NZ doctor's rebrands as brothel

A New Zealand doctor who closed his practice after complaining that health authorities were not providing enough support is to reopen it as a brothel.

Neil Benson, who shut his Coopers Beach practice in April last year, plans to call the new business venture Whalers.

He said he would hire "professional girls" from outside the region and cater for locals and visiting tourists.

He admitted his plan was contentious, but said there had been "a lot of support from the men in the community".

Dr Benson closed the medical centre in Coopers Beach, 350km (220 miles) north of Auckland, after a dispute with his local health authority over after-hours care.

"I did everything humanly possible to keep it open, but it wasn't possible because of the lack of support from the (health authority), lack of collegial support and community support," he told The Northern Advocate newspaper.

Dr Benson said the brothel idea was not as far-fetched as it first appeared.

"It's about providing a private service and maintaining confidentiality, which is what my medical practice was about - so it's not a big leap, really," he told the paper.