One new face on Wairarapa DHB

Voters are sticking with tried and tested district health board members, with only one newcomer voted in.

Alan Shirley, a part-time surgeon endoscopist, is the new face on the Wairarapa District Health Board, preliminary results from the local body elections show.

Of the seven elected DHB members, six retained their seats: Rick Long, Rob Irwin, Liz Falkner, Helen Kjestrup, Janine Vollebregt and Fiona Samuel.

They have all been on the board previously and some of them will reach the limit of nine consecutive years, at the end of this three year term.

Viv Napier, who was elected in 2007 and 2010, didn't make the cut this year but has been re-elected as a South Wairarapa District councillor for Greytown.

Others who missed out were Paora Ammunson, Stephen Butcher, Ruth Carter, Michael Lamont, and Andrew Morahan.

The DHB will be governed by the seven elected and four other people, including the chair and deputy chair, chosen by the Minister of Health.

This year, current chair Bob Francis has been appointed again as chair and Charles Grant, Ronald Karaitiana, Leanne Southey are also on the board.

DHB elections are part of the local government elections but use a different voting system - the Single Transferable Vote (STV).

This means voters rank the candidates in order of preference, rather than ticking the candidates they want to vote in.

Candidates must reach a certain number of votes to get elected - the quota.

A candidate is elected if they reach the quota and if they have surplus votes they are transferred in order of voters' preferences.

This means that surplus votes are not "wasted" but can help other candidates to get elected.

Results show 85 per cent of voting papers returned across Wairarapa had ranked the DHB candidates.

DHB members set the direction for the DHB and monitor its performance against its goals, as laid out in its annual plan, regional services plan and statement of intent.

They are paid an annual fee for their service on the board.