KEY POINTS:
The appointment of the heads of the country's district health boards has seen a change at two of the three Auckland boards.
Counties Manukau chairman Pat Snedden returns to Auckland DHB as chairman, replacing the often controversial Wayne Brown, who did not seek reappointment to focus on his new role as Mayor of the Far North.
Widely tipped as Mr Brown's successor, Mr Snedden was a former Government appointee to the Auckland board who was subsequently elected as a member on a Labour-leaning ticket.
He was appointed to be the chairman of Counties Manukau in November 2004.
He owns publishing companies and was a founding director of Mai FM, Auckland's first Maori-owned commercial radio station.
Mr Snedden's replacement at Counties is Professor Gregor Coster, who was chairman of West Coast DHB. Professor Coster has been head of Auckland University's Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care and was former chairman of the Royal New Zealand College of GPs.
The present head of the Waitemata district health board, Kay McKelvie, stays on for another three-year term.
In total, 13 chairmen and chairwomen were reappointed while two moved to other boards.
There are also four new chairmen: Jerry Rickman (Waikato), John Young (Taranaki) Rex Williams (West Coast) and Alister James (Canterbury).
Mr James did not get re-elected, but was appointed to the board by Health Minister David Cunliffe.
Announcing the appointments yesterday, Mr Cunliffe said he was awaiting the outcome of the review of conflict of interest at Hawkes Bay before making appointments to that board.
The review focuses on allegations around a failed $50 million contract bid by a private company, Healthcare New Zealand, for community services funded by the health board.
The post of the head of Capital and Coast board is also vacant. The new boards take office on December 10.
