"I look back with some degree of satisfaction, it's been incredibly hard work, recognising Wairarapa does continue to face a sustainability issue."
Mr Francis said he would have been happy to continue being chair but feels good about the future.
"I'm pretty relaxed, I've still got a lot of energy, I am involved in other organisations."
The Minister will announce the new chair at the end of the month.
"I believe the work that's going on between the three DHBs will provide a very strong future and I'm keen to see that continue."
Board member Janine Vollebregt said it came as a shock to all of the board members.
"It was quite a bomb shell, it was very surprising considering he was doing a great job.
"He is such a hard working man, very dedicated, he gave it everything."
She did not know why he wasn't reappointed as the board was not privy to the reason.
She wasn't sure who the next chair would be.
"Whoever it is has big shoes to fill."
Seven DHB members were elected by the public in the local body elections and four others, including the chair, are to be appointed by the Minister later this month.
Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson called Mr Francis when she heard the news and said she was really disappointed about the decision.
"He's lived here all his life and been a really strong advocate for our region.
"I'm sad that the Minister has not reappointed him."
She said she was interested to see if the next chair would be a local person.
"As Mayor of Masterton I'll be watching with interest to see who the Minister will appoint."
Wairarapa Labour party nominee hopeful Kieran McAnulty said the decision did nothing to reassure people already concerned about the future of the DHB and Wairarapa Hospital.
"I'm really disappointed that the Minister has made this decision. The good thing about Bob Francis being part of the DHB is as a former mayor of Masterton, he has Wairarapa at heart.
"We had a strong advocate for local issues."
He said if Mr Francis was replaced by someone from outside Wairarapa, it would enhance concerns that more and more services were being pushed to Hutt Hospital and fears of the ultimate closure of Wairarapa Hospital.
"It's very difficult to dampen concerns if the the DHB has someone appointed to it who is not from here."
Mr McAnulty said in the past, the Minister and the local MP had been quick to allay concerns.
"Where are they? They are silent.
"I'm not, certainly not suggesting the hospital will close but Wairarapa people need certainty about their health services as they are slowly but surely being taken to other hospitals."
One person concerned about services, Charmaigne McCormick of Masterton, said someone local, like Liz Falkner, who is a GP and already on the DHB, should take Mr Francis' spot.
"We need people on the board that are in touch with the community.
"She knows this community better than most, she knows what goes on."
