Candidate for

Southern District Health Board

Kia ora Tena koutou

I have decided to put my name forward for nomination for the Southern District Health Board at the upcoming elections. 

You are probably asking why am I doing this again? Well, I have been approached by many people in the community to consider standing again and since the merger of the Otago and Southland boards our local services have slowly eroded. This is a real concern to me.  

In some cases we are being asked to travel more to Dunedin for treatments which are or should be available in Southland.

Our wait times for cancer treatment have increased. This simply is not acceptable.

Our mental health services have declined and wait times increased, this is having a very evident impact on our young people.  

Our elderly and those needing home support are having services cut without warning. This is truly short sighted and will lead to many more admissions to hospital.

Maternity services for our rural areas are under threat and in some cases facilities have already closed. Maternity hubs, which are meant to provide support, are clearly not resourced well enough putting mother and baby at risk.

These are just a few of the concerns I have.  

Why should people vote for me?

• My proven strong community voice as an advocate.

• My strong commitment to families' needs - putting people first.

• My commitment to achieving the very best health outcomes for all Southlanders.

• My experience in governance, leadership and strategic direction during my time as New Zealand President for Plunket, and current trustee for No 10 Youth One Stop Shop.

• My past experience on the Southern District Health Board.

I believe everyone, from babies through to the elderly, deserve the very best health care.

Nga mihi nui ki a koe – thank you

Kaye Crowther

• Authorised by: Kaye Crowther, 19 King Street , Invercargill