Waitemata DHB Leadership

The Executive Leadership Team meets weekly with a focus on enacting strategic direction, plans and priorities of the organisation on behalf of the board.

Three operational sub-committees provide advice and recommendations to the Executive Leadership Team

• Clinical
• Human resources (including workforce development and employee relations)
• Business

The Senior Management Team works with the Executive Leadership Team with the daily operational management of the DHB.

About District Health Boards (DHBs)

How boards are made up

• Each DHB board consists of up to 11 members. They set the overall strategic direction for the DHB and monitor its performance
• The Minister of Health appoints up to four members to each board and the board's chairperson and deputy chairperson.
• Seven members are publicly elected every three years at the time of the local government elections
• The Minister can also appoint Crown monitors to boards, in certain circumstances
• The Minister endeavours to ensure that Māori membership of the board is proportional to the number of Māori in the DHB's resident population, and there are at least two Māori members of the board
• Board members must act:
  • in good faith
  • with reasonable care, diligence and skill
  • with honesty and integrity
  • in accordance with any code of conduct that applies to Crown entities

An elected member serves a three-year term. The current term is from 9 December 2019 to 5 December 2022. Board members may stand for re-election every three years.

Appointed members are generally appointed for a three-year term, however, may be appointed for a shorter period. They may be reappointed for a maximum of three full terms or nine consecutive years on the board.

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
• They seek to achieve the DHB's objectives to meet the requirements of the Minister of Health
• Governance by the DHB board, is strategic oversight of the DHB's management, to ensure it delivers on its fundamental objective of working within allocated resources to:
  • improve, promote and protect the health of communities in its district
  • promote the integration of health services (especially primary and secondary care)
  • promote effective care or support of those in need of personal health services or disability support within its district

The management of the DHB is the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is appointed by the board, and the Executive Leadership Team. The board has no role in employment decisions beyond the appointment of the CEO. By law, it cannot interfere in matters of individual DHB employees.

The board must:

• ensure the DHB acts in a manner consistent with the functions of the DHB and with the DHB's District Annual Plan, Statement of Intent and any directions or requirements given under sections 32 or 33 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability (NZPHD) Act
• no 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 subsidiaries, are conducted efficiently and effectively in a manner consistent with the spirit of service to the public
• must have regards to the interests of creditors of the DHB, and endeavour to ensure that the DHB operates is 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 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 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.

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.

Waitemata DHB has the following Health Advisory Committees:

• Hospital Advisory Committee
• Community and Public Health Advisory Committee
• Disability Support Advisory Committee
• Māori Health Gain Advisory Committee
• Audit and Finance Committee