Southern District Health Board

On 1 May 2010, the Otago and Southland DHBs were merged to form a new Southern DHB, with elected members coming from two constituencies – Otago and Southland – and the remainder appointed by the Ministry of Health, with the change taking effect from the 2010 local body elections. From 1 July 2010, a unified primary health organisation has covered the entire new Southern DHB region with primary health organisation (PHO) centres in Alexandra, Dunedin, and Invercargill with the mandate of providing PHO resources and services, replacing the previous nine PHOs.

The area covered by the Southern District Health Board is defined in Schedule 1 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and based on territorial authority and ward boundaries as constituted as at 1 January 2001.[1] The area can be adjusted through an Order in Council.[2]

The initial board was fully appointed. Since the 2001 local elections, the board has been partially elected (seven members) and in addition, up to four members get appointed by the Minister of Health. The minister also appoints the chairperson and deputy-chair from the pool of eleven board members.[3] From 2015 to 2019 the elected board was replaced by a Commissioner appointed by the Minister.[4]

Southern DHB served a population of 324,405 at the time of the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 26,985 people (9.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 38,181 people (13.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 125,028 households. There were 160,581 males and 163,821 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. Of the total population, 57,030 people (17.6%) were aged up to 15 years, 69,372 (21.4%) were 15 to 29, 144,042 (44.4%) were 30 to 64, and 53,958 (16.6%) were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.

Ethnicities were 86.8% European/Pākehā, 10.5% Māori, 2.7% Pacific peoples, 6.6% Asian, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 54.2% had no religion, 34.9% were Christian, and 4.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 54,003 (20.2%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 51,210 (19.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,600. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 134,193 (50.2%) people were employed full-time, 42,774 (16.0%) were part-time, and 8,490 (3.2%) were unemployed.[5]

• New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, Parliamentary Counsel Office, 2000, retrieved 3 May 2020