About Te Tīeke
With over 30 years of experience in Classical Five Element Acupuncture, Te Tīeke is grounded in the belief that true health comes from balance within ourselves and our relationship with the world around us.
Diana Hilgert
DiplAc (NCCAOM) U.S.A. | Chinese Medicine Council Registered Acupuncturist | ACC Treatment Provider
With over 30 years of experience across the United States and New Zealand, Diana brings warmth, knowledge and a genuine passion for helping people feel their best. From running clinics in New York and Baltimore to working with the Fertility and Childbirth Team in Wellington, her career has always centred around caring for people as individuals. Today, she brings that experience to Te Tīeke, creating a calm space where people feel heard, supported and cared for.
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Diana has over 30 years of clinical experience in Classical Acupuncture. She established and practiced in clinics in New York City and Baltimore, and for six years served as a Clinical Supervisor at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, mentoring master's-level acupuncture students and supervising patient care in the teaching clinic.
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Diana holds a Master's degree in Classical Acupuncture from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute (Maryland University of Integrative Health) in the United States. She maintains U.S. National Board Certification in Acupuncture. She is a registered practitioner with the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand, and is ACC accredited.
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Diana takes the time to listen, understand, and work with you. Your symptoms and experiences are never dismissed - they are an important part of understanding your health. Together, we explore not only your symptoms but also the factors that may be contributing to them.
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Diana’s interest in health and wellbeing extends beyond acupuncture. Over the years, she has explored a range of complementary disciplines, including massage, Zero Balancing, yoga, and dance. These have enriched her understanding of the body, movement, and healing.
Why Te Tīeke?
Around 2014, a little tīeke (saddleback) began visiting the south-facing window of my home near Zealandia. He returned so regularly that I soon named him Saddie the Saddleback.
Most visits followed the same little ritual. Saddie would hop down an outstretched fern frond to the window, where I would tap gently and talk softly to him. He would bow his head, spread his chestnut tail feathers and chatter back - a greeting I came to think of as his dance. Over time, it felt as though we had developed a friendship and our own language.
I came to know Saddie and his whānau, watching them forage, groom and communicate together. Tīeke still call from the garden today, although they no longer visit the window as Saddie once did.
When it came time to name my acupuncture practice, there was never really another choice. Te Tīeke honours that remarkable little bird and the connection we shared. Saddie reminded me that meaningful connections grow through patience and quiet observation. These same qualities guide the way I practise - taking the time to listen beyond words, understand each person as a whole, and tailor treatment to their individual needs.
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