Hon Tony Ryall
Minister of Health

22 November 2010 Media Statement
New chairs confirmed in DHB appointments

The Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced the appointed members of the 20 District Health Boards, including 10 new chairs and several people serving on more than one board.

Mr Ryall says, “Vacancies have come up because of statutory term limits, retirements and bereavement. In addition, we are taking this opportunity to refresh the leadership and skill mix on the boards.

“Eight chairs are continuing in their roles, and another 12 boards have new chairs including some cross-appointments.

“In Auckland, Dr Lester Levy continues as chair of Waitemata DHB and will also chair the Auckland DHB. In Wellington, public health physician Dr Virginia Hope will chair the Capital and Coast and the Hutt Valley DHBs.

“These cross-appointments signal a push for greater regional collaboration in the planning and delivery of health services. The overlaps between each of these Auckland and Wellington region DHBs are clear.

“Waitemata pays Auckland DHB a quarter of its budget each year for services. In the Wellington region, Capital and Coast provides 40 per cent of Hutt Valley’s elective surgery each year. Each board needs the other to be successful.

“A number of DHBs have members on more than one board. Both the MidCentral chair Phil Sunderland and the Whanganui chair Kate Joblin have been reappointed and will deputise for each other. Existing Canterbury member Peter Ballantyne will become deputy chair of both Canterbury and West Coast.”

“Five boards will be chaired by elected members (Whanganui, Hawkes Bay, Capital Coast, Nelson and South Canterbury) who were re-elected to their boards at the October elections. Half the boards have deputy chairs who were also elected in October.

34 of the positions announced are existing DHB members. Six are new.

The full list of chairs and deputies is:

DHB / Chair / Deputy
Northland / Tony Norman* / Sally Macauley
Waitemata / Dr Lester Levy* / Prof Max Abbott*
Auckland / Dr Lester Levy / Dr Lee Mathias
Counties-Manukau / Prof Gregor Coster* / Jan Dawson
Waikato / Graeme Milne* / Sally Christie*
Lakes / Deryck Shaw / Lyall Thurston*
Bay of Plenty / Sally Webb / Jeff Williams*
Tairawhiti / David Scott / Barbara Clark
Taranaki / Mary Bourke / Dr Peter Catt*
Hawkes Bay / Kevin Atkinson / Ngahiwi Tomoana
Whanganui / Kate Joblin* / Phil Sunderland
MidCentral / Phil Sunderland* / Kate Joblin
Hutt Valley / Dr Virginia Hope / Wayne Guppy
Capital and Coast / Dr Virginia Hope / Peter Glensor
Wairarapa / Bob Francis* / Leanne Southey
Nelson-Marlborough / Jenny Black / Ian MacLennan
West Coast / Dr Paul McCormack / Peter Ballantyne
Canterbury / Bruce Matheson / Peter Ballantyne
South Canterbury / Murray Cleverley* / Ron Luxton*
Southern / Joe Butterfield / Paul Menzies*

* indicates reappointment

Mr Ryall thanked all of the chairs and members who have just completed their terms for their contribution to their district health service.

ENDS

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