DHB Appointments - Overview

District Health Board Appointments
Overview

Under section 29 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (the NZPHD Act), the Minister of Health may appoint up to four board members to each District Health Board (DHB). The appointment itself is made pursuant to section 28 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 (the CE Act), in consultation with Cabinet and Caucus. The Minister appoints a chairperson and deputy chairperson from the elected or appointed board members1, and may also appoint members to vacancies which arise in either elected or appointed positions.2

The Minister’s appointments are used to balance the boards’ elected membership in terms of skills and, where relevant, representation of ethnic, gender and geographic groups. The Minister may only appoint persons who, in the Minister’s opinion, have the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to assist the DHB in question to achieve its objectives and perform its functions.3 A list of attributes which, in the experience of the Ministry, are likely to be those sought in a Ministerial appointee, appears in the next section. In making appointments, the Minister must also take into account the desirability of promoting diversity in the membership of DHBs,4 and must endeavour to ensure Mäori membership of the board.5

Board member remuneration and expenses are covered by the Fees Framework,6 while duties of boards and board members are set out in the NZPHD Act and the CE Act.7 The appointment process itself is managed by the Ministry of Health on behalf of the Minister. A list of attributes which, in the experience of the Ministry, are likely to be those sought in a Ministerial appointee, is included on the next page.

The appointments process is complex and requires confidentiality and discretion on the part of all involved. Information given by potential candidates, either orally or in writing, is kept strictly confidential.

‘Due diligence’ is conducted for all candidates, to ensure that no impediment to appointment exists. This procedure includes an interview and referee checks. Timeframes to complete short-listing and interviewing are often brief, yet at other times the process may appear slow: consultation with interested parties can take some time and Cabinet priorities may result in necessary delays.

Footnotes:

See clause 10 of Schedule 3 to the NZPHD Act.
See section 29(3) of the NZPHD Act.
See section 29(2)(a) of the CE Act.
See section 29(2)(b) of the CE Act.
See section 29(4) of the NZPHD Act.
Cabinet Office Circular CO (03) 04, Fees Framework for Members of Statutory and Other Bodies Appointed by the Crown (available online at http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/cabinet/circulars); see also sections 47-48 of the CE Act.
See sections 26-27 of the NZPHD Act, and sections 25-26 and 49-59 of the CE Act.

Page last updated: June 2005.