The Wairarapa District Health Board (Wairarapa DHB) was a district health board that provided healthcare to the Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa districts of New Zealand. In July 2022, the Wairarapa DHB was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand).
 Location of the Wairarapa DHB (green) in New Zealand | |
| Formation | 1 January 2001 |
|---|---|
| Founder | New Zealand Government |
| Dissolved | 1 July 2022 |
| Legal status | Active |
| Purpose | DHB |
| Services | Health and disability services |
Parent organization | Ministry of Health |
| Website | www |
History
editThe Wairarapa District Health Board, like most other district health boards, came into effect on 1 January 2001 established by the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000.[1]
The Wairarapa DHB was the last DHB in New Zealand to operate its own ambulance service. In March 2012, the ambulance service was outsourced to Wellington Free Ambulance.[2][3]
On 1 July 2022, the Waikato DHB and the other 19 district health boards were disestablished, with Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) assuming their former functions and operations including hospitals and health services.[4] The Waikato DHB was brought under Te Whatu Ora's Te Manawa Taki division.[5]
Geographic area
editThe area covered by the Wairarapa District Health Board is defined in Schedule 1 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and based on territorial authority and ward boundaries as constituted as at 1 January 2001.[6] The area can be adjusted through an Order in Council.[7]
Governance
editThe initial board was fully appointed. Since the 2001 local elections, the board has been partially elected (seven members) and in addition, up to four members get appointed by the Minister of Health. The minister also appoints the chairperson and deputy-chair from the pool of eleven board members.[8]
Board chairs
editSince its establishment in 2001, the Wairarapa District Health Board has had four chairs. The following is a complete list:
| Name | Term | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doug Matheson | 2001–2006 | [9] |
| 2 | Bob Francis | 2006–2013 | [10] |
| 3 | Derek Milne | 2013–2016 | [11] |
| 4 | Paul Collins | 2016–present | [12][13] |
Demographics
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 38,613 | — |
| 2013 | 41,112 | +0.90% |
| 2018 | 45,327 | +1.97% |
| Source: [14] | ||
Wairarapa DHB served a population of 45,327 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 4,215 people (10.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 6,714 people (17.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 17,913 households. There were 22,164 males and 23,163 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female. The median age was 45.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 8,628 people (19.0%) aged under 15 years, 6,966 (15.4%) aged 15 to 29, 19,995 (44.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 9,744 (21.5%) aged 65 or older.[14]
Ethnicities were 87.5% European/Pākehā, 18.0% Māori, 3.1% Pacific peoples, 3.2% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.[14]
The percentage of people born overseas was 14.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.[14]
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 52.1% had no religion, 36.2% were Christian, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 2.8% had other religions.[14]
Of those at least 15 years old, 6,441 (17.6%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 8,022 (21.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 5,205 people (14.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 17,151 (46.7%) people were employed full-time, 5,955 (16.2%) were part-time, and 1,179 (3.2%) were unemployed.[14]
Hospitals
editPublic hospitals
edit- Wairarapa Hospital (40°56′51″S 175°40′20″E / 40.9475853°S 175.6723565°E) in Lansdowne, Masterton has 89 beds and provides surgical, medical, psychiatric, children's health and maternity services.[15]
Private hospitals
edit- Selina Sutherland Hospital (40°56′51″S 175°40′17″E / 40.9474935°S 175.6713245°E) in Lansdowne, Masterton has 10 beds and provides surgical services.[16]
Notes
edit- ^ Rudman, Brian (13 February 2012). "Brian Rudman: Three health boards must marry and economise". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ "Ambulance shake-up". Stuff. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ Hardie, Sarah (22 December 2011). "Free service steps in". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Health and disability system reforms". Ministry of Health. 5 July 2022. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ Brew, Andy (1 July 2022). "Dissolution Has Begun: DHB member fears 'loss of localism' with Health NZ". Stuff. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ Public Health and Disability Act 2000, Schedule 1.
- ^ Public Health and Disability Act 2000, Section 19.
- ^ "District health boards". Ministry of Health. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Brown, Ros (1 March 2007). "Former health board chairman was on both sides". Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ Fuller, Piers (7 June 2021). "Queen's Birthday Honours: Bob Francis, from mayoral chains to warplanes, the Wairarapa's everywhere man". Stuff. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ Bonallack, Andrew (30 November 2013). "Scientist heads Wairarapa DHB". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Board chair and members appointed by the Minister". Wairarapa DHB. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Health Minister appoints 13 new DHB chairs in 'changing of the guard'". RNZ News. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Wairarapa (DHB 15).
- ^ "Wairarapa Hospital - Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
- ^ "Selina Sutherland Hospital - Ministry of Health Profile". health.govt.nz. Ministry of Health.
References
edit- New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, Parliamentary Counsel Office, 2000, retrieved 3 May 2020