New Zealand Health Minister, Tony Ryall has announced the appointment of businessman Kevin Atkinson as the reiterating chair of the Bay District Health Board. Atkinson had been chair of the board two years ago before the previous Labor government dissolved the board.

Ryall reestablished the board that operated on a regional level and aims to assure health stability by assuring proper financing and service of the health sector. Two additional chairs of the Auckland and Welllington boards have been appointed.

The new chair announces to initially restructure the relation between communities and hospital care in Hastings. Tony Norman has been reelected as board chair of Northland’s District Health Board.

"The role of the chair is demanding and requires the drawing together of people from various experiences, abilities and backgrounds. I am looking forward to working with the whole board, both new and existing members, on the development and delivery of Better, Sooner, More convenient health services for all Northlanders”, Norman states.

The District Health Board now consists of 7 elected board members and additional 4 board members that are directly appointed by the government. The chairs of each regional department were also announced by the Health Ministry.

The new board members and chairs together resemble experience in the fields of health care, community service and science and are expected to contribute significant achievements in New Zealand’s public health sector.