27 August 2002

Wayne Brown Steps Down From Tairawhiti District Health Board

Tairawhiti District Health Board (DHB) chairman Wayne Brown is stepping down from the board because of an administrative error by the Ministry of Health.

Director-General of Health Dr Karen Poutasi said the Ministry regretted the error, which had seen Mr Brown appointed to the Auckland District Health Board even though the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 did not allow members elected to one district health board to be appointed to another board.

Mr Brown was elected to the Tairawhiti board in DHB board elections held in October last year, and in December was also appointed as Auckland chairman.

Dr Poutasi said the Ministry had only recently become aware of the administrative oversight.

``We have taken immediate steps to fix it. Mr Brown has agreed to step down from Tairawhiti and will concentrate his energies and enthusiasm on Auckland, where he will continue his role as chairman. We are grateful for his understanding.

``Mr Brown has worked hard for the Tairawhiti region for more than two years -- first as a Commissioner, and then as an elected representative -- and has been instrumental in the progress the DHB has made in that time.

``Mr Brown's leadership of the board has been exemplary. He has made a significant contribution to helping improve the Tairawhiti health services and the public's confidence in those services. He leaves an effective Tairawhiti board in good heart.''

Dr Poutasi said the Ministry's legal advice was ``that the decisions made by the Auckland and Tairawhiti DHBs since the board elections and appointments last year are protected under the statute''.

The director-general also said no other DHB members in New Zealand were affected by the clause in the Act.

NB: Clause 3(b) of Schedule Three states: Elected members ... ``are not to hold office as an elected or appointed member of the board of any other DHB''.

ENDS

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