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Liz Crompton · Massage therapist

Therapeutic massage that meets you where you are.

Ten years of practice in Whitianga. A small, careful approach to bodywork — for the everyday tension, the long-held knots, and the times you just need an hour to yourself.

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The work

Bodywork without the polish — what's actually useful, repeated until it sticks.

Most clients arrive carrying something specific: a shoulder that hasn't moved freely in months, a lower back that flares after long drives, postural tension from the desk that no amount of stretching seems to settle. The work is figuring out what's holding it, and unwinding it without forcing.

Sessions are an hour, sometimes 90 minutes. Pace is unhurried. There's no upselling, no package deals, no "tightness scoring" — just one practitioner trying to be useful with the tools she has. After ten-plus years it's mostly listening with the hands.

If we're not the right fit for what you need, I'll say so and point you at someone who is — I refer out as much as I take on. The network of therapists I trust is part of the practice.

Approach

Four modalities, used together. We figure out the mix in the first ten minutes.

No fixed-recipe sessions. We talk through what you've got going on, I work out what's likely to be useful, and we adjust as we go. The names below describe ingredients, not menus.

  • Relaxation

    Slower, full-body, parasympathetic.

    When the goal is an hour to yourself. Long-stroke effleurage, gentle compression, no deep pressure unless you ask. Good for stress, sleep, the week-after-too-much.

  • Deep tissue

    Specific, slow, sustained pressure.

    For knots that have settled in. Slower than it looks — the work is in the wait, not the push. Best for chronic shoulder/neck tension, lower back, trigger points that keep coming back.

  • Sports therapy

    Pre-event, recovery, mobility.

    For the body that runs / cycles / lifts / digs / surfs. Combination of deeper work with stretch and joint mobilisation. Good for recovery between training blocks, or when something's started to grumble.

  • Myofascial release

    Slow, sustained, fascia-led.

    Less massage, more listening. Sustained gentle pressure that lets the fascia release on its own clock. Counter-intuitive but often effective for things that haven't responded to firmer work.

Sessions

Three formats. Same care.

Same hourly rate across therapeutic and relaxation work — pick the format that fits, not the wallet. The 90 covers more ground when there's more to cover; the 60 is plenty for most sessions.

  • Therapeutic massage

    60 min $110

    An hour of focused therapeutic bodywork. Best for general tension, recovery, and maintenance.

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  • Therapeutic massage

    90 min $150

    A longer session for deeper work. Best for chronic tension, recovery from heavy training or physical work, or when 60 minutes isn't enough.

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  • Relaxation massage

    60 min $110

    Slower, gentler, full-body relaxation work. For when the goal is an hour to yourself rather than work on a specific issue.

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About

Liz Crompton — Whitianga, ten years in.

Trained originally as a remedial therapist, then steadily broadened the practice through deep tissue, sports work, and myofascial techniques. The work has narrowed and deepened over the years rather than chased trends — most clients have been with the practice for 5+ years.

The practice runs at low volume by design — about five sessions a week. That's a deliberate choice while finishing an applied counselling degree (year 2 of 4). Counselling will come into the practice properly around 2028. The massage work continues throughout.

Member of MNZ (Massage New Zealand). ACC-registered for treatment claims.

The network

The right therapist matters more than the right brand.

Sometimes I'm not the best fit — wrong specialty, wrong availability, wrong location for you. Over the years I've built a small network of therapists I refer to, all known to me personally and chosen for their work, not their marketing. Worth a look if I'm not the answer.

See the network →

Gift vouchers

A session, given.

Vouchers are valid for three years from purchase, redeemable on any session, and arrive as a PDF — to print, post, or hand over with a small note attached.

Buy a voucher

FAQ

Practical questions, plainly.

  • What happens in a first session?

    We talk for 5–10 minutes about what you've got going on, what you've tried, and what you're hoping for. Then we work for the booked time. The first session usually lands on what's most useful — adjustments come in subsequent sessions.

  • What should I wear or bring?

    Yourself. Comfortable clothes to come and go in. Treatment is on the table under a sheet, with the area being worked on uncovered — you stay clothed below the waist by default unless we've agreed otherwise. Shower beforehand if you can.

  • How do I cancel or reschedule?

    Anytime, no charge if it's 24+ hours before. Inside 24 hours I ask for the session fee — solo practice, the slot is hard to refill. Email or text is fine.

  • Do you accept ACC?

    Yes — for treatment claims with an existing claim number. Bring the number to the first session. ACC pays a portion; you cover the surcharge (currently $25 for a 60-minute session). I can't initiate ACC claims directly — your GP or physio does that.

  • How do gift vouchers work?

    Buy through the booking system, redeemable on any session, valid for three years. PDF format — print, post, or hand over with a note. See the vouchers section above.

  • Is parking available?

    Yes — free street parking on Monk Street and the surrounding streets. The practice is a residential conversion, not a clinic — no signage, just look for the number on the gate.

Find me

Whitianga, on the Coromandel.

11 Monk Street, Whitianga

Tuesday – Friday
9 am – 5 pm
Saturday
9 am – 1 pm
Sunday – Monday
closed
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