“From Golden Bay to Gaza”, Alan Kerr
Published by Mary Egan Publishing
Paperback, 256 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-991436-30-6
Coming soon
When Alan Kerr retired from heart surgery in Auckland at 67, he still had work to do.
His life had taken him from a small farm in East Tākaka, Golden Bay, to Auckland’s Green Lane Hospital, where he helped pioneer heart surgery in New Zealand. In From Golden Bay to Gaza, he recalls his early life, the colleagues who became friends and the operations that became possible during his career.
A visit to Palestine in 2001 led to nineteen years of volunteer work. Across forty missions, Alan and his colleagues operated on nearly 800 children while helping to train and equip local teams to provide that care themselves.
The documentary The Doctor’s Wife captures the experiences of Alan and his wife, Hazel, and the daily lives of the families they came to know.
Now in his nineties, Alan writes with humour and affection. These are memories of a lifetime, written with the future of Gaza’s children in mind.
About the Author
Alan Kerr is a former head of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery at Auckland’s Green Lane Hospital. He worked full-time in the public health service, caring for adults and children until his retirement in 2002. A leading figure in the development of heart surgery in Aotearoa New Zealand, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1997.
Between 2001 and 2019, Alan undertook forty volunteer missions to Gaza and the West Bank, often accompanied by colleagues from Auckland’s Starship Hospital. Together, they operated on nearly 800 Palestinian children and helped establish local services capable of providing ongoing care. He is regarded as the father of paediatric cardiac surgery in Palestine.
Alan and his wife, Hazel, were jointly named the 2026 Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealanders of the Year at the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.
