GP makes final three for national accolade

Kaitaia GP Dr Lance O'Sullivan is one of three finalists for the 2014 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Award, which will be presented on February 26.

The other two who made the shortlist from 250 nominations are Maori educator Dame Dr Iritana Tawhiwhirangi and CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust founder and trustee Catriona Williams. The unsuccessful semi-finalists included All Black captain Richie McCaw, lawyer Mai Chen and former Christchurch Mayor Sir Bob Parker.

Awards chief judge Cameron Bennett said Dr O'Sullivan, Dame Iritana and Ms Williams followed a fine tradition of great New Zealanders who had forever changed the country for the better.

"They're people who are passionate about making things happen. They lead, innovate, and change the way we think about things," he said.

Dr O'Sullivan, who was last year named Maori of the Year, followed by a Public Health award and a Sir Peter Blake Trust leadership award, said it was "quite amazing and very humbling" to be a finalist.

"I don't do the work I do for recognition, but I'm happy for the Far North community to gain distinction. I'm really proud to be a Northlander," he said.

Dr O'Sullivan grew up in Auckland and moved to Kaitaia eight years ago from Rotorua. In late 2012 he and his wife Tracy set up a practice (Te Kohanga Whakaora, the Nest of Wellness) at Kaitaia Hospital. He has also been instrumental in establishing several programmes aimed at improving child health, including Manawa Ora Korokoro Ora (MOKO), mainly focusing on protecting up to 2000 children from rheumatic fever by early diagnosis, and the Kainga Ora (Well Home) initiative that fixes run-down homes, advancing the concept that wellness begins in warm homes.