Macindoe TimHon TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): The purpose of this bill has already been articulated by Minister Salesa and my colleague the associate spokesperson for health in the National Party Dr Shane Reti. I'm mindful of the fact that we're coming to the end of an urgency period and that colleagues want to get home but please bear with me for a couple of minutes. This is a very very important issue for our region and I do just want to put a couple of points on the record.As Dr Reti has just indicated the National Party indicated at the time that the Minister's decision was announced that we gave it our cautious support notwithstanding the fact that no MPs wish to see the abandonment of local democracy in their areas. I note that there does seem to be understanding of this decision in my electorate in Hamilton West and throughout our region.I have to say that understanding even seems to be apparent from some of the discussions I've had with former district health board (DHB) members themselves. Most of them offered their resignations when the Minister's intentions were mooted about a couple of months ago and so there were only two who were technically dismissed by the Minister. I want to thank those DHB members for their service to our region notwithstanding the fact that their departure clearly signals that all is far from well.It has been widely reported that the Waikato DHB has had serious issues in recent times especially the unjustified spending of the former chief executive who frankly let us all down very badly but also the board's inability to find a replacement for Dr Murray; a forecast deficit of $56 million which Dr Reti has just indicated; and also the fact as Minister Salesa noted that the Minister has not approved the Waikato DHB's annual plan.I do want to put on record as a Waikato MP—and Mr Strange has just made a similar comment—that it is our view that the clinical staff at Waikato Hospital and in particular the outgoing acting CEO Mr Derek Wright did a superb job after the ignominious departure of Mr Wright's predecessor.Hon Nanaia Mahuta: That's right. Hon TIM MACINDOE: And it's good to see also the Hon Nanaia Mahuta endorsing that view. Those clinical staff and Mr Wright have all worked extraordinarily hard to maintain clinical and financial viability. Blame should not be levelled at any of them. On the contrary they deserve our thanks and support especially as they continue to serve through this challenging transitional period.Dr Reti noted that there are a number of issues behind the Minister's decision but he must also take responsibility for his inability to deliver on the promises that he made to communities about DHB expenditure and budgets. It is his failure to rein in many of the DHBs that has led to the period of instability that many now face and I note that there will be a lot of DHBs around the country who will be looking over their shoulders at what has happened in the Waikato DHB and thinking Are we next?" because frankly in many respects their circumstances are very similar.Because of the fact that most MPs are taking fairly short calls I will do so as well. But on behalf of my disenfranchised constituents I urge the Minister to make good on his promises to DHBs not just in my region but right around the country. I wish Dr Karen Poutasi the commissioner all the very best in the challenging and important work that she is now undertaking. I very much look forward to the restoration of local democracy in my region. I'll leave it there for now but I do anticipate having more to say on this matter if and presumably when it returns to the House for its second reading.Bill read a first time. Bill referred to the Health Committee."