February 06, 2013
Health vision wins O’Sullivan Maori of the Year award
Kaitaia GP Lance O’Sullivan has been named the Maori of the Year for 2013 by TVNZ’s Marae Investigates.
Dr O’Sullivan has spoken out about the link between poverty and child health, and during the year established his own health service, Te Kohanga Whakaora or The Nest of Wellness to put some of his ideas in action.
Whanau Ora Minister Tariana Turia praised the choice, saying his leadership helped her put in place a preventive campaign to tackle the high levels of rheumatic fever.
She says his approach stems from his belief that good health is not simply a matter of treat and wait – it is vital to create healthy environments to achieve wellness.
Also in the far north, traditional waka navigator Hekenukumai Busby received Te Tohu Hiranga lifetime achievement award for his dedication to matauranga Maori.
Olympic gold medal canoeist Lisa Carrington won the sports award. The te reo-tikanga category was went to Cathy Dewes, and the arts winner was actor and director Rawiri Paratene, whose year included presenting a Maori version of Troilus and Cressida at a Shakespeare festival in London.
Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith of Waikato University won the education section, and the head of Massey University’s school of public health, Cindy Kiro, won the community service award.
Kerikeri High School topped the rangatahi section, Rotorua dairy farmers Kapenga M Trust picked up the science and technology award to go with its Ahuwhenua Trophy, and kiwifruit exporter Te Awanui Huka Pak won the business section.
Producer Roihana Nuri says the quality of the 60 nominees was stunning.