Popular Kāpiti dentist Dr Gary Lawrence has been honoured at the 2025 NZDA Awards as the recipient of the 2025 Public Service Award.
The award citation for Dr Lawrence reads: “Serving as an inspiration to the dental profession through exemplary humanitarian ideals and attributes.”
Dr Lawrence, a highly respected dental surgeon in Kāpiti for 40 years, has regularly travelled offshore as team leader for the Rotary Volunteer Dental Aid Project.
If you think there is sometimes a bit of wait for a dental appointment in New Zealand, try Tavenui Island where there is just one resident dentist to serve around 18,000 locals.
In one visit Dr Lawrence and his team of three other volunteer dentists did a staggering total of 748 examinations with 645 Restorations, 454 Fissure Sealants and 253 Extractions.
A long-serving member of the Rotary Club of Kāpiti, Dr Lawrence has for many years given volunteer service to the Kāpiti community as well as his overseas humanitarian work.
Kāpiti Rotary president Paul Adams said at a recent meeting where Dr Lawrence introduced his fellow volunteers “the Club is very proud of Gary and the team, as they give so much of their own time and money to help children and adults who would otherwise have no dental care.”
The New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) was celebrating its 120th Anniversary at a special annual conference dinner and awards evening held at Tākina in Wellington where it honoured the contributions of exceptional member dentists across New Zealand.
Former television news anchor Mike McRoberts served as the emcee for the evening. He assisted in presenting the NZDA Awards, which were given in four categories. In addition, the Association inducted two new Honorary Members, one new Honorary Life Member for outstanding services to dentistry in New Zealand, and one new NZDA Fellow.
“The awards dinner is always the focal point of our annual conference, so it’s the ideal place to celebrate and acknowledge exceptional member contributions and service to our profession, as well as to the wider community,” said NZDA President Dr David Excell.
NZDA Award 2025 Recipients
- NZDA Colleague of the Year Award 2025: Dr Gavin Cho, Wellington NZDA Branch
- NZDA Service Award 2025: Dr Winifred Harding, Otago NZDA Branch
- NZDA Public Service Award 2025: Dr Gary Lawrence, Wellington NZDA Branch
- NZDA Outstanding Young Dentist Award 2025: Dr Margaret Clark, Wellington Branch
Key sites: www.nzda.org.nz