Dr Lance O′Sullivan is passionate about improving healthcare. And, as a general practitioner in Kaitaia, his vision to eradicate all poverty-related illnesses has made basic healthcare much more accessible to Northland people.

He and his wife Tracy are the driving force behind low-cost health clinic Te Kohanga Whakaora (“The Nest of Wellness”) which offers flexible forms of payment and walk-in appointments.

Lance has also been instrumental in establishing several programmes aimed at improving child health. The Manawa Ora Korokoro Ora (Moko) programme, based at Kaitaia Primary School is Northland′s first full-time, school-based health clinic. It aims to give medical care to up to 2,000 children at 14 primary and intermediate schools.