23 July 2002
Minister Won't Sack Dishonest Board Chair
Health Minister Annette King is setting new standards by allowing a district health board chairperson to continue in the
job after lying about collecting meeting fees for meetings she did not attend, National Health Spokesperson Roger Sowry
said today.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board chairperson Mary Hackett lied to media about whether she had paid $1,125 of meeting
fees back to the board after National raised the issue that she had collected fees for four meetings she did not attend.
"I simply can't understand why Health Minister Annette King will not accept her resignation. How can the people of the
Bay of Plenty continue to have confidence in Mary Hackett?
"Mrs Hackett is a close friend of Margaret Wilson's and was appointed by Labour to the chair.
"I want to know if the Minister has been briefed about this issue, and if so are there other concerns about Mrs
Hackett's leadership?
"I am surprised the Minister is allowing this chairperson to continue in the position. New Zealanders can now see the
low priority she sets on openness in our struggling health boards and they should vote accordingly on Saturday," Mr
Sowry said
Ends