Labour leader David Cunliffe is keen to shift focus from his actions in 2008. Photo / File
Labour leader David Cunliffe has again described his decision to sack the Hawke's Bay District Health Board as "ancient history", after Tukituki National MP Craig Foss called on him to "apologise to all of Hawke's Bay".
Mr Foss' comments came after Mr Cunliffe refused to resile from his 2008 decision to sack the DHB during a visit to the region last week - sparking a strong reaction from Hawke's Bay Today readers.
"We haven't forgotten the debacle he caused in Hawke's Bay," one reader commented.
"I take it as an insult to the whole Hawke's Bay community," said another.
Mr Foss said the need for an apology from Mr Cunliffe had been brought to the fore again, "because he's in a contest to be prime minister".
"He needs to apologise to all of Hawke's Bay - not just the board. It's the only time we've had all our leaders, all our mayors, on the same page, was against the actions he took in 2008. It was wrong and over the top."
Mr Foss also said Mr Cunliffe should apologise for referring to the DHB as a "nasty little nest of self-perpetuating provincial elites" in Parliament in 2008.
"It's a disgusting and disgraceful line, insulting every province in New Zealand, not just Hawke's Bay," he said.
Mr Cunliffe last night responded to Mr Foss' comments, repeating the phrase he'd used to describe the DHB sacking during his tour of the region; "that was ancient history".
"I'm sure the board has come a long way since then. I congratulate it on its progress. I look forward to supporting the people of Hawke's Bay get the very best health service available," he said.
Napier Labour candidate Stuart Nash conceded Mr Cunliffe's words were "ill-chosen" when he insulted the DHB.
"To be honest they're not words I'd use myself."
He said he had "immense respect" for Hawke's Bay DHB chairman Kevin Atkinson, who was subsequently reappointed after his sacking by Mr Cunliffe.
"At the moment I think we've got a fantastic board of very good individuals who understand governance. I have immense respect for Kevin Atkinson, what he's achieved as a businessman and what he's given back to the community. If I'm privileged enough to be elected MP for Napier I'll look forward to having a good working relationship with Kevin and the board."
Mr Atkinson, a prominent Hawke's Bay businessman, described Mr Cunliffe's 2008 comment as "totally misinformed".
"I don't think anyone that knows our board at the time would be able to relate to the statement as a reflection of their characters. It was totally misinformed."
Since the board was reinstated it had gone "from strength to strength," and was now "one of the leaders in the country".
He said there was lingering resentment in the region over the sacking, not necessarily toward the Labour Party but toward Mr Cunliffe. "It frequently pops up in circles that I'm in."
However, Mr Atkinson would not ask for an apology from Mr Cunliffe and wouldn't rule out working with a Labour-led Government in the future.
Labour's Tukituki candidate, Anna Lorck, whose marketing and public relations company advised the board at the time of the sacking, said she had made it clear she didn't agree with Mr Cunliffe's decision.
"The [health] minister of the time made a decision based on information provided by his officials. It was not one I agreed with and I expressed those views at the time."
She also didn't agree with Mr Cunliffe's derogatory comment about the board. However, she said he shouldn't be "forced" to apologise.
"I'm looking to the future and the health of the Hawke's Bay."
Ms Lorck drew criticism from Prime Minister John Key in April when a tweet surfaced posted by her in 2011, describing Mr Cunliffe as a "bully" in reference to the DHB sacking.
"Can't wait till Cunliff [sic] turns up in HB ... we haven't forgotten he sacked our DHB ... he's no leader, he's a bully," the tweet said.
Ms Lorck said in April she would not delete the tweet, which Mr Key said was "an interesting reflection on the leadership of the party".