Bye-bye board – Jeff Lowe quits Te Whatu Ora early

“Some have chosen to resign, a decision not uncommon in a new financial year or at a time of refresh”

Jeff Lowe, the specialist GP on the board of Te Whatu Ora, has quit during what an official calls “a time of refresh”. 

Dr Lowe, a co-owner and GP at Karori Medical Centre in Wellington and a former chair of General Practice NZ, says the appointment last month of new chair Lester Levy at Te Whatu Ora marked an appropriate time for him to reassess his position on the board. 

Appointed in November 2022 until November 2025, Dr Lowe is among several Te Whatu Ora board members to leave the entity early in recent months.

Ministry of Health deputy director-general, governance and executive services Sarah Turner, in an emailed response to questions, says Naomi Ferguson, like Dr Lowe, “decided to depart early at this point of change”. Her three-year term was due to run until September next year. 

Vanessa Stoddart, a director of forestry company OneFortyOne and other organisations, told the New Zealand Herald she had indicated in April she would not be seeking another term. Her two-year term ended on 30 June. 

Amy Adams, a former National MP, announced her departure on Facebook on 30 June, the last day of her two-year term. 

Karen Poutasi, a former director-general of health, resigned as Te Whatu Ora board member and chair in April. A board member since the entity started on 1 July 2022, Dame Karen was made chair by then-health minister Ayesha Verrall on 1 July last year for 18 months following Dr Verrall’s sacking of Rob Campbell, the first chair. 

Tipa Mahuta, a member by virtue of her chair role at Te Aka Whai Ora, finished up at Te Whatu Ora when Te Aka Whai Ora ended on 30 June. 

Curtis Walker, a kidney specialist and former chair of the Medical Council, has been on the Te Whatu Ora board since it began. His two-year term ended on 30 June, but he told New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa today that he has applied to the Ministry of Health to stay on. 

Prime minister Christoper Luxon had foreshadowed changes at Te Whatu Ora. 

“I do think big changes are needed in Health NZ,” Mr Luxon said at a media conference on 1 July. “We are putting good money into it, and I want to ensure it is high performing with a good leadership team.” 

Health minister Shane Reti appointed Professor Levy chair for two years from 1 June. In the DHB era, Professor Levy’s presence as chair of Auckland’s DHBs and Crown monitor at Canterbury’s coincided with leadership shake-ups. 

The departures from Te Whatu Ora appear to leave it with just two members, Dr Levy and Roger Jarrold, or three if Dr Walker (Te Whakatōhea and Ngāti Porou) is included, given he is seeking reappointment. 

The Crown Entities Act says members remain in office even after their term, until reappointed; until their successor is appointed; or until the minister tells them in writing they won’t be reappointed, and no successor is to be appointed at that time. 

The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 says the Te Whatu Ora board consists of five to eight members. Matters on which the board must collectively have knowledge, experience and expertise include Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tikanga Māori.

Ms Turner, says her emailed response: “The process to refresh board governance started in May 2024 with the appointment of Professor Lester Levy as the new board chair.” 

The terms of three members (Ms Stoddart, Dr Walker and Ms Adams) expired on 30 June, and the position held by Ms Mahuta ended.  

“While expired members can continue in their roles under statute, some have chosen to resign, a decision not uncommon in a new financial year or at a time of refresh.

“The next board meeting is scheduled for August 2024, and efforts are well underway to implement new governance before this date.” 

New Zealand Doctor has asked what happened to the meeting scheduled for 26 July, which has now disappeared from the Te Whatu Ora website’s list of scheduled meetings. 

When asked if his departure has anything to do with perceived underfunding of the health system, Dr Lowe doesn’t answer directly, saying instead that funding is always a challenge. 

He declined to comment on the funding offer to general practice via the PHO Services Agreement Amendment Protocol forum PSAAP, saying that he is too close to the process to be able to offer opinion.