Long-serving Murupara GP Dr Bernard Conlon says he is relieved a long-delayed Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal hearing will finally go ahead, bringing what he hopes will be closure after five years.

Dr Conlon will appear before the tribunal at a hearing beginning March 9 at the Sudima Hotel in Rotorua. The hearing, originally expected to take place in 2024, was postponed.

Two complaints were made against Dr Conlon in 2021. In 2022, he was suspended for four months in relation to his views on the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. The upcoming tribunal will determine whether he can retain his practising certificate.

“I am weary of it,” Dr Conlon said this week. “I would have preferred to have just quietly got closure and put it all behind, but that is obviously not to be.

“I want to clear my reputation. I want it over with.”

Dr Conlon has practised medicine in Murupara for 35 years and says the drawn-out process has taken a toll – not only on him, but on the wider community.

“The reality is the community has been through a lot. They lost me, their doctor, just before Covid when I was suspended for four months. And it was a pretty scary time for them. And now this.”

Supporters – including patients – are expected to attend the Rotorua hearing. Dr Conlon said he had sought to have the hearing moved to Rangitahi Marae in Murupara to make it easier for local people to attend, but that request was declined.

“I would have preferred that they not be put to the expense of travelling into Rotorua,” he said.

He noted that witnesses giving evidence against him had been permitted to appear remotely at their request.

Dr Conlon said he welcomed public access to the tribunal, provided court rules were followed.

“I have allowed full access to the public on the very clear, explicit request that court rules are acknowledged and obeyed. I do not want anything to disrupt this process because, as I have said, it has been five years. I am weary of it and I want it over.”

There has been strong support for the doctor from the community.

“After 35 years, would it surprise anybody that there would be a groundswell of spontaneous opinion or a desire to support.”

Dr Conlon declined to comment on the specific nature of the complaints ahead of the hearing.

“I would prefer the details come out during the tribunal. At that stage, people will have a full understanding as to the allegations and my strong rebuttal of those allegations.”

The tribunal is expected to sit for two weeks before reaching a decision.