"That was ancient history, it's more than six years ago now, and I hear they're doing pretty well. So I encourage them in their work and I look forward to catching up and seeing how progress has been made," Mr Cunliffe said.
"Bygones are bygones and I'm looking for a fresh start with the Hawke's Bay DHB."
Mr Atkinson, a prominent Hawke's Bay businessman, has been re-elected to the DHB with strong voter support in the past two elections.
"Democracy is a wonderful thing and I'm pleased for him that he was re-elected and I look forward to working with him as we go forwards," Mr Cunliffe said.
He hadn't "had any cause" to speak to Mr Atkinson since 2008. "No reason why not, but I haven't had the opportunity," he said.
After a morning visit to Flaxmere's Peterhead School, Mr Cunliffe headed for the suburb's shopping centre to shake the hands of shoppers and pose for selfies with retail workers.
He was accompanied by Labour Party supporters and the party's three candidates in the region: Anna Lorck (Tukituki), Stuart Nash (Napier) and MP Meka Whaitiri (Ikaroa Rawhiti).
At the Flaxmere St Vincent de Paul op shop, manager George David told him there was quite a lot of poverty in the suburb.
"That's why we're here today, to shine a light on it," Mr Cunliffe said.
A visit to telecommunications company NOW in Onekawa, Napier, ended with a short game of table tennis between Mr Cunliffe and the company's chief executive, Hamish White.
In the Napier CBD, Mr Cunliffe gave a speech to a crowd of mainly party supporters before going on another retail walk-about down Emerson St.
He said poverty in poorer areas including Flaxmere was one of the region's biggest issues and would be addressed by Labour through a focus on regional economic development to create more jobs.
"We want to open the Napier-Gisborne rail line. We want to work alongside the business community, make sure they've got great broadband, and create jobs here that will give people good incomes."
Asked about Labour's prospects in the region for next Saturday's election, he said: "I think [Ms Lorck] is a good candidate and she's got every opportunity to cut into the incumbent's majority and she may very well win it."
Ms Lorck is challenging National Cabinet minister Craig Foss, who held the Tukituki seat in 2011 with a 9660 vote majority. In Napier, Mr Nash, National's Wayne Walford and Conservative candidate Garth McVicar are vying for the seat vacated by retiring National MP Chris Tremain.
"We're very hopeful about the possibility that Stuart has of winning Napier and I think, overall, you'll see the party vote for Labour climb across the Bay," Mr Cunliffe said.