MEDIA RELEASE, 27 January 2000

Re Health Funding Authority Directors

Health Minister Annette King today announced the four directors of an interim board to oversee the process of bringing the Health Funding Authority into the Ministry of Health.

The appointments, which take effect on February 1, include two members of the existing HFA board, Liz Coutts of Auckland and Bridget Allan of Hokianga, as well as two new members, Cynthia Kiro, Auckland, and Professor Gregor Coster, Auckland. The chairman, Syd Bradley, was announced last month. The board will meet for the first time on February 4.

Health Minister Annette King said the new appointments were a positive step toward achieving the Government's objectives of disestablishing the HFA and bringing it into the Ministry of Health.

"Our goal is to simplify health bureaucracies and reduce administration costs in favour of better services. Appointment of the directors is a start and now we must continue to move forward."

Mrs King said she was delighted with the broad range of experience and knowledge the new directors would be able to contribute as the change took place.

"The process of change will be evolutionary. Structures will be changing, but the challenge will be to use the experience of valuable staff. The Government is committed to restoring public faith in a comprehensive public health system.

"Overall our changes are intended to reduce central bureaucracy, increase public involvement in health and public accountability, and allow leadership to be more clearly demonstrated in the sector."

ENDS

Background Information:

Syd Bradley MBE is a professional company director with considerable experience in the health sector. Mr Bradley was a Government-appointed director of Canterbury Area Health Board (1989-1991) and has served as a director or chairperson on three hospital and health services companies, Canterbury Health (Chair), Healthlink South (Chair, 1996-1998), Healthcare Otago (Chair). He has held senior executive positions within New Zealand Post Ltd. He has also held a variety of positions in other sectors and served on the steering group which distestablished the NZ Post Office.

Bridget Allan is an existing HFA board member and a member of the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC). She has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Hokianga Health Enterprise Trust since 1993. She was also previously a manager in the Northland Area Health Board for five years and has worked as a health and social researcher and small business advisor.

Liz Coutts is also an existing HFA board member and is currently Director of Viking Pacific Holdings Ltd, Commerce Commission, Earthquake Commission, Worley Group Ltd and Industrial Research Ltd. She has been a senior executive with Carter Holt Harvey Ltd, and held the positions of divisional chief executive, financial controller and financial accountant with that organisation.

Professor Gregor Coster is the head of the General Practice and Primary Health Care Department at the University of Auckland School of Medicine. He has previously held the position of Chair of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. He was Chairman of the New Zealand General Practice Research Advisory Group to the Health Research Council on the Foresight Project, a Trustee of the University of Auckland Primary Health Care Trust, member of the Therapeutics Advisory Group and is also a General Practitioner.

Cynthia Kiro is affiliated to Ngapuhi, Ngati-Hine, Te Rangiwewehe. She is a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy and Social Work at Massey University, and is a Director of Integrated Primacy Care Services Ltd and Director Awhi Health Ltd. She has experience on a Hospital Board and Area Health Board, and as a consultant to Auckland Healthcare Services Ltd and to a number of Maori health providers over many years. She has also been Executive Director for Greenpeace New Zealand and a Strategic Planner for the Auckland College of Education.

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