By STAFF REPORTERS
The first health board elections in 12 years have divided representatives for New Zealand's largest district along ideological lines and brought to office a range of high-profile candidates.
Though tickets of the political Left and Right helped guide voting in many city boards, name-recognition appears to have been
almost as important.
The polls have installed former sports stars, ex-mayors, existing board members, local councillors, doctors and a convicted fraudster.
On the Auckland board, the right-leaning Citizens & Ratepayers Now ticket won four of the elected seats, and the left-leaning People's Health First the other three.
Squash legend Dame Susan Devoy (C&R Now) topped the board's poll with 22,292 votes, and former triathlete Erin Baker, with 40,796, scored the highest tally nationally for her seat on the Canterbury board.
Some new members may be daunted by the job, with problems such as critical staff shortages and a national deficit of more than $200 million in state funding.
Many of the 1083 candidates promised to fight for adequate funding for hospital and community service but they may be dismayed to find that real power still resides in Government hands.
C&R Now candidate Crystal Beavis, the public affairs manager of a pharmaceuticals industry lobby group, who took a seat on the Auckland board, said, "I think one of the problems that all the DHBs are facing is expectations and needs versus the amount of funding that's available.
"One of the first things we have to do is re-examine that very carefully before we go too far in determining goals before we even know what's possible."
Elected candidates will be joined on each board by four members appointed by Health Minister Annette King, and will take their seats on December 10.
Nationally, 25 of the 147 election winners are existing board members and 80 (54 per cent) are men.
Former health minister George Gair missed out on a Waitemata board seat, but former Education Review Office chief executive Judith Aitken won a spot on the Capital Coast board.
Waikato board voters elected retiring Waikato mayor Angus Macdonald and convicted fraudster Ewan Wilson, the founder of the now-defunct Kiwi International Airlines.
Mr Wilson said he had learned from his mistakes and the people had voted to forgive him.
"It's too early to come up with recipes but I want the average person to have timely and professional access to health."
Bay of Plenty board winners include Opotiki's retiring mayor, Don Riesterer, Tauranga district councillor David Stewart, former Tauranga Hospital chief executive Robin Milne, and sitting board members Mark Arundel and Mary Hackett.
Tairawhiti District Health Board troubleshooter Wayne Brown, who was appointed sole charge last July after Mrs King sacked the previous board, has won approval in Gisborne.
Taupo's Joan Williamson has swapped the mayor's chains for a seat on the Lakes health board.
Among the Northland board's new members are former Whangarei mayor Stan Semenoff, journalist Pat Booth, and Mangawhai GP Dr Tim Molloy. Mr Semenoff also becomes a Northland regional councillor.
A rural GPs leader, Dr Molloy - convicted and discharged recently on a speeding charge after driving to the aid of a patient - said his experience as a doctor in Northland would serve him well on the board.
Mr Booth said one of his key aims was to help improve children's health.
More results
Local Government New Zealand
By STAFF REPORTERS
The first health board elections in 12 years have divided representatives for New Zealand's largest district along ideological lines and brought to office a range of high-profile candidates.
Though tickets of the political Left and Right helped guide voting in many city boards, name-recognition appears to have been
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