Mrs Rich said through a media spokesman last night the decision had nothing to do with controversy over what some have described as a conflict of interest between her roles as chief executive of the Food and Grocery Council, and member of the board of the HPA.
Food and Grocery Council spokesman Brent Webling said the move was for ''a range of reasons'', on which he would not elaborate.
Mr Coleman denied he told Mrs Rich he would not be reappointing her, saying she had told him her term was up and she would be moving on to other priorities.
Mr Webling said Mrs Rich had told the HPA she would not seek reappointment for a fourth time.
''It's a range of reasons, but none of them include the ongoing and ridiculous attacks on her by public health activists.
''She's got some other things she wants to move on to. I'm not going to elaborate at this point.''
Mr Webling said Mrs Rich, who was based in Wellington, felt she would be judged as contributing a lot to the HPA, an organisation that did great work in promoting healthier lifestyles for New Zealanders.
She would continue as chief executive of the Food and Grocery Council.
Green Party health spokesman Kevin Hague late last year asked the Auditor general to investigate what he called ''serious conflicts of interest'' over Mrs Rich's roles on the Food and Grocery Council, and the HPA.
The HPA is a Crown entity established under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Act. It has a board appointed by the Minister of Health, and promotes health, wellbeing and healthy lifestyles.
The New Zealand Food and Grocery Council is an industry association that represents manufacturers and suppliers behind New Zealand food, beverage and grocery brands.
Mr Hague said last year the agency ran campaigns to limit the consumption of unhealthy food, tobacco and alcohol, yet the businesses Ms Rich promoted, as head of the food and grocery council, profited from the sale of those products.
Mrs Rich denied the claims, and last month the Office of the Auditor general said it had considered the issues raised, and was satisfied there were no matters to investigate further.
