DHB chief urged to step down

Chairman called on to quit as CEO resigns after work expenses probe

The chairman of Waikato District Health Board, who employed Dr Nigel Murray as chief executive, has been called on to stand down.

Murray resigned yesterday as the board heard details of an investigation into his work expenses.

A report found that Murray spent more than the agreed $25,000 allocated for relocation costs, as well as other “unauthorised expenses involving potential breaches of the chief executive’s obligations”.

It is not clear what those potential breaches were.

Board chairman Bob Simcock hired Murray for the $560,000 a year job in July 2014 despite issues raised by doctors and politicians.

Then Labour MP in Hamilton, Sue Moroney, said she met Simcock before Murray was hired.

“He said he was satisfied that Nigel Murray was the best person for the job.”

Moroney and Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell both told Simcock at the time they were worried about Murray because of bitter salary talks with doctors in 2007. At the time Murray took the lead for district health boards.

Simcock previously told the Herald the concerns raised with him were not relevant to Murray’s appointment as chief executive and that he extensively checked Murray’s references in Canada where he was the head of Fraser Health before returning to New Zealand.

Responding yesterday to calls for him to step aside, Simcock said he acted immediately when issues over Murray’s expenses were raised.

“The board is satisfied that they have acted responsibly and quickly to resolve this,” Simcock said.

State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes said he expected senior leaders of Government agencies to “demonstrate the highest standards of integrity and conduct at all times, especially in relation to taxpayers’ money”.