A Kaitaia doctor has been named New Zealander of the Year for leadership and advocacy in healthcare.
Prime Minister John Key and Dr Lance O'Sullivan. Photo: RNZ
Prime Minister John Key presented Lance O'Sullivan with the award at a ceremony in Auckland on Wednesday night.
Dr O'Sullivan is dedicated to eradicating poverty-related diseases and has made basic healthcare more accessible to people in Northland.
He and his wife operate a low-cost health clinic, Te Kohanga Whakaora (The Nest of Wellness), which offers flexible forms of payment and walk-in appointments.
He was also instrumental in setting up the Manawa Ora Korokoro Ora (Healthy Heart, Healthy Throat) programme, based at Kaitaia Primary School, which provides care to 2000 children from 14 schools.
Dr O'Sullivan also set up the Kainga Ora (Well Home) initiative which fixes run-down homes in the community with the aim of ensuring every child lives in a healthy environment.
He says he's honoured to receive the award and have his work recognised.
"Other people in the country that don't live in the community and face the same problems that Maori do actually think that what I am doing is good and valuable and worthwhile and could contribute to a greater New Zealand society."
He says the award encourages him to carry on, and he can't wait to get back to work,
The previous winners of the award, now in its fifth year, have been Sir Ray Avery, Sir Paul Callaghan, Sir Richard Taylor and Dame Anne Salmond. Nearly 250 nominations were received this year.
Watch more about Lance O'Sullivan and his work
This year's other finalists
Maori educator Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi and the founder of the CatWalk Spinal Injury Trust, Catriona Williams, were the other finalists this year.
Dame Iritana has dedicated her life to promoting Maori community and culture. She is an advocate for Maori language education and has been a driving force behind the kohanga reo movement for 30 years.
Ms Williams founded the CatWalk Trust in 2005 after a horse-riding accident left her a tetraplegic, cutting short her equestrian career. Under her leadership it has raised more than $2 million for spinal cord injury research.
Dancer named Young New Zealander of the Year
The Young New Zealander of the Year award has gone to Parris Goebel for achievement in dance. The 22-year-old choreographer and dancer founded the Palace Dance Studio and since 2009 has trained teams to compete at the World Hip Hop Championships, resulting in 88 gold medals.
Ms Goebel says the most fulfilling part of her job is seeing her students chase their dreams.
"For me to see the kids run on stage and accept their awards and see the look on their faces, knowing that they never thought they would be able to do it and to know that I contributed to that somehow, that's the best feeling for me."
The Senior New Zealander of the Year is Frances Denz for leadership in business education.
The Community of the Year is Victim Support, the Local Hero award has gone to Cecilia Sullivan-Grant for community service, and Sean Simpson is Innovator of the Year for achievement in green technology.
Each winner receives $5000 and a custom-made trophy.
