a guitar tutor and regional co-ordinator for a well-known children’s music charity. I later worked in community mental health and adult disability as a music tutor, where I began to see first-hand how music can support connection and wellbeing.
In addition to my professional work, I have always been a songwriter, and over time I became increasingly aware of the cathartic and healing role that songwriting played in my own life. This was a key factor in my decision to train as a music therapist, and went on to inform my Master's thesis.
I have since completed my Master of Music Therapy and have worked across a range of settings, including acute inpatient mental health, dementia and complex aged care, and with preschool-aged children with motor and developmental needs. These experiences have shaped a flexible, responsive way of working that values people’s strengths, individuality, and lived experience.
My practice is informed by resource-oriented, trauma-informed, and person-centred approaches. I aim to work in culturally responsive ways and to create a safe and collaborative space where people can engage with music in meaningful and supportive ways.
I’m excited to be joining the team and continuing to support people and communities through music. Ngā mihi!
Hazel Barrett
Certified and Registered Music Therapist (NZRMTh)
Music has always been my passion, which led me first into working as a piano tutor and community musician with various charities in the UK. I became more interested in the therapeutic power of music and took the chance to return to New Zealand and study on the Master of
Music Therapy course here, graduating in 2019. I have worked primarily within special education, with people with disabilities in a variety of settings, and with older people including those with memory loss and dementia. I love the variety in what I do and the immense privilege of building relationships and seeing lives changed through music.
I worked for Music for Life in 2019 – 2023, and now after a short time away in the UK I’m excited to be returning to the team!
Hanno van den Berg
Provisionally Certified and Registered Music Therapist (NZRMTh)
Kia ora, I’m Hanno (pronounced Hanu).
I’m a NZ Registered Music Therapist with a passion for connection, community, nature, and creating supportive musical experiences. I believe music has a special way of holding space, shifting energy, and connecting us to what makes us uniquely ourselves.
My approach is gentle, person-centred, neuroaffirming, and resource-oriented. I aim to meet people where they are, build on their strengths and interests, and support wellbeing through meaningful musical moments.
I’ve worked with people across a wide range of settings including intellectual and physical disabilities, mental health, aged care, dementia, special education, and especially with neurodivergent young people with sensory and emotional needs. My Master’s thesis explored nature connection and outdoor music therapy with neurodiverse rangatahi in a learning support community.
I bring warmth, curiosity, and creativity into every session. I want the experience to feel grounded, supportive (and magical).
Outside of therapy, I’ve been a performing artist and songwriter for over a decade. I studied a Bachelor of Music (majoring in Music Technology) at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, and I especially love exploring the recording and creation of works in the therapy space. My soul instrument is the bass guitar, and I’m all about rhythm, groove, finding your inner beat, tapping into the quiet current within, and spending time in nature.
Jasmine Murray
New Graduate Music Therapist
I grew up learning the piano, I’ve always had a love for music. In my late teens, my Lola (Filipino word for ‘grandmother’) taught me popular songs on the piano, and we regularly visited a rest home together to play the piano for residents. It was such a joyful time connecting and singing with people. Through this experience, I came to appreciate the value of music in bringing joy to people.
I have a background in speech-language therapy, in which I primarily worked with children, supporting their communication needs. While I thoroughly enjoyed this, I wanted to learn more about the healing power of music, so I went on to study a Master of Music Therapy degree. Over the past two years, my music therapy placements have been in rest home settings, where I have connected with residents (including those living with dementia) and whānau through musical relationships. My approach is person-centred and resource-oriented, focusing on Kitwood’s five psychological needs of comfort, attachment, belonging, identity and occupation. I am grateful to be joining the Music for Life team, and to engage my passion of using music to support and connect with people.