Dr Dave Kelly, Chiropractor, Johnsonville

Growing up in Porirua, I was driven by a fascination with how the human body functions. That curiosity took me to Melbourne at age 17 to begin my studies, but I soon felt the call to return home and join the pioneering wave of New Zealand’s own chiropractic training. By 1999, I had completed dual degrees in Psychology and Physiology from the University of Auckland and my Bachelor of Science in Chiropractic.

I’ve always believed that chiropractic care should be grounded in hard science. During my final years of study, I led a landmark randomized controlled trial exploring the link between upper cervical adjustments and brain processing speeds. This work was published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics and earned me the Liz Mackay Award for New Zealand’s top chiropractic researcher—a commitment to evidence-based health that still guides my clinical decisions today.

After honing my skills in Whanganui and across the sea in Dublin, Ireland, I returned to Wellington in 2002 to fulfill a long-held goal: establishing a practice with my father. What began as Kelly Chiropractic in Johnsonville has since evolved into The Chiro.

Over the last two decades, we have expanded to serve the wider Wellington region with dedicated practices in Johnsonville, Upper Hutt, and Lower Hutt. For me, "The Chiro" represents more than just a clinic; it is a hub for community wellness built on twenty years of international experience and clinical expertise.

Outside of the practice, I love spending time with my partner Stacey and with my daughters. I am a lifelong football fan—watching and playing, and also forever trying to improve my skills playing Texas Holdem.

Away from work, my life is centered around my partner, Stacey, and my daughters. I’m a lifelong football fan—playing and watching—and when I'm looking for a different kind of challenge, I’m usually found at the card table working on my Texas Hold’em strategy.