Hon David Cunliffe
Minister of Health

6 December 2007 Media Statement

Minister of Health announces further DHB appointments

Health Minister David Cunliffe today announced the names of deputy chairs and appointed members for most District Health Boards (DHBs).

Seven members were elected to each DHB in October and the Minister can appoint up to a further four members to each board.

Deputy chair appointments have been made to 16 DHBs however, Mr Cunliffe is still considering the deputy chair positions at Counties Manukau and Whanganui DHBs.

Decisions are also still being considered around all appointments to Hawke’s Bay and Capital & Coast DHBs.

Nearly all member appointments have been made to the 19 DHBs that the Minister announced chairs for last month, but a few vacancies remain (one on each of the Auckland, Tairawhiti, Whanganui, MidCentral, Canterbury, South Canterbury and Otago DHB boards and two on each of the Counties Manukau, Taranaki and Wairarapa DHB boards).

"The calibre of people who were nominated for the appointed board member positions was extremely high,” he said. “I am confident that through these appointments, boards now have an improved mix of skills and experience."

Mr Cunliffe has also appointed a joint deputy chair and member to the Otago and Southland DHB boards, and a joint member to Whanganui and MidCentral DHBs.

"These appointments will help further support collaboration and co-operation between these DHBs," Mr Cunliffe said.

Mr Cunliffe said appointments to remaining vacancies would be announced as soon as possible.

A list of appointed board members and deputy chairs is attached. Appointees take office alongside elected members on 10 December.

Ends

The full list of appointments follow.

List of deputy chair and board member appointments to DHBs

Under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, the Minister of Health is entitled to appoint up to four members to each DHB. Chairs and deputy chairs are selected from the elected and appointed members.

Appointments to DHBs are as follows.

Northland DHB
- Bill Sanderson (new appointment as deputy chair; elected member)
- Debbie Evans (new appointment as member)
- Erima Henare (new appointment as member)
- Tony Norman (new appointment as member)

Waitemata DHB
- Max Abbott (new appointment as deputy chair; elected member)
- Robert Khan (new appointment as member)
- Mary Lythe (new appointment as member)
- Gwen Tepania-Palmer (new appointment as member)

Auckland DHB
- Harry Burkhardt (new appointment as deputy chair, reappointed as member)
- Rob Cooper (new appointment as member)
- Juliet Walker (new appointment as member

Counties Manukau DHB
- Ruth DeSouza (new appointment as member)
- Lope Ginnen (new appointment as member)

Waikato DHB
- Sally Christie (reappointed as deputy chair; elected member)
- Peta Karalus (reappointed as member)
- Harry Mikaere (new appointment as member)
- Glenda Raumati (new appointment as member)

Lakes DHB
- Lyall Thurston (new appointment as deputy chair; elected member)
- Sharon Mariu (reappointed as member)
- Fred McRae (reappointed as member)
- Steve Ruru (reappointed as member)

Bay of Plenty DHB
- Graeme Horsley (reappointed as deputy chair and member)
- Tiaki Hunia (new appointment as member)
- Punohu McCausland (reappointed as member)
- Bill Wasley (new appointment as member)

Tairawhiti DHB
- Pene Brown (reappointed as deputy chair and member)
- Lois McCarthy-Robinson (reappointed as member)
- Ben Tahata (reappointed as member)

Taranaki DHB
- Peter Catt (reappointed as deputy chair; elected member)
- Kura Denness (reappointed as member)

Whanganui DHB
- Ormond Stock (reappointed as member)
- Di Valentine (reappointed as member)

MidCentral DHB
- Ann Chapman (reappointed as deputy chair; elected member)
- Dennis Emery (reappointed as member)
- Ormond Stock (new appointment as member)

Hutt DHB
- Sharron Cole (reappointed as deputy chair and member)
- Keith Hindle (reappointed as member)
- Ken Laban (new appointment as member; previously elected member)
- Catherine Love (reappointed as member)

Wairarapa DHB
- Janine Vollebregt (reappointed as deputy chair; elected member)
- Yvette Grace (reappointed as member)

Nelson Marlborough DHB
- Liz Richards (reappointed as deputy chair; elected member)
- Judith Billens (new appointment as member)
- Ian MacLennan (reappointed as member)
- Joe Puketapu (new appointment as member)

West Coast DHB
- Christine Robertson (reappointed as deputy chair and member)
- Warren Gilbertson (new appointment as member)
- Susan Wallace (reappointed as member)

Canterbury DHB
- Olive Webb (reappointed as deputy chair; elected member)
- Peter Ballantyne (new appointment as member)
- Matea Gillies (new appointment as member)

South Canterbury DHB
- Ron Luxton (new appointment as deputy chair; elected member)
- Quentin Hix (reappointed as member)
- Fiona Pimm (reappointed as member)

Otago DHB
- Susie Johnstone (new appointment as deputy chair; reappointed as member)
- Errol Millar (new appointment as member)
- Tahu Potiki (new appointment as member)

Southland DHB
- Susie Johnstone (new appointment as deputy chair and member)
- Karen Goffe (reappointed as member)
- Tahu Potiki (new appointment as member)

ENDS

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