KEY POINTS:
On the eve of the release of a report into bitter conflict of interest allegations at Hawkes Bay District Health Board police have been asked to investigate the actions of former board member Peter Hausmann.
Two former board members, Diana Kirton and Helen Walker, said today they had lodged a complaint with Hastings Police on Friday.
Mrs Kirton and Mrs Walker said they believed there were sufficient grounds for an investigation under the Crimes Act into the actions of Mr Hausmann regarding the Wellcare contract for training of caregivers.
"The issue at the heart of this matter has always been Peter Hausmann's conflicts of interest and how those conflicts were handled," they said.
Police had also been asked to investigate the actions of DHB management around the processes they used in contracts with companies Mr Hausmann was involved in.
The women said they did not have faith that the review panel report due tomorrow would address issues relating to the behaviour around contracts.
"Our concern is that the Review Panel findings have been hi-jacked for political expediency and will throw up a smokescreen to avoid the real issues. Former Hawke's Bay board members want the truth to be told," Mrs Kirton and Mrs Walker said.
Mrs Kirton was elected to the Hawke's Bay District Health Board in 2001 and re-elected in 2004 and 2007. Mrs Walker was elected to the Board in 2001 and 2004 but did not stand for re-election last year.
Mr Hausmann, at the centre of a conflict of interest row that engulfed the DHB, broke his silence last week to defend himself against allegations made under parliamentary privilege.
National Party MPs have accused him of colluding to give a company he partly owns, Healthcare New Zealand, favourable treatment in a tender process for a $50 million contract.
"I am confident that the Review Panel Report will explain clearly what happened at Hawke's Bay DHB and will vindicate and explain my position," Mr Hausmann said last Thursday.
He said he came to the board enthusiastic, but was "horrified" to find it was unprofessional and some members were treating competent managers and staff poorly.
Poor governance was "messing things up badly" and he said he could not find any rational reasons for the behaviour he was seeing.
Mr Cunliffe sacked the board last month due to conflicts between board members, an "irrevocable breakdown" in relations between board and management and a deteriorating financial situation.
His actions drew an angry response from many of the board members and sections of the Hawke's Bay community.
- NZPA
