One of the more enduring rumours of the local government amalgamation debate has been effectively kicked for touch by confirmation that Hawke's Bay District Health Board chairman Kevin Atkinson will seek to retain his place on the board in the local elections this year.
Mr Atkinson, who in 2010 received the Queen's Birthday honour of MNZM for services to business and the community, has been nominated by twin-city mayors Bill Dalton and Lawrence Yule for what he expects will be one last term on a board he has chaired for 13 years.
During the amalgamation debate, Mr Atkinson had indicated his willingness to head a transitional council if amalgamation had gone ahead and he was wanted for the job.
It sparked rumours that with that option gone he might seek the mayoralty in Hastings, but he said last night he still supported incumbent Mr Yule, and in any event he already had two of the biggest leadership roles in Hawke's Bay, as chairman of the health board and of electricity supply company Unison.
Mr Atkinson, who has served 16 years on the DHB, including 13 as ministerial appointment to the chair, said the decision to stand again was based on huge support from the community.