A Christchurch doctor found not guilty two decades ago - has been branded online as a rapist, convicted paedophile and registered sex offender

Social media posts name the doctor and the medical centre where he works - and include newspaper clippings, referencing his now-quashed conviction.

Our newsroom's established the doctor always denied a guilty verdict of raping a school girl in 1993.

The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in 2009 - and he was found not guilty in a re-trial.

His current employer says it understands the information being shared is upsetting for some.

It says given the Medical Council imposed no conditions at the time - the man's free to operate as any other GP in New Zealand.