TERMS & CONDITIONS

Hester Cronje trading as Simple Pause
Naturopathy | Medical Herbalism | Life Coaching

Last updated: 3 August 2026

1. Introduction

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of services provided by me, Hester Cronje ("I," "me," "my"), trading as Simple Pause, including naturopathic consultations, medical herbalism, life coaching, my website, eBooks, courses, and any related products or services (collectively, the "Services"). By booking a consultation, purchasing a product, or otherwise engaging with me, you ("you," "the client") agree to these Terms.

Please read this document carefully before engaging my Services. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please do not proceed with booking or purchasing.

I operate as a sole trader. I am not a company, and I am personally responsible for the business operating under Simple Pause.

2. General Health Advice Only

2.1 Any content I provide, including but not limited to eBooks, courses, blog posts, social media content, email newsletters, videos, and general information shared in group settings is provided for general educational and informational purposes only.

2.2 General content of this nature does not constitute personalised medical, naturopathic, or health advice, and is not a substitute for individual consultations. It has not been tailored to your specific health circumstances, medical history, current medications, or conditions.

2.3 You should not act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of general content alone without first seeking appropriate individualised advice from a qualified health professional.

2.4 I make reasonable efforts to ensure general content is accurate and reflects current, credible sources at the time of publication. However, health and wellness information evolves, and I do not guarantee that general content remains complete, current, or applicable to your individual situation.

3. Direct Health Care Services

This section applies specifically to one-on-one naturopathic consultations and medical herbalism services I provide directly to you.

3.1 Nature of services. As part of a direct consultation, I will take a personal health history and may recommend dietary changes, lifestyle changes, herbal medicine, nutritional supplementation, or referral to another practitioner, based on the information you provide.

3.2 Not a substitute for medical care. Naturopathy and medical herbalism, as I practise them, are not regulated health professions under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 in New Zealand, in the same way that medicine, nursing, or other registered health professions are. My services are complementary and are intended to work alongside, not instead of conventional medical care.

3.3 My advice and recommendations never replace the care, diagnosis, or treatment of your GP, medical specialist, or other registered health professional. You should continue any prescribed medical treatment and continue seeing your regular doctor or specialist unless they advise otherwise. Please tell your GP or specialist about any herbal medicine, supplements, or significant lifestyle changes you undertake with me, as some can interact with medications or existing conditions.

3.4 Emergencies. My services are not appropriate for medical emergencies. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call emergency services immediately or go to your nearest emergency department.

3.5 Informed consent. By engaging in my direct health care services, you confirm that:

You have disclosed all relevant health conditions, medications, allergies, and pregnancy/breastfeeding status to the best of your knowledge;
You understand that herbal medicine and supplements, while natural, can have contraindications and side effects, and can interact with pharmaceutical medication;
You understand that individual results vary, and no specific outcome is guaranteed;
You are participating voluntarily and may stop treatment or ask questions at any time.

3.6 Scope of practice. I will refer you to a medical doctor or appropriate specialist if, in my professional judgement, your presentation falls outside the safe scope of naturopathic or herbal practice, or if you present with red-flag symptoms requiring urgent medical assessment.

3.7 Confidentiality. Information shared during consultations is kept confidential in accordance with my Privacy Policy and will only Policy and a third party (such as your GP) with your consent, except where required by law.


4. Life Coaching Services

4.1 Life coaching services I provide are distinct from health care services and are not a form of therapy, counselling, psychological treatment, or medical care.
4.2 Coaching is a collaborative process intended to support you in setting and working toward personal, wellness, or lifestyle goals. It relies on you being self-directed and willing to take responsibility for your own decisions and actions.

4.3 If, during coaching, matters arise that appear to require mental health support, medical care, or professional therapy, I may recommend you seek support from an appropriately qualified professional and may pause or decline to continue coaching on that topic.

4.4 As with my health care services, life coaching does not replace the care of a medical doctor, mental health professional, or other relevant registered professional, and you should continue to seek and follow the advice of your own health providers.

3.7 Confidentiality. Information shared during consultations is kept confidential in accordance with my Privacy Policy and will only Policy and a third party (such as your GP) with your consent, except where required by law.

5. Payments

5.1 Fees. Current fees for consultations, courses, programmes, and products are published on my website or provided to you directly prior to booking. Fees are subject to change, but any change will not affect a booking already confirmed and paid for.

5.2 Payment Terms. Payment is due at the time of booking / prior to your appointment / within 10 days of invoicing. I accept payment via Stripe- credit/debit card and if applicable, bank transfer.

5.3 Course and programme enrolment. For multi-week programmes and courses (such as my 10-week Hormone Harmony course), full payment or an agreed payment plan must be completed as outlined at the time of enrolment. Places are not confirmed until payment (or the first instalment, where a payment plan is offered) has been received.

5.4 Cancellations and rescheduling for individual appointments.
Cancellations or rescheduling requests made with at least 24 hours' notice will not incur a fee.
Cancellations made with less notice than this or missed appointments ("no-shows"), a cancellation fee may be charged / the full consultation fee, if it is a recurring event.
I understand emergencies happen, please contact me as soon as possible if you need to reschedule, and I will do my best to accommodate you.

5.5 Refunds
eBooks and digital downloads

These products are NON-REFUNDABLE once accessed or downloaded, given the nature of digital content, except in cases where required by consumer law.

Course and programme fees

Before the course starts: A refund will be awarded minus a 10% admin fee.

After the course starts: No partial refunds for missed sessions once enrolled, the value is in the full course duration, not attendance per session.

No cash will be given if you change your mind, you can defer your spot to a future course or apply it to my other services.

5.6 Disputed charges. If you believe you have been charged in error, please contact me within 15 days so I can investigate and resolve the matter promptly.

Please note that nothing in this section limits any right you may have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, Fair Trading Act 1986, NZ, or other applicable

consumer protection law.

6. Testimonials and Results

6.1 Testimonials, case studies, and success stories I share reflect individual experiences and are not a guarantee that you will achieve the same or similar results. Health outcomes are influenced by many individual factors.

6.2 I do not make claims to cure, treat, or prevent any disease, and nothing in my marketing, content, or consultations should be interpreted as such a claim.


7.1 To the maximum extent permitted by law, I exclude liability for any indirect, incidental, or consequential loss arising from your use of my Services, general content, or products.

7.2 Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any right or remedy you have under consumer protection legislation that cannot lawfully be excluded.

7.3 My total liability for any claim arising from the Services will not exceed the amount you paid for the specific service or product, giving rise to the claim.

8. Intellectual Property

8.1 All content I create including eBooks, course materials, worksheets, videos, and website content remains my intellectual property and is provided for personal use only.

8.2 You may not copy, reproduce, resell, or distribute my content without my prior written permission.

9. Privacy

9.1 I collect and handle personal information, including health information, in accordance with my Privacy Policy and applicable privacy law (including the Privacy Act 2020, New Zealand).

9.2 Health information is sensitive information and is treated with additional care see my Privacy Policy for full details on what I collect, why, and how it is stored and protected.

10. Changes to These Terms

I may update these Terms from time to time  for example, if my services change, the law changes, or I update how I run my business. The latest version will always be on my website. If you keep using my Services after an update, that means you've accepted the new Terms.

11. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.

12. Contact Me

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact me at:

Hester Cronje, trading as Simple Pause
[email protected]