Our Board Members

Pauline Lockett - Chair

Pauline Lockett has lived in New Plymouth since 1981. She was appointed to the Taranaki District Health Board in 2010 and was appointed as the chair in 2013 and again in 2016.  She is a member of all the DHB’s committees.

Pauline is a director of New Zealand Health Partnerships Ltd and Chairperson of the Ngati Te Whiti Whenua Topu Trust.

 

Neil Volzke - Deputy Chair

Neil has resided in Stratford most of his life and has had a varied and challenging working career. This includes 18 years as a radiographer and nine years as the Chief Executive of two central Taranaki rest home facilities. Neil was elected to the Stratford District Council in 2001 and became District Mayor in 2009, a position he currently holds.

Neil has a good insight into how health services are delivered in the smaller towns and rural parts of the region, with a particular focus on timely access to core services. He views the retention of GPs and other health services as a genuine concern for smaller communities and recruitment needs to be actively encouraged. As a board member he is in touch with community health needs and expectations, helping to ensure decisions made deliver the best possible services equally, to everyone.

During his time as a Mayor, Neil has become well aware of the difficulties many families have to endure especially around housing, employment and health issues. He supports a whole of community approach to improving the overall well-being of people and would like to see more collaboration between councils, Government agencies and the DHB to achieve that goal.

 

Aroaro Tamati

Aroaro was first appointed to the Taranaki District Health Board in 2013. She is a member of the Hospital Advisory Committee, the Community & Public Health Advisory Committee and the Disability Support Advisory Committee.

Aroaro is a committed advocate of Maori development in Taranaki, as co-director of Te Kopae Piripono Maori immersion ECE for 24 years (she is also a Board member of Te Pou Tiringa Incorporated, Te Kopae Piripono’s governing body) and more recently as a Maori health researcher, having enrolled in a PhD in psychology through the University of Otago.

Aroaro is active in the Taranaki Maori community. She is secretary of Ngati Moeahu Hapu, secretary of Parihaka Papakainga Trust, secretary of one of Parihaka’s three active marae - Te Paepae o Te Raukura - and trustee of Te Kahui o Taranaki Trust. She also supports the monthly gatherings held at Parihaka to honour the legacy of Tohu Kakahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai, and is a director of Mataara Ltd.

Richard Handley

Richard’s career includes 15 years in international and domestic banking, followed by Chief Executive positions at Lakeland Health, the Human Rights Commission, and in tertiary education as Deputy Chief Executive of Unitec and Chief Executive of WITT. Richard is also Chair of Taranaki DHB’s Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee. Professional affiliations with The Chamber of Commerce, membership of NZ Society of Accountants and NZ Institute of Directors.

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Kevin Nielsen

Kevin is an elected member of the Taranaki District Health Board and is also chair of the Hospital Advisory Committee. He spent 36 years of his working life at Taranaki Newspapers - the last 16 as General Manager, and was chief executive of Hospice Taranaki until his retirement in August. Kevin’s top priority is to minimise financial deficit of Taranaki hospitals whilst not compromising on primary healthcare. He wants all Taranaki people to benefit from quality health services.

 

Harry Duynhoven

Harry is New Plymouth-born and bred and is married to Margaret, with whom he has three adult children. He has serviced the community in many different roles, including Member of Parliament, Mayor and is currently on the New Plymouth District Council. Through these roles he has assisted many people to access the healthcare they needed. Harry believes timely access to healthcare services is vital for Taranaki people, especially as the ageing population grows. Harry also does consultancy, charity and voluntary work, is an honorary member of two international advocacy organisations and is a board member of Habitat Taranaki and New Plymouth Rotary.

 

Rose Bruce

Rose is a local GP who strongly believes in online healthcare. She is active in delivering free prescriptions to children enrolled with Lance O'Sullivan's iMOKO and is advocating for quality care delivered in new ways.

 

David Lean

David has a proven record of community leadership and governance experience in Taranaki, having been New Plymouth Mayor from 1980-92, serving as Civil Defence controller for more than three decades and leading Sport Taranaki as chairperson for 20 years. David is keen to make a positive difference in the region’s future health care and believes focus on health promotion and education is vital to community wellbeing. David is also currently Deputy Chairman of the Taranaki Regional Council.

 

Te Aroha Hohaia

Te Aroha is an elected member of the Taranaki District Health Board and is the Chair of both the Disability Services Advisory Committee and the Community & Public Health Advisory Committee. Te Aroha has professional and personal interests in community governance and local decision making. She is especially interested in the wellbeing of her mokopuna. Te Aroha is of Ngaruahine, Taranaki and Te Atiawa descent. She and her husband, Greg van Paassen, live in Hawera.

 

Alison Brown

Alison is an elected member of the Taranaki District Health Board. During her 40 years of service with Taranaki DHB in various nursing roles she has had close association with management both nationally and locally as a lead advocate for nurses and a strong campaigner for patients and their rights. She was awarded Honorary Life Membership to the NZ Nurses Organisation for services to nursing.

Alison has close ties to the rural sector and extensive knowledge and understanding of health services from both community/rural and hospital perspectives. In her view a strong Health Board should be transparent, and should consult with and listen to the community it serves.

 

Bev Gibson

Bev is a registered nurse, an engagement consultant with Maori clients/whanau and case managers for ACC and a quality systems health auditor. She has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Nursing and Education, a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Service Management and a Masters in Management. Bev is an advocate of quality early intervention/prevention programmes and promotes selfcare physical/mental health wellbeing.

 

 

 

Last updated: Monday, January 14, 2019