By MARTIN JOHNSTON health reporter
Money, money, money. There is no doubt that money - or rather the lack of it - is the chief issue in this first election for health boards in 12 years.
Candidates from the Government's centre-left fold and from the centre-right agree that more taxpayer cash is
needed to run the health system.
But they would say that, because the 21 partially elected boards they are chasing seats on have no rating or taxing powers of their own.
The best they can do is plead with the Government for more money and explain the consequences of under-funding, such as the cutting of vital services.
The Auckland District Health Board, one of three boards in Greater Auckland, is facing some of the greatest financial pressures. After forecasting a deficit of $60 million this financial year, it identified cuts to health services that would save $30 million over two years, but recommended to the Government that they not be implemented.
The Government is still considering the board's business plan.
Despite the health boards' woes, hordes of hopefuls are standing in the postal polls being held alongside the local authority elections.
A total of 1084 people are chasing the 147 elected seats on the 11-member boards.
Health Minister Annette King will top them up with 84 appointed members and she must ensure there are at least two Maori on each board.
In Auckland, the Waitemata board has attracted the greatest number of candidates, 103, with the Auckland board drawing 70 and Counties Manukau 77.
Many Auckland voters will be overwhelmed by having to choose up to three candidates for their constituency from a long list of names.
They will have 150-word statements from candidates to guide them, but this will amount to a lot of reading for voters in Waitemata's North Shore constituency, who have 50 candidates to choose from.
In Waitakere, where 40 are standing, candidates such as city councillor Penny Hulse, pharmacist Warren Flaunty and local doctors Lannes Johnson and Philip Rushmer will be hoping that name recognition will help to float them to the top.
Dr Johnson, appointed to the board last year by Mrs King, said he and Dr Rushmer had teamed up to try to ensure that primary care received a high priority on the board.
The Government is progressively handing the boards - which run public hospitals and health services - responsibility for financing the majority of health services, including GP clinics and other primary care.
Dr Rushmer said many people were not receiving primary healthcare because they could not afford it. Only the Government could fix this - with more money. The extra $23.5 million for primary care in this year's Budget was insufficient.
Few local issues have emerged in the elections, but one that is upsetting Waitemata candidates and residents is the board's decision to charge North Shore Hospital visitors $1 an hour for car parking.
Ruth Norman, a North Shore constituency hopeful and Auckland Regional Council member, said this was ridiculous as it would undermine the efforts of family members and others to support sick people in hospital.
Several tickets have emerged. On the centre-right Auckland Citizens & Ratepayers Now is fighting for the Auckland board. Also on the right, Advancing Auckland is fielding one candidate.
On the centre-left, Peoples Health First, a grouping of Labour, Alliance and the Greens with unions and community groups, has 13 candidates. But in some areas sympathetic candidates are standing under other banners, such as Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey's Team West and, in South Auckland, the Manurewa Residents ticket.
That ticket's candidate, Alan Johnson, who is giving up his Manukau City Council seat, said public health services in South Auckland were on the brink of collapse.
He blames lack of money and the lure of unhealthy lifestyles for high rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
C&R-Now has secured squash star Dame Susan Devoy. But rather than handing her and present Auckland board chairman Richard Waddel the C&R-Now friendly turf of Auckland Northeast, centred on wealthy Remuera, it has sent them to Auckland South, home to Labour strongholds such as Panmure.
Mr Waddel is one of five current Auckland board members seeking election.
Another is Pat Snedden, standing for Peoples Health First.
Like many candidates, he acknowledges the financial difficulties boards face but he believes democratic boards will allow community voices to be heard and that this will lead to changes that will improve the community's physical health.
Feature: Local body elections 2001
www.localgovt.co.nz
By MARTIN JOHNSTON health reporter
Money, money, money. There is no doubt that money - or rather the lack of it - is the chief issue in this first election for health boards in 12 years.
Candidates from the Government's centre-left fold and from the centre-right agree that more taxpayer cash is
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