The final nominations have been confirmed for the Lakes District Health Board 2019 triennial elections, with seventeen to contest the seven vacancies.

The Lakes District Health Board has 11 member positions available with seven of the 11 members to be elected, and the remaining four members appointed by the Minister of Health.

The nominated candidates are Jean Batt, Ngahihi-o-te-ra Bidois, Aroha Bray, Stuart Burns, Olive Gallagher, Suzanne Gower, Janine Horton, Kylie Leonard, Tangihaere Macfarlane, Claire Mahon, Liz McGrath, Johan Morreau, Christine Rankin, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, Andrew Tattle, Lyall Thurston, and Rob Vigor-Brown.

Lakes District Health Board serves a population of just over 100,000 and covers 9,570 square kilometres. It stretches from Mourea in the north to Mangakino in the west down to Turangi in the south and across to Kaingaroa village in the east. The major centres of population are Rotorua and Taupo and the main smaller communities are Mangakino and Turangi. The DHB' boundaries take in the two main iwi groups of Te Arawa and Ngati Tuwharetoa.

Lakes DHB is responsible for the provision, or funding the provision, of the majority of health services in the Lakes district. These services in the district include:

· Two hospital sites at Rotorua and Taupo

· Nine continuing care facilities – in addition there is one Hospital Specialist Services – Psychogeriatric Unit

· One mental health inpatient facility

· Four community bases for mental health (iCAMHS (Infant, Child and Adolescent): Adult community at Rotorua and Taupo; and Mental Health Service for Older People Rotorua

· 14 aged related residential care facilities (rest homes)

· 18 pharmacies -11 Rotorua, 6 Taupo, 1 Turangi

· 21 GP practices - 5 Taupo/Turangi/Mangakino and 16 Rotorua

· 12 Māori providers, one of which also looks after Pacific interests

· Two primary health organisations

Final Nominations for Lakes District Health Board 2019 Triennial Elections as at 4.49pm August 17: