Have your say: Election disputed

The latest letter to the editor disputes the Whangaroa Health Services Trust (WHST) board election.

On November 27 last year, the Whangaroa Health Services Trust (WHST) placed an advertisement in the Bay Chronicle calling for nominations for its Totara North ward.

It said: "In accordance with the Whangaroa Health Trust Deed an election will be held to elect a ... trustee from nominations received." It lists two nominations - Mary Vermy and Grant Lane.

Mr Lane is a resident of Totara North. But Ms Vermy resides in the Otangaroa ward.

As the WHST's founding chairman, and someone who played a key role in its establishment, I believe that the WHST acted wrongfully in listing Ms Vermy as a nominee for this position.

In direct contradiction to the wording of the advertisement, Ms Vermy's nomination breaches the clause of the trust deed which states that "Trustees ... shall be elected at election meetings of residents of each ward."

As an Otangaroa ward resident, Ms Vermy does not qualify as "a resident of [the Totara North] ward."

Further, object one of the trust deed states that the trust aims principally at "seeking autonomy" - self-rule. As the trust deed explicitly provides for politics involving wards and ward representation, this autonomy requirement precludes giving authority and/or responsibility across ward boundaries. As things eventuated, Ms Vermy "won" the ensuing "election". But this election was, I believe, also in breach of the deed.

Dr David Williams
Kerikeri

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