Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Dr Lance O'Sullivan, former New Zealander of the Year, charged with intentional damage

Samantha Olley
By Samantha Olley
Rotorua Daily Post·
3 Jun, 2020 01:30 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

In July 2019 Dr Lance O'Sullivan announced a bold move to introduce drive-through medical centres throughout New Zealand. Video / Leon Menzies

Former New Zealander of the Year Dr Lance O'Sullivan has been charged with intentionally damaging a car window.

Lance Edward O'Sullivan's attendance was excused in the Rotorua District Court this afternoon.

Former New Zealander of the Year Dr Lance O'Sullivan. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Former New Zealander of the Year Dr Lance O'Sullivan. Photo / Jason Oxenham

He allegedly damaged the driver's window of a Nissan vehicle in Rotorua on March 13.

The 47-year-old had name suppression after his first appearance in Rotorua, but an extension was not sought at a registrar's hearing today.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He was remanded at large to reappear before a registrar on July 1.

O'Sullivan has not entered a plea and is going through the diversion process.

The maximum possible penalty for O'Sullivan's charge is three months' imprisonment and the maximum fine is $2000.

O'Sullivan was named New Zealander of the Year in 2014 and is the founder of the Moko Foundation.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

His career has focused on child health - he created New Zealand's first digital health programme, iMoko, which delivers healthcare to children across the country.

Late last year O'Sullivan told the Rotorua Daily Post he had strong links to Rotorua.

"I started my career in Rotorua, my family and children whakapapa to Rotorua and it helped form me to be the person I am today as a clinician."

O'Sullivan is also renowned for his work to improve health outcomes for whānau in the Far North.

Discover more

New Zealand

Waihau Bay murder-accused appears in court

02 Jun 02:43 AM
New Zealand

Disabled park row: Dr Lance O'Sullivan granted diversion

18 Jun 02:35 AM

In the past, the outspoken doctor has been vocal about the importance of immunisation — disrupting a screening of a controversial anti-vax film.

In a Facebook post in April, he admitted breaching Covid-19 alert level 4 lockdown rules and going kayaking.

"We've been living in a campervan doing our work for the Kaitāia community, but on the weekend I went for a kayak to a place not far from the place I'm staying," he said.

"I'm a dick and I f**ked up. F**k, what a silly bugger, eh? A silly bastard."

Dr Lance O'Sullivan at the launch of iMoko health screening project in 2018. Photo / File
Dr Lance O'Sullivan at the launch of iMoko health screening project in 2018. Photo / File

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, who is a Rotorua Lakes councillor, Lakes District Health Board member, Whānau Ora's North Island Commissioning chairwoman and the former chief executive of Women's Refuge, said todayshe was "sorry to hear Dr O'Sullivan has had a spot of bother".

"A few years ago I travelled with him throughout the United States. I know he is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of families, particularly those who struggle daily to make a better life for themselves.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We do place high expectations on those who have a high public profile but an isolated case of stupidity should not detract from the years of excellent work he has achieved. I wish him well."

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait. Photo / Jason Oxenham

In a written statement, a Medical Council of New Zealand spokeswoman said: "due to privacy considerations we are unable to comment on individual doctors".

If concerns about a doctor's conduct or competence were raised, the council followed a specific process, she said.

"With all notifications, the doctor is given an opportunity to respond to the concerns raised and this information is then considered by [the] council to determine if any further action is required. Further action can include an investigation into the concerns raised in the notification."

O'Sullivan was approached for comment.

Health Minister David Clark declined to comment.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

live
Bay of Plenty Times

Ham radio distress post was hoax, 50 people evacuated, wild weather clean-up begins

11 Jul 09:42 PM
Bay of Plenty Times

'Powerful example': Mum overcomes addiction to build a life helping others

11 Jul 06:00 PM
Bay of Plenty Times

Bay home crowd rallies behind netball's Magic

11 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Ham radio distress post was hoax, 50 people evacuated, wild weather clean-up begins
live

Ham radio distress post was hoax, 50 people evacuated, wild weather clean-up begins

11 Jul 09:42 PM

The North Island is expected to get off to a wet start this morning, with lingering rain.

'Powerful example': Mum overcomes addiction to build a life helping others

'Powerful example': Mum overcomes addiction to build a life helping others

11 Jul 06:00 PM
Bay home crowd rallies behind netball's Magic

Bay home crowd rallies behind netball's Magic

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Tearful hunter admits shooting and killing friend

Tearful hunter admits shooting and killing friend

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP