The health environment continues to be challenging, two candidates for the seven seats on the MidCentral District Health Board say.
Diane Anderson and Sharon Wards are among 18 people vying for the seven seats on the health board.
The MidCentral election is an "at large" vote, with the STV (single transferable voting system) used for electing DHB board members - a system of proportional representation which enables voters to rank candidates in order of preference - those preferences then determining the overall result of the election.
Eketahuna's Diane Anderson has been on the health board for five terms, while Dannevirke's Sharon Wards, the chief executive of the Tararua Health Group, is making her first bid for a seat.
Mrs Wards told a candidates' meeting in Dannevirke she has been responsible for developing and growing health services throughout the Tararua.