$80,000 saving on salary of Auckland health board chief

By MARTIN JOHNSTON, Health Reporter


Taxpayers are saving about $80,000 on the salary bill for central Auckland's District Health Board chief, following the appointment of Garry Smith.

Mr Smith was named chief executive last week after spending four months as its interim chief.

He replaces Graeme Edmond, who resigned in July.

Mr Edmond was paid between $480,000 and $490,000 in the last June year.

Mr Smith has started his new job running the country's largest health board on a potential package, including performance pay, of $400,000 to $410,000.

Prime Minister Helen Clark's salary is $305,000 a year, in a total package worth up to $400,000.

Auckland board communications chief Brenda Saunders, defending Mr Smith's salary, said the size and responsibilities of his job had been professionally assessed.

The organisation was completing the country's biggest building project, was Auckland's largest employer, received more than $1 billion a year revenue and was going through a massive reorganisation.

When the board, under chairman Wayne Brown - who received board member's fees of $90,750 last year - appointed Mr Smith in August, it said it would decide next March whether to do a "full search".

But Mr Brown said last week the board had decided an international search was now unnecessary, because Mr Smith had in effect gone through a four-month trial period.

The senior doctors' union said Mr Smith's appointment marked a welcome move away from the organisation's "do-as-I-say management culture".

Health chiefs' pay

Garry Smith, Auckland District Health Board chief executive: $400,000 - $410,000.

Dwayne Crombie, Waitemata: $350,000 - $360,000.

Jean O'Callaghan, Canterbury: $350,000 - $360,000.

Jan White, Waikato: $370,000 - $380,000 (in 2001/02).