A media statement from the Health Minister Tony Ryall which
implied there had been a low number of candidates in the
Southern District Health Board elections was "unfortunate",
board chairman Errol Millar says.
Last week's release said Waitemata had the highest number of
candidates with 33, while the two Southern DHB constituencies
(Otago and Southland) had the fewest candidates with 11 each.
Mr Millar pointed out it was the overall figure of 22 which
should have been compared with other boards, since Otago and
Southland were now one board.
When the combined figure was used, he had noted there were 15
boards with lower candidate numbers than Southern, including
Auckland.
The release gave an "unfortunate negative interpretation" of
the amount of interest in the South, he said.
He described the interest shown as "enormously positive",
particularly after the merger of the boards this year.
The Otago Daily Times raised the issue of the portrayal of
the numbers with Mr Ryall's office, suggesting it could be
misleading, given there was one board involving seven elected
members in total, the same as all other boards.
The fact there are two constituencies, Southland, which will
produce three elected members, and Otago, which will have
four, did not alter the overall total representation.
It is understood the numbers were presented separately
because, unlike other boards, the Southern board comprised
two constituencies.
It was considered people would be interested in seeing the
level of support in each area.
elspeth.mclean@odt.co.nz
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