Ross Milner

Dr Ross Milner is a small companion animal veterinarian who graduated from Liverpool in the UK in 1991 and has worked across some of the world’s most remote and demanding environments — including Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, Fiji, Ireland, and the UK — before choosing to settle in Gisborne.

“I’ve lived and worked all over the world — and I decided Gisborne was the best place in New Zealand to settle.”

After decades of practice, Ross was drawn to Gisborne for both lifestyle and workability. He values being able to do meaningful clinical work without the relentless pace he’s seen elsewhere.

“I’ve worked in practices where you’re consulting until nine at night. Here, our last appointment is 4:45 — and I’m usually home by quarter past five.”

Working in a genuinely regional setting brings its own challenges. Referral centres are a long way away, which means vets need to be thoughtful and confident about what they manage in-house and when to refer.

“The only real limitation is what you’re comfortable doing — and if you’re not, referral options are there.”

Ross is comfortable with that balance. The clinic is well resourced, with in-house diagnostics, ultrasound, and orthopaedic capability available for vets who want to use it.

“If it was my own dog under anaesthetic, I’d be very comfortable with how closely the nurses monitor everything.”

The nursing team stands out immediately. Ross speaks about them as true clinical partners — knowledgeable, proactive, and trusted to manage complex cases alongside the vets.

“They’re very knowledgeable. You can actually have proper clinical conversations with them.”

Workload and sustainability matter more with experience, and Ross is clear about what makes this role workable long-term. After-hours sits at roughly one-in-six, with many nights passing without call-outs and appropriate compensation for being available.

“Last week I did two nights on call and didn’t get called out once.”

Breaks are the norm, not the exception. Lunch happens. Coffee happens. The structure of the day allows people to work safely and steadily.

“I can count on one hand the times in the past year I couldn’t take my lunch break.”

Outside the clinic, Gisborne offers what Ross was looking for — space, ease, and time back. Commutes are short, housing is more affordable than larger centres, and the outdoors is always close.

“There’s no comparison really — quality of life, cost of housing, no traffic.”

What keeps Ross engaged, though, is the connection with clients and community.

“Clients say, ‘We’re so pleased you’re here — please stay.’ And that makes you feel good about coming to work on Monday mornings.”

For Ross, CareVets Gisborne is a place where experience is respected, work is sustainable, and the team genuinely looks out for one another — without needing to make a big deal about it.