The chief executive of Canterbury District Health Board has paid tribute to its departing chief medical officer who is taking on a new challenge in the South.
Dr Nigel Millar will take the top medical role at the embattled Southern District Health Board next year.
In a staff email, David Meates praised Dr Millar's "huge contribution'' at CDHB and nationally.
"Amongst his most significant achievements, Nigel has been actively involved in developing a true electronic health record, he has championed a range of patient safety and quality improvement initiatives and he has been a key contributor to the DHB's responses to the range of unprecedented events such as the earthquakes and the H1N1 pandemic.
"Throughout his time at the DHB, Nigel has continued in clinical practice as a geriatrician and general physician.''
He joined the then Canterbury Area Health Board in 1992, and became chief medical officer of CDHB in 2003.
"Ahead of his farewell, I want to acknowledge the enormous contribution that Nigel has made to the DHB and the people of Canterbury and - on behalf of the Canterbury health system - wish him the very best for the future.''
Dr Millar's start date has not been announced yet.