Councils vote to challenge DHB sacking

NZPA reports:

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council voted on Wednesday to seek a judicial review of the ministers decision and yesterday three more councils — Napier, Hastings and Wairoa — voted to join the action.

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council will vote on the matter today …

National’s health spokesman, Tony Ryall has described the move as “appalling political manipulation” designed to get rid of the board so it could not put its case in a conflict of interest inquiry.

“One conclusion is that there’s a wider political agenda,” Mr Ryall said.

“He kept the Capital and Coast District Health Board despite widespread public opposition, yet he has sacked the Hawke’s Bay board in spite of community support.”

Green Party MP Sue Kedgley said she had “grave concerns” about Mr Cunliffe’s action.

“It appears to be a politically motivated act driven by the minister’s irritation at a chairman of a district health board who was prepared to speak his mind,” she said.

Also read this editorial in HB Today:

Sacking the district health board is a disgraceful betrayal: It abuses the confidence the people of Hawke’s Bay placed in the board, which is only three months old, and it reveals the principle of public participation in health governance to be a sham and at the whim of political convenience …

The region’s mayors plan a legal challenge. The minister says he has been advised it will not succeed. He may well have the whip hand … until November. In the meantime questions need to be answered and in the open. If there are issues then let’s put them on the table. No more smoke and mirrors.

Mr Cunliffe has shown contempt for Hawke’s Bay people. In nine months’ time we will be able to return the favour.

Goodness me, that almost looks like an advertisement under the Electoral Finance Act.