Dr Lance O’Sullivan - New Zealander of the Year

Warmest congratulations to Kaitaia GP Dr Lance O’Sullivan who has been named Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year for his work to improve health equity in the Far North.

The other finalists for the award were Maori educator Dame Dr Iritana Tawhiwhirangi and CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust founder and trustee Catriona Williams. A sign of how prestigious the win is can be seen in nominees who didn’t make the final three - All Black captain Richie McCaw, lawyer Mai Chen and former Christchurch mayor Sir Bob Parker.

This award is the latest in a growing list for Lance who last year was named Maori of the Year and also received Public Health and Sir Peter Blake Trust leadership awards.  

In late 2012, Lance and wife Tracy set up low cost health clinic Te Kohanga Whakaora (The Nest of Wellness) at Kaitaia Hospital to make basic healthcare more accessible for people in the Far North.
He has also been instrumental in establishing programmes aimed at improving child health, including the Manawa Ora Korokoro Ora (Moko) programme that aims to give medical care to up to 2000 children, and the Kainga Ora (Well Home) initiative that fixes run-down homes, advancing the concept wellness begins in warm homes.

On behalf of the College, our congratulations to you Lance for the work you do in your community. You make us all proud to be GPs.

You can hear Lance being interviewed on National Radio this morning here.

Dr Tim Malloy 
President

ENDS

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