More than 600 people have signed a petition supporting a respected Kaitaia doctor who's resigned from his job with the local Maori health authority.
Dr Lance O'Sullivan led the campaign against rheumatic fever in the Far North and has spoken out about the unmet health needs of Maori.
He quit his job with Te Hauora o Te Hiku o Te Ika last month.
Supporters said he left after differences with management over issues including his willingness to make house calls and to treat people with no money to pay.
Te Hauora o Te Hiku o Te Ika is the largest Maori health care provider in the north, employing four GPs.
Local teacher Vaniva Lewis says people are angry that the board of Te Haoura accepted Dr O'Sullivan's resignation without alerting the iwi who appointed them that there were problems.
