Deaf man seeking health board seat

Only one person has so far put their name forward to stand for the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board.

Profoundly deaf Marlborough man Kim Robinson, who uses sign language, is bidding to become the first deaf person in New Zealand to be elected to a district health board.

Marlborough District Council electoral officer Dean Heiford said Mr Robinson was the only candidate so far.

Mr Heiford said he normally expected three to five nominations for the elections, which are held every three years.

Board electoral officer Richard Palmer said that so far he had not had any nominations for the health board elections which opened on Friday July 27.

He said he expected up to 12 nominations but added that if not enough people came

forward, the election would be cancelled.

"If we don't get enough numbers we won't have an election," he said.

During the 2004 election,

16 candidates stood for seven elected board member positions. This was down on the 46 that stood during the inaugural DHB election in 2001.

NMDHB chief executive John Peters said: "The three-yearly board elections are an opportunity for community

representatives to participate in the governance of the DHB. I encourage interested people to pick up a candidate pack to find out more about it."

The current board is comprised of seven elected members and four appointed members. Candidate profiles will be published on the DHB website once voting papers have been sent out on September 21. Voting is by postal vote, the last election day is Saturday, October 13.

The election will use the

single transferable vote system and results will be calculated locally with a declaration of results expected between October 17 and 24.

Nomination forms can be sent to: NMDHB electoral

officer Richard Palmer, PO Box 645, Nelson.