Dr Lance O’Sullivan – New Zealand of the Year

Tuesday, March 4th, 2014

Dr Lance O’Sullivan of Kaitaia was named Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year 2014 at the New Zealander of the Year Awards held last Thursday in Auckland.

Dr O’Sullivan attributes a real turnaround in his life when he was accepted as a student at Hato Petera (St Peter’s) College.

Expelled from two schools before thriving at Hato Petera, he went on to be Head Boy, sports champion and College Dux.

The support and encouragement he received at Hato Petera shaped his philosophy towards his patients.

However, Dr O’Sullivan also pays great tribute to his mother who raised her large family without the help of a man in the house.

She worked tirelessly to give her children the best possible start in life under often difficult circumstances. She still helps out with his work and his family, he said.

“Rob people of their self-belief and you deny them a bright future. I believed I couldn’t be anything other than the naughty boy teachers perceived me to be. So I’ll never turn a kid away and say he’s a lost cause or a patient when people say he’s just trouble,” said Dr O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan is married to Tracey and they have seven children.

He is honoured for his leadership, vision and advocacy in healthcare. His low-cost health clinic Te Kohanga Whakaora (“The Nest of Wellness”) has made basic healthcare more accessible for people in the far north.

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