Family GP clinic
Papatoetoe Family Doctors
Caring for South Auckland families, every step of the way.
Personalised healthcare for every stage of life—delivered by a trusted, multidisciplinary team.
Dr Karl Cole
MB ChB 1995 Otago, FRNZCGP 2004, PGDIP HEALINFO
Karl, of Ngāi Tahu descent, is currently a Chief Clinical Information Officer at HealthAlliance and working 5/10’s clinical practice at Papatoetoe Family Doctors. Genuinely passionate about patient enablement and supporting self-care.
Karl has won the Procare GP leadership award for work in Patient centred design, including advocating for the benefits of Patient portals – giving patients secure online access to their notes. Active in Clinical informatics as a founding Fellow of the Health Informatics NZ.
He was an NZ Army Medical officer for 15 years. He gained NZ Army Commendation for service and a TTCP program award for human factors research, involving deployments to East Timor, Bali and others. As such, he gained experience in tropical medicine, well health checks, military occupational and diving medicine, and family medicine.
He gained a fellowship with the Royal NZ College GPs in 2004 and has been elected as the new College Board member. He is married and has three children.
Dr Diane Leach
MB BCh 1991, FRNZCGP 2014
Diane is a fellow of the Royal NZ College GPs. She graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa in 1991. She and her cardiologist husband emigrated to NZ in 1996.
She worked as a pediatric registrar in South Africa for several years before coming to NZ. She then spent time at Starship Hospital as a registrar. She is part owner of Papatoetoe Family Doctors, where she has worked for the past 25 years and recently joined Third Age Health as an Associate Medical director.
She loves all aspects of general practice and has enjoyed watching her patients grow up and start their own families. She is particularly interested in paediatrics and looking after the elderly. Her role at Third Age Health, working alongside the clinical team and practitioners, will hopefully help realise the vision of providing an integrated care model for older adults. She is also very involved in women’s health and cardiovascular health assessment and prevention.
Outside work, she has three boys who keep her busy with all their activities.
Dr Randall Sturm
MB CHB 1995 Auckland, FRACGP 2000, FRNZCGP 2001
Randall is a New Zealand born and educated General Practitioner passionate about the health and welfare of our community.
After completing medical training in Auckland, he initially spent time in rural Australia and obtained the Australian GP Fellowship. He gained the NZ GP Fellowship in 2000 upon return to NZ and has been in a South Auckland General Practice ever since. He completed his business degree, MBA, in 2003.
He is married and has three children. He plays golf and likes following his children’s sporting interests to keep him fit.
Dr Lira Lecias
MD 2003 Philippines, FRNZCGP 2025
Lira gained her registration to practice in NZ in 2011 and has been a general practitioner since 2015. She obtained her Biology and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of the Philippines in 2003 and is also a board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician (IBLM, ASLM).
She is passionate about promoting health and wellness with a particular interest in preventing lifestyle-related diseases (e.g. diabetes, obesity, hypertension).
She was awarded Filipino-Kiwi Hero of the year in June 2022 for her passionate and dedicated work for the community. Outside work, she’s active in the church community and enjoys supporting children in the music ministry. She is married with two children.
Dr Tej Tangirala
MB BS 2012 RGUHS, FRNZCGP 2025
Tej is an Indo-kiwi, Born and bred in India and NZ. He grew up in Ellerslie and attended Penrose High School (One Tree Hill College). He did his medical education in Bangalore, India, graduating in 2012.
He moved back to NZ in 2015. Tej gained valuable experience as a junior doctor in India and NZ in hospitals across the Wellington and Auckland region before enrolling in the GP training program in 2019. His particular interest is managing upper limb sports injuries and learn more about skin conditions and minor skin surgery.
Married to another doctor, he has a toddler son who keeps him busy outside work. He likes balancing work life with spending time outdoors with family, hiking and enjoying playing any sport (cricket, squash and badminton being my favourites).
Dr Elizabeth Sewell
MB ChB 1989 Otago; FRNZCGP 2001
Liz has been working as a Family Doctor in South Auckland for over 25 years . She highly values continuity of care, so she understands her patients health concerns clearly . She enjoys the long term relationship with her patients and also meeting and getting to know new patients.
She consults across a broad range or General Practice , loves meeting new born babies and also looking after the elderly into their 90’s. She has a special interest in both women’s health and the mental health needs of her patients .
Outside of work she has 3 children still at home , aged between 16 and 24 yrs ! She loves tennis playing 2-3x per week , arranging the social ladder at her club . She also enjoys yoga when time allows !
Dr (Mrs) Kalash Deva
MB ChB 1985 Otago; Dip Obst 1987 Auckland; FRNZCGP 1999
Dr Seini Pole
MB ChB 2019 Auckland
Alora Whittaker
Practice Nurse
Alora joined our growing and busy practice in April 2019. She completed her Bachelor of Science in nursing degree back in 1989. She is NZ Nursing Council Registered and has 20-plus years of experience in general practice. She had overseas experience in both the Philippines and Dubai as a nurse before meeting her Kiwi husband and settling in New Zealand.
She is a certified smear taker and independent immunisation vaccinator. She is also a busy mother who loves singing, dancing and cheering her son at sporting events.
Sharon Vandana
Practice Nurse
Sharon Vandana is a registered nurse who qualified with a Diploma in General and Obstetric Nursing in Fiji in 2007. Sharon did her Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing from the University of Auckland in 2013. She has worked in general practice and urgent care settings in New Zealand since 2008. Previously worked at The Doctors Onehunga as a nurse manager, She joined Papatoetoe Family Doctors in 2019 as a practice nurse.
Her interest lies in women’s health, and she has over six years of experience in smear taking. She is particularly interested in educating women hesitant to get their cervical smears done. Sharon is passionate about breaking this barrier and making the experience less stressful for women.
Sharon enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family and spending quality time with her kids in her spare time.
Jasmine Faiza
Advanced Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP)
Jasmine is a registered social worker with speciality in Bi-Culturalism. She is a migrant from Fiji and living in New Zealand for over 25 years. She is an experienced Health Improvement Practitioner.
Over 3 years she has worked in 5 different clinics. In the past years, she has worked 7 years as school Social Worker and 3 years as a counsellor in National Telehealth Service. She has worked in retail outlets. She has qualifications in counselling, business and naturopathy. She is passionate about community development, health and alternative medicine/therapies.
She developed a model called the Poi for trauma and mental health. She facilitates wellness-based programmes in her community.
She likes traveling, socializing and developing personally/professionally. She has interests in spiritual healing. Jasmine is a mother of 2 adolescent boys and enjoys outdoor activities with them.
Jaap Rigtering
Senior Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP)
Jaap has been a Senior HIP for 5+ years and has a 22 year clinical background in Occupational Therapy. He lives in Onehunga with his wife and his 6 year old son.
He asked his sister to describe him in a few words and she replied “outgoing, energetic, caring, always talking, always active, insightful and empathetic”.
He loves being busy, working on his house, garden, playing with his son or when he wants to relax building his own Lego models.
Fillicia Widjaya
Practice Manager
Trisha Fa'avae
Medical Receptionist
Helena kleis
Medical Receptionist
Tessa ...
Medical Receptionist
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Contact us
Papatoetoe Family Doctors
Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm
Sat 9am–1pm
2/65 Saint George Street, Papatoetoe,
Auckland 2025, New Zealand