Fresh off the plane from mid-west Missouri and into the heart of Gore, Active Southland’s new health coach, Clinton Chandler, is on a mission. 

In his new role he will look to help inspire individuals to lead healthier lives. 

He will work at both the Gore Medical Centre and Gore Health Centre throughout the week. 

With a special focus on diet and exercise, the role will also provide support for patients with high cholesterol, gout, and diabetes. 

 If clients need referrals for addiction or mental health issues, he could pass them on to the appropriate services. 

Clinton's journey into health coaching has been far from conventional. 

After earning a four-year degree in finance, he worked as a commercial lender until the financial crisis in the United States in 2008. 

This prompted him to make a career change and with that twist in fate, he was led to personal training. 

He also worked as a strength and conditioning specialist and eventually ended up in preventive medicine (health coaching). 

His wealth of knowledge includes a certificate from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a dual certification as a personal trainer (CPT). 

His work experience extends well beyond helping individuals to reach their health and fitness goals, as he also owned a personal training business for several years. 

He agreed that he still had a lot to learn with New Zealand’s health care system which was different to the U.S.  

But he was excited about being able to focus on one-on-one patient care - something he couldn’t do in previous roles. 

“I’m also excited about the ability to do follow-up sessions so that I can see a pattern of improvement. Or we can tweak the plan if it is not working to help the patient,” Clinton says. 

After doing extensive research on New Zealand's culture, safety, and overall health system, he was convinced that this was the ideal place for his family. 

“We thank our lucky stars that we get to be here.” 

When he's not at work, Clinton enjoys hiking with his wife Libby and their 13-year-old son. 

They plan to tackle the Great Walks of New Zealand and explore more of the country. 

“The outdoor culture here is phenomenal. Most of the country looks like a postcard - it's beautiful.” 

Article added: Thursday 03 April 2025