Dr Mark Lawrence

Mark has a Physical Education and Medical degree from the University of Otago. He trained as a specialist in Tauranga and Waikato DHB.  Mark gained Fellowship as a psychiatrist in 2009 and has been actively engaged in College affairs for the last 8 years.  He joined Te Kaunihera Committee in 2012 as Chair. This Committee provides advice to the College from a Te Ao Māori perspective.
 
This experience has given Mark an opportunity to develop strong networks with a range of members and College staff. Mark has been actively involved in developing indigenous content for RANZCP written examinations. He was also one of the drivers behind developing the Māori name for the New Zealand National Office Tu Te Akaaka Roa.
 
Mark is the first Māori doctor in his whanau and has iwi connections to Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri and Nga Puhi. Mark currently practices as a Consultant Psychiatrist for the Bay of Plenty DHB in Tauranga with an academic role with the University of Auckland School of Medicine.  He utilises an integrated model of care with both Kaupapa Māori and mainstream services. He has a broad range of research interests focused on achieving health equity and innovative ways to integrate indigenous knowledge into health.  
 
A previous recipient of Te Rau Ora’s, Henry Rongomau Bennett Memorial Scholarship (to build leadership in Māori Health), and proudly the 9th Māori RANZCP Fellow, Mark is keen to continue supporting the development of Māori doctors.  He is a member of Te Ora (the Māori Doctors’ Association of New Zealand) and recently publised research findings outlining the benefits of dental intervention on tangata whaiora (Māori mental health consumers) mental wellbeing. In the last five years, Mark has been the New Zealand National Committee chair for the New Zealand office for the RANZCP.