About R & R Munn Ltd

We are a small, Waikato-based, family business. We have a breeding and care facility where we raise thousands of high quality leeches in a clean environment, ready to be used to improve the success of reattachment and reconstructive surgeries. We specialise in supplying these leeches to plastic surgery units throughout New Zealand.

Our History

In 1990, our founders (The Luptons) had supplied Auckland Zoo with leeches and other creatures for a Creepy Crawly Exhibition. This resulted in a newspaper article which was seen by a plastic surgeon. Having used leeches overseas, he contacted them with an urgent request for leeches, which were gathered from a pond on their farm, put in an ice-cream container and delivered to the hospital. The procedure on the patient was successful and the business slowly grew and evolved from there.

In 2025, the Luptons passed the torch to the Munns who now continue to provide high-quality medical leeches to hospitals and, more recently, vet clinics.

In contrast to the makeshift origins of our medical leech supply, we now use couriers and more sophisticated packing methods to deliver our captive-bred leeches anywhere in New Zealand. We are able to offer a same day service to hospitals, seven days a week for all urgent orders.

Due to strict bio-security laws, leeches cannot be imported into New Zealand.

New Zealand medical leeches are not an endangered species and, by breeding them, we ensure that the vital supply of leeches to NZ’s hospitals is sustainable into the future.

Our Owners

Dr Richard Munn: Born and bred here in the mighty Waikato, Richard Munn went on to become a dairy and mixed-animal veterinarian before embarking on post-graduate studies in Veterinary Pharmacology.  His studies took him (and Rachel, and their three children) to Australia and back again.  Once back in NZ, Richard began, and still is, working in the veterinary research industry and has completed a PhD in Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology in 2025.

Rachel Munn: Rachel began working in the veterinary research industry here in New Zealand immediately after graduating from a Bachelor of Veterinary Technology & Bachelor of Science.  Rachel has years of experience working in GLP and GCP research, and as a clinical vet-tech, with interludes to raise three amazing children with Richard.