Australian doctor killed in skiing mishap

A respected Tasmanian doctor has been killed in a skiing accident in New Zealand.

Launceston neurologist Stan Seijka is believed to have died after hitting a tree while skiing today, Tasmanian AMA president Chris Middleton said.

Dr Middleton believed Dr Seijka was holidaying in the South Island with his three teenage children.

His wife has travelled to New Zealand to be with the children.

"He provided neurological services to the north of the state pretty much singlehandedly," Middleton told AAP.

"He was very highly regarded, his loss is going to be felt very keenly at a professional level, he was held in really high esteem by his colleagues and we're all going to miss him on a personal level.

"It's a tragic loss for the medical community, the patients of Launceston and for his family."

Middleton said details were sketchy and he was unaware of an exact location of the accident.

- AAP