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Snapshot of Waikato DHB

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About us

Snapshot of Waikato DHB

Our health district

Waikato District Health Board (DHB) is one of 20 district health boards in New Zealand.  District health boards are responsible for providing or funding the provision of health services in their district.

Waikato DHB serves a population of more than 425,000 and covers more than 21,000km2. It stretches from northern Coromandel to close to Mt Ruapehu in the south, and from Raglan on the west coast to Waihi on the east. 

59% of our population is defined as living in urban areas, and 41% in rural areas.

23% of our population is Māori (compared to the national average of 16%).

The principal iwi (Māori tribal groups) in the Waikato DHB district are Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa, and Waikato. Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Whanganui iwi groups also reside within the district, and a significant number of Māori living here affiliate to iwi outside the district.

There are 10 territorial local authorities within Waikato DHB boundaries – Hamilton City, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Otorohanga, (part of) Ruapehu, South Waikato, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato, Waipa, and Waitomo.

The board and executive offices of Waikato DHB are located in Hamilton city on the Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus.

  • Previously, Waikato DHB was governed by a board of up to 11 members. In May 2019 the Health minister replaced the board with a commissioner to oversee improvements in governance, financial planning and performance. 
  • The return to an elected board will follow elections in 2022. 
  • The chief executive reports to the commissioner.
  • Waikato DHB has a relationship with iwi within our health district through an Iwi Māori Council. Read more about the Iwi Māori Council.
  • Waikato DHB has a Consumer Council, which works in partnership with the DHB to provide a consumer perspective, help shape health services and make sure they meet the needs of Waikato communities.
  • Commissioner of Waikato DHB - Dr Karen Poutasi.
  • Deputy commissioners appointed by the commissioner - Dr Andrew Connolly, Chad Paraone and Prof Margaret Wilson.
  • Chief executive Dr Kevin Snee.
  • All executive members.

Vision: Healthy People. Excellent Care.
Mission: Enable us all to manage our health and wellbeing. Provide excellent care through smarter, innovative delivery.

Under this sit six key strategic imperatives:

  • Health equity for high need populations / Oranga.
  • Safe, quality health services for all / Haumaru.
  • People centred services / Manaaki.
  • Effective and efficient care and services / Ratonga a iwi.
  • A centre of excellence in learning, training, research and innovation / Pae taumata.
  • Productive partnerships / Whanaketanga. 

Read more

People at heart / Te iwi ngakaunui:

  • Give and earn respect / Whakamana. 
  • Listen to me, talk to me / Whakarongo. 
  • Fair play / Mauri Pai. 
  • Growing the good / Whakapakari. 
  • Stronger together / Kotahitanga.

Waikato DHB receives funding from government to undertake its functions.  

About 60 per cent of funding received by Waikato DHB is used to directly provide hospital and health services, including:

  • five hospital sites including a tertiary teaching hospital (Waikato Hospital in Hamilton), a secondary hospital in Thames, and three rural hospitals in Tokoroa, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui
  • two continuing care facilities
  • one mental health inpatient facility
  • community based services
  • public health services.

The remaining 40 per cent is used to fund contracted services provided by non-government organisations (NGOs), primary health care organisations (PHOs), pharmacies and laboratories, including: 

  • aged related residential care facilities 
  • pharmacies
  • general practitioner (GP) practices
  • Māori organisations
  • Pacific organisations
  • primary health alliance partners.

Some services are funded and contracted nationally by the Ministry of Health and National Health Board, for example public health services, breast and cervical screening, as well as the provision of disability support services for people aged less than 65 years. 

As at 30 June 2020:

  • we have 8012 employees - a total of 6694 FTEs (full-time equivalents)
  • 48.6% are full-time, 47.3% part-time, 4.1% casual
  • we have employees from more than 50 different nationalities and ethnicities working together to provide health services
  • Māori make up 9 per cent of the workforce 
  • NZ European make up the single largest ethnic group of the workforce (46.9 per cent). The second largest group is Asian (25.4%)

Breakdown of employee roles is as follows.

  • 48.2% Nursing
  • 17.6% Management / Administration
  • 17.2% Allied Health
  • 11.9% Medical
  • 5.1% Support

 

Map of the Midland health region

Te Manawa Taki / Midland health region refer to the five district health boards across the central North Island - Waikato, Lakes, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Hauora Tairawhiti district health boards.

The Te Manawa Taki DHBs serve a total population of more than 985,285 (2020/21 population projections).

There is increasing collaboration on regional planning, clinical service planning and clinical record sharing across the Midland region and with the primary health care sector, with a strong focus on improving health and achieving health equity.

Te Manawa Taki Chief Executive (CE) Group oversees regional collaboration including regional clinical networks and forums, executive forums, and workforce programmes.

 

  • Key publications and policies - including our latest annual plan and annual report
  • Newsroom website - Waikato DHB Newsroom includes articles about our people and our organisation, plus our latest videos, local health alerts, and links to relevant articles published by other organisations.
  • Social media - we have a number of Facebook pages (primarily @WaikatoDHB and @WaikatoHospital), and a presence on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.