Whanganui District Health Board has a new chairperson.
In a surprise move, Minister of Health Tony Ryall yesterday appointed former deputy mayor Dot McKinnon to the health board as its chair. She replaces Kate Joblin, the highest-polling elected member, who has been on the board for eight years and chair for the past six years.
It's the first time Ms McKinnon has been on the health board. She said she was approached by the health ministry for the role.
"They wanted someone who was well-known in the community and who has plenty of governance experience."
Ms McKinnon was deputy mayor of Wanganui from 2004 to 2010, and stood for the mayoralty in 2010 but was defeated by current mayor, Annette Main.