A warm welcome and a heartfelt thank you were just what the doctor ordered at a powhiri for Manaia Health's new chief executive, Donovan Clarke.
Health workers, administrators and hapu representatives from throughout Northland were at Pehiaweri Marae in Whangarei where Mr Clarke was officially welcomed to his role yesterday.
He takes over the job from Chris Farrelly who left earlier this year to take up the post of Auckland City Missioner.
Mr Clarke (Ngati Hine, Waikato-Tainui) has a wide career background in public health and welfare. Yesterday he described his appointment with Manaia Health as "a homecoming and a privilege".
He said it was an honour to share yesterday's official welcome with his family.