Nor'West News: February 17, 2022

4
We are thrilled to announce that we will be able
to add “MRI” to our list of patient services from
the middle of this year. McMaster & Heap have
teamed up with Gareth and Pacific Radiology
to bring this cutting edge technology to our
patients and make it more easily available to
other NZL veterinarians and their patients.
We have always offered MRI through Pacific
Radiology at Forte Health for a number of years
now. The process has involved getting a slot for
a pet patient at the end of the night (only some
nights per week) when the radiographers have
finished with their human clients. The owner
meets me at Forte Health and we sedate the
patient, perform the MRI, the whole process
taking about 90 minutes. Once we have the
MRI up and running, owners can drop their pets
off at the clinic for the day until the procedure
is performed and the animal is awake. Any
veterinarians can bring their patients as well and
utilise this service.
Bringing this leading edge diagnostic
technology into a clinic setting means that MRI
is more accessible to pet patients 5 days a week.
Basically any animal that can fit into the scanner
(less than 180cm in circumference), can undergo
an MRI as long as sedated, as they need to be
very still. Monitoring equipment allows us to
make sure they are okay once inside the scanner.
As well as using this piece of equipment for cats
and dogs, large animals, wildlife, exotic animals
and zoo animals may take advantage of MRI at
McMaster & Heap. It also may have benefits in
research.
MRI is very safe for the animal and is the best
imaging modality available to investigate an
animals brain, spine and joints. MRI can be
crucial in surgical planning (Spinal surgery,
Brain surgery). We anticipate urgent cases
McMaster & Heap
Veterinary practice
MRI is coming to
McMaster & Heap Vets
can undergo MRI within 24 hours (as long as
stable for sedation) therefore alleviating patient
suffering and allowing faster, tailored treatment
plans. We use specialist radiographers to
interpret the hundreds of MRI images taken and
send us a report on their findings.
Being the first private practice in the country
offering MRI services is very exciting for us. Steve
and I have strived over the past 30 years to give
companion animals the very best veterinary
healthcare has to offer - in deliverance of care,
cutting edge diagnostics and carefully thought
out, managed treatment plans. Not to mention
the skill set and decades of experience amassed
in the veterinary team, and not forgetting the
tremendous support and care given by our
dedicated nursing team. Your pet is our #1
priority.
Dr Michele McMaster
Singles charts surprise
with song Tāwara Ana
• From page 1
“There was a little bit of guidance, but
there was some improvising,” Kaa said.
To be notified that Tāwara Ana had
made the national music charts was a
great surprise, he said.
“You don’t know until it happens. You
never can guess what song is going to do
it.
“The feeling was awesome because to be
on the charts is one thing, but to be on the
charts for a song in te reo Māori, that was
exciting.”
Kaa’s music class was an elective course,
and pupils had a passion that reminded
him of himself at a similar age.
However, his students were getting an
early taste of performing that he never
had, starting music at the relatively late
age of 18.
Some joined Dillastrate onstage at
Sparks in the Park last month, performing
Tāwara Ana.
It was a translation of a song Kaa – an
ambassador for ADHD – wrote called
‘Party In My Head’.
“[Its] about the quirkiness and some
of the positivity of having the party in
my head, and other people that have that
similar party in their head can understand,
but when we released it the reaction
was on a more broad sense.”
The translated version of the song was
added to the Waiata Anthems playlist,
celebrating bilingual New Zealand music.
“From there, it’s just gone from strength
to strength.
“That’s led us to find our way, which
Thursday February 17 2022
RECORDING: Students from Rangi
Ruru Girls’ School sang backup on
the single Tāwara Ana by Dillastrate.
is composing Māori music.”
Eight weeks ago, Kaa’s daughter Harriet
was born, and the experience of becoming
a father was the subject of his new song,
Taku Aroha.
Once again his students would be
involved in the recording, he said.
“It is written and it’s two weeks from
going into the studio.”
• Watch the video on starnews.
co.nz
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e. mcmasterandheap@yahoo.co.nz
www.mcmasterheap.co.nz
McMaster & Heap