By KEVIN TAYLOR
Hospital superintendent and health
campaigner. Died aged 82.
Te Kuiti Hospital's surgeon-superintendent for nearly 20 years, Dr John Mandeno, was a tireless advocate for public health services.
Writing to the Herald last July, he blasted health reforms and the modern emphasis on cost-cutting, profit-making and competition.
The reforms had led to the
end of surgical service in 20 hospitals similar to Te Kuiti, he wrote.
"The inevitable result was the disastrous litany of failures in hospital care," he said.
David Mandeno said his father had been disgusted by the "improvements" politicians had tried to make to the health system.
In 1945 Dr Mandeno and his wife, Annette, moved to Te Kuiti, where he bought a general practice.
David Mandeno said his father had wanted to work with Maori.
He was full-time surgeon-superintendent at Te Kuiti Hospital from 1965 until his retirement in 1982.
Dr Mandeno drove the hospital's growth from a cottage service into a 105-bed general hospital.
From 1982 to 1986 he continued working part-time at the hospital but also turned to another great love - yachting.
He finished building a yacht, Rererangi, in 1987.
He then sailed 80,000 km - including a solo circumnavigation of New Zealand - in the 1990s.
Dr Mandeno was was made a companion of the QSO in 1983 for community service. He belonged to the Order of St John, was involved in scouting, and was an elder of the Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his wife, five children, 16 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
