Waitemata DHB’s current board comprises the following members:
| Lester Levy (Chair) (Appointed) |
Lynne Coleman (Elected) |
| Max Abbott (Appointed Deputy Chair) (Elected member) |
Warren Flaunty (Elected) |
| Gwen Tepania-Palmer (Appointed) |
Brian Neeson (Elected) |
| Pat Booth (Elected) |
Mary-Anne Benson-Cooper (Elected) |
| Wyn Hoadley (Elected) |
|
Board committees
Under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act, a DHB board has three statutory advisory committees which typically consist of both members of the public and board members of the DHB. These committees provide a key means for community voices to be heard.
- The Hospital Advisory Committee (HAC)
The HAC gives advice arising from its Waitemata DHB provider-side perspective and its assessment of strategic issues relating to the provision of hospital services by or through the DHB. The committee meets monthly.
HAC members
Lester Levy (WDHB Chair)
Max Abbott
Mary-Anne Benson-Cooper
Pat Booth
Lynne Coleman
Warren Flaunty
Wyn Hoadley (Chair)
Brian Neeson
Gwen Te Pania Palmer.
- The Community and Public Health Advisory Committee (CPHAC)
The CPHAC gives advice on the health status and needs of the resident population, the priorities for the use of health funding, and the development of funding strategies and policies. The committee meets monthly.
CPHAC members
Lester Levy (WDHB Chair)
Max Abbott
Mary-Anne Benson-Cooper
Pat Booth
Lynne Coleman
Warren Flaunty (Chair)
Wyn Hoadley
Brian Neeson
Gwen Te Pania Palmer
Terekei Stuart (Co-opted member)
Lyvia Marsden (Co-opted member/PHO representative)
Representative of North Shore Community Voice, Waitakere Healthlink or Rodney Healthlink (Co-opted member).
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The Disability Support Advisory Committee (DiSAC)
The DiSAC advises on disability issues. The main focus for this committee is in the areas of reviewing and advising on disability issues and policy across the organisation, advocacy on disability issues for the district. The committee meets quarterly and includes co-opted members from outside the board.
DiSAC members
Lester Levy (WDHB Chair)
Max Abbott
Mary-Anne Benson-Cooper
Pat Booth
Anne Frankland (Co-opted member)
Jan Moss (Co-opted member)
Sonia Thursby (Co-opted member)
Michelle Cavanagh (Co-opted member).
The northern region DiSACs also combine for quarterly meetings. In addition, the four chairs of the northern DHB DiSACs have formed a regional operational forum which meets quarterly with the Health of Older Persons programme managers, Disability Services Directorate policy and Disability Services Directorate Northern region operations manager and the Northern DHB Support Agency GM for general communication updates and for addressing any operational interface issues.
- The Maori Health Gain Advisory Committee (MaGAC) - established in February 2005
The MaGAC meets once every two months and includes co-opted members from outside the board. The MaGAC provides advice to the board in respect to all issues relating to Maori Health and Development. Meetings are open to the public.
MaGAC members
Lester Levy (WDHB Chair)
Gwen Te Pania Palmer (Chair)
Gary Brown (Co-opted member)
Kate Haswell (Co-opted member)
Michele Rangiuia-Poutu (Co-opted member)
Jade Le Grice (Co-opted member/Youth representative)
Tyrone Raumati (Co-opted member/Youth representative.
Other important committees of the board are:
- The Audit and Finance Committee
This committee meets six to eight times per year. Meetings are not open to the general public.
- The Quality and Risk Management Committee
This committee meets quarterly. Meetings are not open to the general public.
How are boards made up?
Each DHB board consists of seven elected members and up to another four members appointed by the Minister of Health. This structure allows for a range of perspectives, skills and knowledge. The Minister of Health also appoints a chairperson and deputy chairperson for each board from among the board’s elected and appointed members. In making his or her appointments, the Minister must endeavour to ensure that Maori membership of the board is proportional to the number of Maori in the DHB’s resident population and, in any event, there are at least two Maori members of the board.
Board members must act in good faith, with reasonable care, diligence and skill, with honesty and integrity, and in accordance with any code of conduct that applies to Crown entities.
An elected member serves a three-year term. The current term began on the 58th day after polling day (6 December 2004) and ends on the equivalent date in 2007 when new boards come into office. Board members may stand for re-election every three years.
Appointed members have a term up to a maximum of three years. They may, however, be appointed for a shorter time. They may also be reappointed, subject to a maximum of nine consecutive years on the board.
What is the board’s responsibilities?
Board members are responsible for the governance of the DHB. They must work together in a financially responsible manner and in the best interests of the health of the DHB's whole population. In doing so, they seek to achieve the DHB's objectives to meet the requirements of the Minister of Health. Governance, as carried out by the DHB board, is strategic oversight of the DHB's management. This is to ensure it delivers on its fundamental objective of working within allocated resources to:
- Improve, promote and protect the health of those within its district
- Promote the independence of people with disabilities within its district.
Board members do not manage the DHB. That is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is appointed by the board, and the staff who report to the chief executive. The board does not have a role in employment decisions beyond the appointment of the chief executive. By law, it cannot interfere in matters relating to individual DHB employees.
The board must:
- Ensure that the DHB acts in a manner consistent with the functions of the DHB, and with the DHB’s district strategic plan, annual plan, statement of intent, and any directions or requirements given under sections 32 or 33 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act (NZPHD) Act
- Not act, or agree to the DHB or any subsidiary of the DHB acting, in a manner that contravenes the NZPHD Act or any other Act
- Ensure that the activities of the entity, and those of its subsidiaries, are conducted efficiently and effectively in a manner consistent with the spirit of service to the public
- Must have regard to the interests of creditors of the DHB, and endeavour to ensure that the DHB operates in a financially responsible manner in accordance with section 41 of the NZPHD Act .
While elected board members are elected by the public, all board members (both elected and appointed) are directly responsible and accountable to the Minister of Health. The Minister is responsible for setting New Zealand’s health and disability strategies and ensuring that the tax dollar is spent in an appropriate way.
Payment
The Government determines remuneration levels for DHB board members. Current recommended fees can be viewed on the Ministry of Health website.